Institute Research Program Manager (Associate Professional Specialist)

The Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute is seeking an Institute Research Program Manager (iRPM) to support the full lifecycle of complex, multi-investigator research programs, including large federal awards (e.g., DARPA, ARPA-H, NIH, NSF). This role, hired at the rank of Associate Professional Specialist, integrates scientific program management, research development, and grant execution, spanning both pre-award proposal development and post-award program oversight.

The individual in this role will work closely with faculty as a scientific and programmatic partner, helping translate research concepts into competitive proposals and executable plans, while ensuring the successful coordination and delivery of funded programs.

This is an on-campus position designed for individuals with a strong scientific background who are interested in contributing to the strategy, development, and management of high-impact research initiatives.

The initial appointment is for 3 years, with the possibility of renewal.

Role Scope and Funding

This position supports the end-to-end management of complex sponsored research programs. A majority of effort will be allocated to active grants, where the role contributes to program execution, coordination of multi-investigator teams, and technical reporting.

A portion of effort will be institutionally supported to lead the development of new funding opportunities, including large-scale, multi-institutional, multi-component proposal submissions. This integrated pre- and post-award structure ensures continuity between proposal development and program execution, which is critical for success in complex federal funding environments.

Responsibilities:

Research Development & Proposal Leadership (Pre-Award)

• Lead development of complex grant proposals, including multi-investigator and multi-institutional submissions (e.g., DARPA, ARPA-H, NIH, NSF)
• Partner with faculty to shape and refine research aims, aligning scientific ideas with sponsor priorities
• Translate technical concepts into clear, compelling proposal narratives and supporting materials
• Coordinate proposal development across collaborators, including subawardees and external partners
• Manage timelines, compliance requirements, and submission processes for large-scale proposals
• Identify and track strategic funding opportunities aligned with institutional strengths

Scientific Program Management (Post-Award)

• Serve as program manager for awarded projects, supporting alignment between proposed aims and ongoing research activities
• Track milestones, deliverables, and progress across multi-investigator teams
• Support development of technical reports and sponsor-facing communications (e.g., DARPA-style reporting)
• Facilitate regular program meetings, working groups, and sponsor interactions
• Identify risks or delays and work with faculty and teams to implement solutions

Research Portfolio Coordination & Systems

• Support management of a portfolio of complex research programs
• Develop and maintain systems for tracking aims, deliverables, publications, and outcomes
• Coordinate cross-project activities and ensure consistency in reporting and execution
• Contribute to continuous improvement of processes supporting large-scale research programs

Administration & Program Support

• Coordinate administrative components of complex sponsored awards, including subaward setup and management
• Work in partnership with departmental and central offices to support budget tracking, compliance, and reporting requirements
• Ensure timely submission of progress reports and maintenance of accurate grant documentation
• Support audit readiness and adherence to sponsor guidelines across all assigned programs

Qualifications

• PhD (or equivalent terminal degree) in a scientific or engineering discipline required
• Demonstrated experience with research proposal development and/or management of sponsored research programs
• Familiarity with complex federal funding mechanisms (e.g., DARPA, ARPA-H, NIH, NSF) strongly preferred
• Excellent scientific writing, editing, and communication skills
• Ability to engage with faculty and researchers on technical subject matter
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate across multiple stakeholders
• Experience with multi-institutional collaborations and subawards preferred

Applicants should upload a cover letter, statement of research and teaching background, interests and philosophy, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references as part of the application process. The cover letter should address the applicant's qualifications for each aspect of the responsibilities listed above. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.

The work location for this position is in-person on campus at Princeton University and is subject to the University's background check policy. This position is not eligible for sponsorship of an H-1B visa requiring consular processing.