Senior Research Program Director, Cancer Research (Hybrid)

UT MD Anderson; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston seeks a Research Program Manager to coordinate translational and clinical research activities across divisions and external partners. You will lead strategic plans, manage multidisciplinary programs, and supervise research administration, clinical oversight, and financial operations.

Qualified candidates have a PhD in Biology or related field, with extensive translational research program experience, strong collaboration skills, and a

Qualifications

• Five years Project/program management experience.
• Required: Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Preferred: Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Healthcare Administration or related field or PhD in one of the natural sciences or medical degree.

Responsibilities

• Scientific & Strategic Program Management
• Develop strategic and tactical plans supporting ongoing research activities and long-term programmatic initiatives
• Lead multidisciplinary and multi-investigator research programs across institutional and external partners
• Coordinate development and implementation of multi-institutional consortium networks and collaborations
• Establish and strengthen relationships with institutional, departmental, and extramural collaborators
• Analyze operational processes and implement workflow optimization strategies to improve efficiency and productivity
• Monitor active research projects and maintain systems tracking deliverables, milestones, and timelines
• Develop and oversee systems, policies, and procedures supporting clinical and translational research protocols
• Coordinate advisory boards, planning committees, retreats, and collaborative research meetings
• Serve as liaison to pharmaceutical companies, community physicians, partner institutions, and sponsoring agencies
• Participate in departmental and institutional committees and present program initiatives as assigned
• Research Administration
• Oversee pre-award and post-award management of grants, contracts, clinical studies, and research programs
• Direct development and submission of complex NIH, CPRIT, institutional, and philanthropic funding applications
• Prepare integrated scientific, administrative, and supporting grant application documents
• Review, edit, and revise funding applications, progress reports, and research communications for compliance and accuracy
• Develop grant timelines, reporting schedules, progress tracking systems, and compliance monitoring tools
• Prepare presentations, strategic plans, business plans, reports, and research documentation
• Coordinate RPPR submissions, progress reports, no-cost extensions, closeout activities, and sponsor documentation
• Serve as liaison between investigators, institutional offices, and sponsoring agencies
• Identify funding opportunities supporting strategic extramural and philanthropic initiatives
• Clinical Research & Regulatory Oversight
• Coordinate clinical research protocols from development through activation and ongoing study conduct
• Collaborate with research and regulatory teams to submit protocols and regulatory documents to oversight entities
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, sponsor requirements, Good Clinical Practice standards, and federal regulations
• Monitor enrollment activity, study progress, reporting timelines, compliance requirements, and operational milestones
• Develop and maintain quality assurance systems supporting regulatory compliance
• Support audit readiness and maintenance of required regulatory documentation
• Maintain current knowledge of applicable regulations, GCP guidelines, eligibility requirements, and disease processes
• Financial & Budget Administration
• Develop, manage, and monitor proposal budgets, award budgets, financial reports, projections, and reconciliations
• Conduct budget analyses and provide recommendations regarding resource allocation and financial planning
• Collaborate with investigators and finance teams on budgetary decisions affecting research programs
• Coordinate financial tracking, cost center oversight, invoicing, and research-related financial activities
• Ensure compliance with institutional and sponsor financial guidelines and requirements
• Leadership & Personnel Management
• Serve as a consultant and lead project teams as needed
• Provide operational oversight and supervision of assigned personnel
• Coordinate workload prioritization and operational assignments across research support staff
• Facilitate communication among research, clinical, regulatory, and administrative teams
• Develop and deliver education regarding administrative, operational, and quality requirements
• Support onboarding and training activities related to research administration and clinical study operations
• Coordinate educational initiatives for research personnel
• Communicate institutional policies and procedures through formal and informal methods
• Attend departmental meetings, continuing education programs, and other assigned engagements
• Complete special projects, reports, and additional duties as assigned

Skills

Project management

Program management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Grant management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree or PhD preferred

Job description

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston seeks a Research Program Manager to coordinate translational and clinical research activities across divisions and external partners. You will lead strategic plans, manage multidisciplinary programs, and supervise research administration, clinical oversight, and financial operations.

Qualified candidates have a PhD in Biology or related field, with extensive translational research program experience, strong collaboration skills, and a