The UCLA JCCC Senior Project Manager (SPM) serves as a critical role to contributing to the Cancer Center mission. The SPM is a cultural, strategic and operational transformation driver and reports directly to the Cancer Center Chief Administrative Officer and also partners with and receives direction from the Cancer Center Director. The SPM has a scientific and scientific writing background in order to formulate strategies and drive implementation of initiatives to meet the Cancer Center’s objectives and support short-term and long-term goals and mission. The incumbent will define and implement large, integrated project plans to support cancer research, clinical care, education and community outreach. The SPM devotes their effort in three primary areas: (1) Project managing the awards nomination activities of the Center by developing and submitting nominations for UCLA JCCC members; (2) Research project proposal writing and project management initiatives as well as other research document writing and editing activities; and (3) Providing expert level project management support for University of California Cancer Consortium (UC-CC) initiatives. The SPM role is critical to strategically increasing national and international visibility, reputation and formal rankings for the Cancer Center, UCLA Health and the UC-CC through strategic development and implementation of critical initiatives. The SPM independently organizes and handles the full life cycle of a large volume of scientific award nominations for UCLA JCCC members working with key stakeholders and senior leaders from across the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Hospital System, UCLA departments, and external partner organizations such as Caltech, the National Cancer Institute, and others. The SPM must be skilled in navigating complex, matrixed organizational structures and working with individuals at all levels of the organization. In support of the Cancer Center and the broader cancer research community, the SPM provides expert level research proposal writing and development services that expand UCLA’s cancer research portfolio and strategically support the mission of the Cancer Center. Types of research projects on which the SPM works include the NCI Cancer Center Support Grant (P30), S10 shared equipment grants, T32 training grants, and other large-scale, multi-disciplinary research projects such as P01s, U54s, SPOREs, etc. The SPM also supports other research related writing and project management needs of the Cancer Center, including the drafting of letters of support from the UCLA JCCC for other cancer researcher grant proposals and drafting/editing of the UCLA JCCC strategic plan and related policy and other documents. Finally, the SPM provides expert level project management support for the UC-CC, serving as UCLA JCCC’s liaison to and primary point of contact for the consortium. In this role, they coordinate all UC-CC cross-institution initiatives for UCLA, including highly complex projects (i.e. developing mechanisms for inter-institutional exchange of large data sets, developing legislative initiatives, and supporting scientific sub-consortia). In this role the SPM works with the highest level of leadership both within UCLA, UCLA Health and within University of California Office of the President to strategically elevate cancer care and research. In collaboration with the other UCs and UCOP, the SPM create policies and works on legislative initiatives to strategically drive the UCs to be the voice for cancer care and research in California.

This role requires detailed knowledge of UCLA research activities, and therefore, the successful SPM is able to build strong professional relationships across the entire university and becomes very familiar with all JCCC members and what they do. They work closely with the highest level of institutional and University of California leadership and as such, the incumbent must display a high degree of scientific and political savvy. Furthermore, the incumbent in this position needs to build strong relationships with the multiple national and international organizations that are giving out prestigious awards and they must gain detailed knowledge of the variety of opportunities available to ensure the strongest nomination package is created for the JCCC member to be right candidate. The SPM is a highly organized, scientifically-savvy, detail-oriented individual with the ability to lead projects across internal units (i.e., DGSOM, UCLA Health, Engineering, etc.) and external partners (i.e., Caltech, the NCI, etc.) and manage special projects identified by the Cancer Center Director and/or Chief Administrative Officer. They are able to balance a high-volume workload often with competing priorities and deadlines. This role requires strong writing and editing skills, scientific acumen, critical thinking, creativity, political savvy, and being able to condense complex information into clear and concise communications.

The SPM must be skillful leading large cross-functional strategic projects and programs in close collaborations with institutional leaders in the UCLA Health System, DGSOM, academic departments, the NCI and others. The SPM needs to be able to balance priorities, have a sense of urgency, be a team player, and use creativity to identify and implement ways to further support the UCLA JCCC in driving forward progress towards its mission to accelerate research to prevent and cure cancer. Reliability, independence, and initiative are essential. The SPM should have a personal drive for excellence and a commitment to the Cancer Center’s mission.

Salary Range: $67,400 - $133,400

• Demonstrated ability to understand science, ability to write about science, and incorporate scientific achievements into the letters of recommendation and nominations.
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills. Highly polished communication skills, both oral and written, to obtain and convey information accurately and clearly. Demonstrated English writing skills to produce original correspondence, reports, and other documents including grant write-ups, utilizing correct spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, etc.). Ability to quickly master new database systems, survey tools, and other software systems and tools.
• Ability to bring together diverse stakeholders and personalities, present a vision, gain buy-in, and then facilitate successful collaboration between all involved.
• Ability to independently prioritize and organize projects through multiple phases. Ability to meet deadlines and follow through on multiple projects and tasks simultaneously with careful attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated skill in working as a part of a team and ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with senior leaders, administrators, faculty, staff, students, and others.
• Demonstrated analytical skills to identify and define issues and alternatives, to resolve problems, and to draw sound conclusions where none have existed. Ability to make recommendations for improvements and implement them.
• Demonstrated ability to work with high levels of leadership and a refined political savvy.

UCLA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.