Scientific Portfolio Manager

Pathfinder Oncology; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Pathfinder Oncology, Inc. (PFO) is a dynamic oncology company focused on personalized navigation and transformative therapies.

This role drives collaborations with academic and commercial partners, translating evidence into actionable insights for patients and guiding business growth in a fast-paced startup environment. The ideal candidate will oversee research initiatives, coordinate across clinical, laboratory, and administration teams, and deliver high-quality, patient-centered clinical

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (PhD preferred) in healthcare or health sciences-related field is required or strongly preferred.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in clinical oncology research (immuno-oncology preferred) and clinical research portfolio management.
• Experience with and/or deep understanding of advanced diagnostic tools (e.g., NGS, Mass Spectrometry, Flow cytometry, IHC).
• Understanding of GCP, HIPAA, and research use only testing vs. clinical testing requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage client-specific research programs in collaboration with academic and commercial partners.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, and success metrics with stakeholders and client goals.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across clinical, laboratory, and administrative functions.
• Prepare status updates, risk assessments, and post-implementation reviews to support continuous improvement.

Skills

Oncology research

Project management

Communication

Data interpretation

Education

Master’s degree (PhD preferred) in healthcare or health sciences related field

Tools

Next-Generation Sequencing

Mass spectrometry

Flow cytometry

IHC

Job description

Pathfinder Oncology, Inc. (PFO) - pathfinderoncology.com - is a dynamic oncology company headquartered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Founded with agility and purpose, PFO is committed to guiding clients through the complexities of cancer care with personalized navigation and transformative therapies.

At the heart of our philosophy is a bold thesis: long-term, exceptional outcomes in metastatic cancer require the activation and harnessing of anti-tumor immunity. Our mission is to optimize each client’s potential for extraordinary results by combining a concierge-style care model with a suite of cutting-edge technologies and therapeutics. We don’t just treat cancer—we design individualized therapeutic pathways that reflect the unique biology and needs of each client.

PFO specializes in the development and delivery of highly tailored, often first-of-their-kind treatments. Some of these include:

• Bespoke peptide vaccines informed by tumor-specific genomic and proteomic profiles
• Personalized TCR-T cell therapies
• Biologically driven, pathway-based therapeutic regimens

Our team comprises globally recognized leaders in cancer immuno-oncology, spanning drug development, multi-omics data interpretation, and—most importantly—compassionate client care. United by a shared vision, we are reshaping the cancer care paradigm to ensure every client receives not only advanced treatment, but also the best possible chance at an exceptional outcome.

Position Summary

This role combines management of client-specific research initiatives and collaborations. You will drive collaborations with academic and commercial innovators in oncology, as well as research and review real-world and translational studies, translate evidence into actionable insights for clients (patients), and ensure seamless coordination across clinical, laboratory, and administrative teams. By driving high-quality client research initiatives, you’ll both elevate client care and fuel business growth in a fast-paced startup environment.

Key Responsibilities

Scientific Collaboration Management

• Partner with academic and commercial innovators to define, execute and interpret client-specific research programs.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, and success metrics in collaboration with stakeholders and in alignment with client goals
• Facilitate cross-functional project meetings, track progress against milestones, and implement risk-mitigation strategies
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules and resource plans using standard project management tools (e.g. Asana)
• Prepare status updates, escalations, and post-implementation reviews to support continuous improvement
• Define research questions and hypotheses aligned with concierge client goals, needs, and clinical milestones
• Review literature including clinical and translational studies relevant to client therapeutic and strategic goals
• Translate research findings into client-specific treatment options
• Evaluate clinical data on therapeutic efficacy and safety, and compare available options to identify treatment options most appropriate for the client.
• Support regulatory submissions (e.g. IRB, spIND, etc.) for clients
• Support capturing client health data, client outcomes, and health metrics, and ensuring data integrity
• Summarize and synthesize findings into concise, professional, and patient-friendly formats, providing clear, actionable insights for clients, stakeholders, and internal leadership.
• Maintain a defined portfolio of clients, ensuring research plans reflect milestones and client goals
• Track key performance indicators, identify gaps in research, and initiate corrective actions to optimize outcomes
• Produce regular reports on portfolio research performance for executive review

Team Leadership (Future Opportunity as Company Grows)

• Supervise a team of client research project managers setting performance goals and conducting regular evaluations
• Provide coaching, training, and career development opportunities to enhance team capacity
• Lead weekly team huddles to align priorities, share best practices, and reinforce organizational standards

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree (PhD preferred) in healthcare or health sciences-related field
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in clinical oncology research (immuno-oncology preferred) and clinical research portfolio management
• Experience with and/or deep understanding of advanced diagnostic tools (e.g. Next Generation Sequencing, Mass Spectrometry, Flow cytometry, IHC, etc.)
• Understanding of research compliance standards (e.g. GCP, HIPAA, research use only testing vs. clinical testing requirements, etc.)
• Proven track record managing projects from initiation through completion
• Start-up or early-stage company experience in a health-related field

Skills and Competencies

• Proficiency with oncology research, diagnostics, and oncology therapeutic strategies
• Solid understanding of project management methodologies and tools
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities
• Strong verbal and written communication, including the translation of complex clinical information
• Demonstrated commitment to client-centered research