Senior Project Manager, RDTC

Location: Bar Harbor

Senior Project Manager - Rare Disease Translational Center (RDTC)

Position Summary

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) provides senior-level scientific project leadership for complex preclinical and translational research programs within the Rare Disease Translational Center (RDTC). This role operates with a high degree of independence and accountability, owning project execution across multiple concurrent studies from initiation through completion. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for driving timelines, anticipating and resolving risks, ensuring data quality, and enabling high-quality scientific execution in close partnership with Study Directors, operations teams, and collaborators.

About the RDTC

The Rare Disease Translational Center supports the mission of The Jackson Laboratory: to discover precise genomic solutions for disease and empower the global biomedical community to improve human health. The RDTC works closely with foundations and teams of basic and clinical researchers to generate custom mouse models with clinically relevant mutations and advance therapeutic development for rare diseases.

Role Overview

As a senior individual contributor and project leader, the Senior Project Manager independently manages complex, cross-functional preclinical programs and serves as the primary owner of day-to-day project execution. This role requires strong scientific judgment, the ability to operate autonomously, and the confidence to make decisions in dynamic study environments. The Senior Project Manager plays a leadership role within RDTC by mentoring and training Project Managers and contributing to the development of best practices, workflows, and execution standards across the Center.

Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Project Ownership and Execution

* Serve as the primary owner of end-to-end project execution for assigned preclinical studies, with accountability for timelines, deliverables, and coordination across teams.

* Represent RDTC on external-facing calls with collaborators, sponsors, or partners as needed, providing clear project updates, alignment on timelines and deliverables, and professional scientific communication.

* Independently manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, balancing competing priorities and study demands.

* Attention to detail and exceptional organizational approach required

* Partner closely with Study Directors to translate scientific objectives into executable project plans.

Risk Identification, Problem Solving, and Decision-Making

* Proactively identify scientific, technical, and operational risks and take action to mitigate impacts on study timelines or quality.

* Exercise independent judgment to resolve issues, adjust plans, and keep projects moving forward in the face of uncertainty.

* Escalate critical risks or decision points to RDTC leadership with clear context and recommended paths forward.

Study Setup and Coordination

* Lead project initiation and setup activities, including development and oversight of detailed study timelines and resource plans.

* Coordinate with operations and internal teams to ensure studies are executed efficiently and consistently..

Compliance Awareness

* Ensure awareness of, adherence to, and coordination with approved IACUC and IBC protocols and institutional policies throughout study execution.

* Partner with Study Directors and operations teams to identify when protocol updates or amendments may be required.

Data Integrity, Tracking, and Reporting

* Follow established RDTC workflows and standard operating procedures for data collection, tracking, and quality control (QC).

* Ensure data accuracy, consistency, and traceability across studies, and flag deviations or data quality issues to Study Directors.

* Provide clear, timely project status updates and data summaries to Study Directors, RDTC leadership, and collaborators.

Hands-On Scientific Engagement

* Maintain direct engagement with ongoing studies, including hands-on wet lab or in vivo work as needed to support study execution, troubleshooting, or training.

* Serve as a scientific resource to project teams by providing practical insight into experimental workflows and constraints.

Leadership, Mentorship, and Capacity Building

* Provide mentorship and guidance to Project Managers and other team members, supporting skill development in project execution, prioritization, and scientific judgment.

* Contribute to onboarding and training of new project staff.

* Help establish and refine RDTC project management best practices, tools, and execution standards.

Required Experience and Qualifications

* Master's degree or PhD in a biological or related scientific discipline.

* Significant experience (typically 6-10+ years) supporting or leading preclinical or translational research projects with increasing levels of responsibility.

* Demonstrated ability to operate independently in complex, fast-paced scientific environments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

* Strong foundation in the biological sciences…