Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's ResearchJob Title: Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager
Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research ("the Foundation") is seeking top talent for its Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager position. Reporting to the Director of Translational Biomarkers, this position develops a scientific strategy for biomarker-focused portfolios spanning discovery, validation, and clinical implementation.
The Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager oversees complex portfolios and programs throughout all stages of grant-making and funding, including proposal development, review, contracting, milestone management, and close-out. This role requires shaping of an impact-driven biomarker agenda—advancing fluid biomarkers to accelerate therapeutic development and improve clinical trial design. This position synthesizes emerging biomarker science to inform funding priorities, collaborates closely with internal and external stakeholders, and communicates portfolio strategy and progress to partners and donors.
Key Responsibilities:
- Shapes, recommends, and communicates a creative, solutions-focused, value-added scientific agenda/POV within assigned biomarker portfolios and programs, leveraging input from internal team and external advisors and regularly communicates progress
- Manages assigned portfolio(s) (depending on experience level) through all stages of grant-making and funding (proposal development, review, contracting, milestone management, and close-out), troubleshooting and problem-solving as needed
- Conceptualizes and implements departmental RFAs and RFPs, communicates learnings and makes suggestions for improving processes through discussions with team members
- Supports department management with operational and budgetary planning around assigned portfolios and/or programs
- Develops and maintains strong positive relationships with research community and key opinion leaders in assigned programs and/or portfolios
- Serves as organization point person for internal and external communication of progress in assigned programs/portfolios/cross-functional strategies
- Represents research strategy at internal and external meetings and takes an active role supporting more significant donor/fundraising stewardship
- Supports research management in new team member onboarding, mentoring, and coaching (on portfolio and program level)
- Educates self on current key scientific advances and challenges relevant to Parkinson’s disease, helps identify gaps in assigned portfolio/programs and recommends strategies to address these gaps through by working closely with team and department lead
Qualifications & Skills:
- PhD plus relevant work experience in biopharma, healthcare consulting or non-profit organizations with demonstrated experience in biomarker development and/or translational research
- Relevant experience in scientific management of projects and portfolios and operating at both strategic and tactical levels
- Ability to synthesize large amounts of information related to projects and portfolios managed and provide a scientific point of view to diverse audiences
- Exceptional communication skills, written and verbal; ability to articulate portfolio and program vision and ensure that team and department leads are aligned with and aware of program strategy, status, and risks
- Demonstrate initiative and independence to identify short and long-term portfolio needs with input from peers within and across research business unit
- Expertise in biomarker research and interpretation of biomarker data to inform therapeutic development and clinical strategy
Compensation & Benefits
Individual compensation for this role is dependent on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, qualifications, skillsets, and applicable laws. In addition to salary, the Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- 15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)
- Competitive dental and vision plans
- 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employer paid life and disability insurance
- 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4
- Flexible work environment. We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.
Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.
About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.
Visit www.michaeljfox.org for more information.
Research has shown that people from marginalized communities apply to roles only when they meet 100% of the job requirements. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, and you are someone who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce, we strongly encourage you to apply.