Research Programs Manager - Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center

The Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center was founded to advance discovery and reduce the societal burden of Alzheimer's disease. The Center has emerged as a national leader in characterizing molecular factors that increase risk or promote resilience to the downstream consequences of Alzheimer's disease.

The Research Programs Manager will report to the Director of the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer's Center. High-level responsibilities include daily interactions with VUMC and VU senior leadership, faculty, administration, and stakeholders for the purposes of achieving the Center's research goals. The position will manage the Center's research portfolio, including contract, grant, personnel, and fiscal administration. The Research Programs Manager will serve as the subject matter expert for Center administration and operations and will liaison on behalf of the Center Director across participating departments and units.

Basic Qualifications: This position requires an MS or PhD in biomedical sciences or related fields and relevant post-graduate experience in a research setting. Exceptional organizational, verbal communication, and written communication are required. Experience with research project management and grant writing is strongly preferred.

The ideal candidate would be a recent PhD graduate who is seeking experience in scientific program management, research policy, or administration.

Serves as the primary administrative lead for the Center, including managing financial, human resource, and research portfolio needs in collaboration with senior administrative staff across participating departments.

Communicates and models values and mission of Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Establishes, supports, and promotes ownership of team, department, and Center goals. Fosters team effort to accomplish common Center goals. Willingly accepts responsibility and performs expected and unexpected tasks. Willingly exerts extra effort when necessary to get the job done.

Exhibits strong leadership skills. Applies key concepts of facilitative leadership. Effectively prioritizes tasks and work assignments. Delegates tasks as appropriate, reviews work, and follows up to assure successful and timely completion.

Recognizes and takes charge of areas of responsibility. Takes ownership of problems brought to their attention. Follows through from analysis to problem resolution. Takes responsibility for mistakes and learns from them.

Distinguishes critical needs/problems from less urgent ones. Demonstrates ability to prioritize tasks and issues. Plans, organizes, and completes projects in an efficient manner.

Stays informed regarding new advances in the field, regulatory guidelines, and institutional policies/procedures and disseminates this information to the Center.

Defines and achieves financial targets for the Center, consistent with the departmental and institutional financial plan.

Develops clinical trial and grant budgets, including negotiating budgets with sponsors.

Exercises judgment and prepares supporting or correcting documentation aligned with Institutional and Federal billing policies.

Reports findings of the audit process and incidental discoveries to the Center Director and Department Chief Business Officer for inspection, correction, or procedural improvement purposes.

Leads team discussions to generate cost effective ideas.

Ensures a safe, satisfying, and enriching environment for employees and delivers a qualified, capable, and culturally competent staff that respects diversity in the workplace. Treats all team members as unique individuals with valuable resources and skills that enhance the team.

Defines qualifications and performance expectations for staff. Creates and assesses accomplishment of annual goals based upon individual, Center, and departmental goals.

Assures that each staff member's ability is regularly assessed in meeting the performance expectations stated in their job description. Establishes objective scoring criteria to decrease bias during evaluation.

Counsels employees about disciplinary actions taken in response to violations of institutional, department, and Center policies.

Actively seeks feedback to improve processes, systems, and outcomes, including initiating and contributing to the development and modification of Center policies and procedures.

Monitors quality assurance standards, programs, and procedures within the Center.

Communicates within and across interdisciplinary teams to maximize effectiveness, efficiency, and information sharing.

Analyzes situations/events, develops recommendations/plans, and communicates solutions. Uses innovative thinking when developing alternative solutions.

Attends institutional quality improvement suggestions class and applies concepts learned.

Promotes the routine use of continuous quality improvement concepts among the team and Center to continuously improve standards, processes, and daily operations. Promotes a culture of continuous improvement.

Creates, conducts, and supervises complex quality assurance/quality improvement audits.

Employs concepts of business process re-engineering, including analyzing and designing workflows and processes within the Center.

Accepts constructive criticism. Demonstrates a positive attitude in response to suggestions for improvement and actively integrates feedback.

Assesses the composition of the team and identifies potential gaps. Develops and communicates team goals and provides appropriate follow-up to assure timely resolution.

Effectively motivates team members. Listens and understands other team member's point of view. Considers suggestions from others. Creates and supports a climate of trust, openness, and honest communication.

Performs continuous self-assessment for areas of development. Actively identifies and participates in educational and professional developmental activities to improve knowledge and performance to sustain and enhance personal and Center development, including nurturing a life-long learning environment.

Creates an environment that encourages and supports self-development and learning through regular, timely feedback. Thoroughly documents all conversations with team members to provide detail needed in future performance evaluations or counseling discussions.

Assures the professional development of staff through orientation, training programs, and hands-on work experience. Encourages individualized professional development plans to guide staff to success, focusing on areas needing growth. Recommends personnel action, including hiring, promotions, and terminations.

May present at local or national conferences, serve on panels, or contribute to publications.

May chair or serve on internal, institutional, local, or national committees.