Work in Washington Veterans Jobs

Req #: 243879

Department: BIOCHEMISTRY

Posting Date: 02/27/2025

Closing Info: Open Until Filled

Salary: $12,000 - $13,000 per month

Shift: First Shift

Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-contract-covered-exempt-20250130-a11y.pdf)

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills, and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits, and natural beauty.

The UW Institute for Protein Design (IPD) has an exciting opportunity for the Assistant Director position. This is a senior management role responsible for overseeing the Institute’s administrative, logistical and financial operations.

The IPD is organized within the UW Department of Biochemistry at the UW School of Medicine, with additional oversight provided by the IPD Governance & Oversight Board.

Founded by 2024 Nobel laureate David Baker, the IPD is creating new proteins to solve challenges in medicine, technology, and sustainability. Active research projects include AI methods development and the computational design of medicines, vaccines, and novel enzymes. The IPD receives support from sponsored research projects, federal grants, and gifts from private foundations and donors. The Assistant Director will play a critical role in ensuring the effective management of these resources, supporting the IPD's continued success and groundbreaking scientific advancements.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Assistant Director of IPD is a key member of the Institute for Protein Design (IPD), serving as head of its administrative team, and responsible for a wide range of complex, diversified and confidential leadership duties. Critical thinking, initiative, and sound judgment based on experience are required to manage operations, resolve problems, set up and implement policies and procedures and make recommendations to IPD and Biochemistry leadership. This position will participate in the development of strategic plans, oversee plan and policy implementation, and ensure continued adherence to the strategic objectives of the Institute.

The position will have a high level of autonomy and independence and requires excellent organizational, collaborative and team-building skills.

This role is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the IPD, including direct management/ oversight of a 10-15 member administrative team covering the following functions: grants, project management, financial operations, communications, HR activities, compliance and executive support. In addition, this role oversees individuals who liaise closely with UW’s central HR and Finance offices and provide relevant support to the IPD.

POSITION COMPLEXITIES

This role effectively manages all business-, fiscal-, and grant-related activities for the Institute, comprising over $40M in annual expenditures and >300 people including 4 faculty members, staff scientists, professional staff, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduate trainees, working in close coordination and cooperation with the Department of Biochemistry management and administrative team to ensure smooth continuity of operations and policy compliance. Advanced organizational, people and project management, communication and collaborative skills are critical for this role.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Administrative and HR Management Activities (40%)

• Oversee the activities of an IPD HR Specialist (Program Operations Specialist) responsible for academic HR, visas, employee engagement and development, onboarding, and hiring for the Institute.

• Work with IPD HR Specialist to coordinate annual performance reviews (with Principal Investigators and other stakeholders) and salary change recommendations for research scientists and professional staff.

• The above work is done with the Biochemistry department HR Manager and Department Director to obtain the necessary approvals and HR process for salary changes, promotions, recruitment, terminations, layoffs and other HR-related issues.

• Establish and maintain the IPD HR unit as the main point of contact and resource for all IPD staff and trainees, working closely with the unit supervisors and maintaining close contact and communication with the Department of Biochemistry Director and HR Manager on all matters of performance issues, corrective actions and conflict resolution. In cooperation with the Department, facilitate necessary supervisor and manager trainings as needed.

• Oversee the activities of executive support staff to ensure top level support is provided to the IPD senior leadership.Grant Management Activities (10%)

• Oversee the activities of the four-member research/grant team headed by the IPD Research Manager, who manages all grant proposals, pre- and post-award funding, budgeting, contracts, and reporting.

• Liaise with UW Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Office of Sponsored Programs, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and CoMotion officials to ensure timely and effective processing of agreements.Fiscal Management Activities (20%)

• Oversee the activities of the fiscal team, working closely with the IPD Fiscal Program Analyst to ensure timely fiscal reporting to internal UW stakeholders including the Department of Biochemistry leadership and IPD Governance & Oversight Board. Partner with the IPD Executive Director and Fiscal PA to oversee strategic financial forecasting and budget preparation (Fiscal Year, biannual and monthly budget projections) across the variety of IPD funding streams (grants, gifts, endowments, royalty funds etc.).

• Ensure that use of funding is appropriately matched to research activities and that accurate forecasting of financial models enables long-term decision-making about staffing and infrastructure improvements.

• Partner with the Department of Biochemistry Director to manage fiscal and compliance audits; ensure compliance with best practices and institutional requirements.Project Management/ Resource Allocation (10%)Oversee and allocate project management resources at the Institute in collaboration with IPD Executive Director:

• Hire and onboard project managers to support IPD activities.

• Deploy/allocate research project manager support to translational programs.

• Identify priority non-research programs and projects for Institute requiring project management support (e.g. space project needs).

• Manage complex portfolio of corporate-sponsored research programs, working closely with colleagues at HHMI and UW compliance office to see agreements through execution.

• In coordination with senior IPD and department management, work to assess space needs and facilities allocation.

• Special projects and events, as required, including high visibility projects of strategic importance.Compliance and risk management (5%)

• Manage the review, implementation, and maintenance of all IPD policy documents, ensuring compliance with all relevant UW, State, Departmental policies and executive orders.

• Oversee organizational process improvement, play an active role in creating and implementing internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance.

• Work closely with the Department Chair, IPD faculty, UW Office of Research and the School of Medicine Compliance Office to maintain, monitor and manage the IPD members SFI (Significant Financial Interest) Management Plans in accordance with the relevant UW, State and Federal regulations, ensuring full compliance to the FCOI and other relevant policies.Maintaining key institutional relationships (10%)Develop and maintain key relationships within the University, and interface between IPD and University offices and organizations:

• School of Medicine leadership.

• Compliance.

• Space and Facilities.

• Finance.

• External Affairs.

• Advancement.

• Department of Biochemistry.

• Office of Sponsored Programs.

• UW CoMotion.

• Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute.Management of IPD Governance & Oversight Board and IPD Advisory Board Meetings (5%)

• Staff quarterly meetings for each of these boards.

• Set strategic agendas, prepare presentation materials, prepare formal meeting minutes.

• Develop and deliver communications with the board.

• As needed, adapt board charters and documents, with invested stakeholders. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Management, business or related field plus 4-5 years of experience in related field.

• Highly skilled program management professional with direct experience in program administration roles, preferably within the UW system or comparable academic / research environment.

• Proven track-record in managing complex pre- and post-award grant processes (ideally within the UW system) and fiscal management of a sizable research or academic program, within a research, academic or private industry environment.

• Strong analytical, financial management and reporting skills and experience.

• Highly developed project and team management, collaborative and people skills and ability to build and motivate teams in a positive, collaborative environment are a must.

• Critical thinking, initiative, and sound judgment based on experience are required to manage tasks, resolve problems, and make recommendations.

• Advanced computer skills, project management experience, and advanced communication, organizational and collaborative skills required. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with University of Washington sponsored research and / or financial systems and policies, and UW institutional knowledge strongly preferred. Familiarity with the Workday financial and HR systems strongly preferred.

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration or a related field.

• 6-8 years of research program management-level experience in an institution of higher learning or in the biotechnology sector.

• Familiarity with intellectual property prosecution and maintenance.

• Experience with contracts, vendor and procurement agreements and processes within the UW.

• Familiarity with government funding agencies and their grant and contract processes.

• Strong HR /team management background and exceptional people skills. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are access ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.