Scientific Program Manager

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks a Scientific Program Manager to oversee all operational aspects of the CGI. You will ensure efficient preclinical research activities, coordinate site performance, and drive progress toward milestones with CGI Directors and collaborators.

The role requires 3+ years of project management in a research setting, strong communication skills, and experience with data management and regulatory processes.

Qualifications

• Must have at least 3 years of project management experience.
• Strong track record of independent management of a research organization.
• Experience with processing and analysis of primary human samples, along with basic immunology and molecular biology assays.
• Excellence in experimental planning, execution, and project management in research collaborations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Fluency in word processing, spreadsheets, and desktop publishing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement project plans and PM infrastructure (standard forms, dashboards).
• Coordinate the hiring and training of CGI staff.
• Facilitate communication between collaborating partners including labs and data management.
• Ensure timely responses to program-related issues and maintain documentation.
• Coordinate data management systems for collection of clinical trial data and GLP-compliant preclinical data.
• Prepare reports interpreting program data and communicate with the sponsor.
• Work with Regulatory Team to maintain regulatory compliance including IRB and FDA communications.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Biology understanding

Education

Master’s or Bachelor's degree

PhD preferred

Tools

Data management systems

LIMS

Software development awareness

Job description

Department:

Lineberger Compr Cancer Center-426801

Career Area :

Research Professionals

Posting Open Date:

10/16/2026

Application Deadline:

11/06/2026

Open Until Filled:

No

Position Type:

Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Working Title:

Scientific Program Manager

Appointment Type:

EHRA Non-Faculty

Position Number:

20079075

Vacancy ID:

NF0010120

Full Time/Part Time:

Full-Time Permanent

FTE:

1

Hours per week:

40

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range:

Dependent on education/experience

Proposed Start Date:

11/23/2026

Be a Tar Heel!:

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world‑class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research.
Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.
Education: We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.
Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

Position Summary:

The Scientific Program Manager is responsible for overseeing all operational aspects of the Center for Generative Immunotherapy (CGI). They will ensure optimal efficiency, productivity and quality of all preclinical research and clinical trial components; coordinate site performance reports for presentation to CGI Directors; and develop remediation and improvement strategies, as needed. This person will work with CGI research staff and collaborators to facilitate the accomplishment of the program aims and communicate progress and challenges towards meeting these aims. This person will also develop, review and edit project plans, monitoring progress to milestones to assure consistency with project goals while providing organization and facilitation of project administration, finances, communications, and meetings related to program activities (preclinical research and clinical trial study organization, initiation, execution, and closure). This person will also be responsible for coordinating compliance with institutional regulatory requirements (e.g. staff training, EHS certifications, IRB communications etc.). Assistance with experimental work including sample processing, QA/QC, T cell culture, and preparation of libraries for next generation sequencing may be occasionally required but is not a major part of the job.
Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: With the research team and collaborators (internal and external to UNC) develop and implement project plans and project management infrastructure (standard forms, operating procedures, dashboards). Coordinate the hiring and training of CGI staff. Facilitate communication between the collaborating partners including those responsible for laboratory experimentation and data management. Ensure that investigators, research staff, and external partners (e.g. collaborators, contract manufacturers, regulatory agencies) receive timely and accurate responses to program-related issues. Participate in the development and maintenance of written study documentation. Coordinate central training sessions. Collaborate internally in development and execution of data management systems for collection of clinical trial data in compliance with regulatory guidelines and preclinical experimental data in accordance with GLP guidelines. Develop specifications for data checks and monitor implementation. Develop specifications for analyses and tabulations for major study reports. Prepare written and/or verbal reports interpreting program data, including communications with the research sponsor. Work with Regulatory Team to maintain regulatory compliance including reports to the IRB, protocol amendments and modifications, and FDA communications. Provide oversight with the Directors of progress towards project milestones.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Master’s or Bachelor’s and 0-2 years’ experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

• Must have at least 3 years of project management experience.
• Must have a strong track record of independent management of a research or treatment organization or organizational subunit.
• Experience with processing and analysis of primary human samples, along with basic immunology and molecular biology experimental assays.
• Excellence in experimental planning, execution, and project management in research collaborations.
• Excellent skills in verbal and written communication.
• Fluency in word processing, spreadsheets, and desktop publishing.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

• PhD in Immunology or in a related discipline. Equivalent industry experience will be considered.
• Specific training and/or certification in Project Management.
• Experience with Laboratory Management in academia or industry.
• Facility with software development and use of LLM coding assistants.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

Not Applicable.