Program Manager

POSITION SUMMARY:

We have an exciting opportunity for a Program Manager of Research to join the Program Management team. This position provides cross-functional program leadership to advance Natera’s research initiatives and custom projects. The successful candidate will utilize project management tools to drive high level collaboration and coordination across various business functions, track progress, and provide detailed status reports to management. The Program Manager is essential to ensuring teams define and achieve the objectives and goals required to complete projects on time and budget.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide cross-functional program leadership to launch custom projects and deliver on key research initiatives within a technical setting.
• Drive high level collaboration and coordination with various business functions (Business Development, Product, R&D) to facilitate the program planning process and creation of comprehensive timelines taking into account available resources, dependencies, priorities, risks and other constraints.
• Take ownership of tracking overall team progress and provide detailed management status reports, including KPIs.
• Organize regular team meetings, track and mitigate risks, resolve/escalate issues and review action items.
• Generate the necessary documentation and assist teams with creating project plans, protocols, reports etc.
• Take ownership of hands-on management and tracking of overall team progress and provide detailed management status reports and updates
• Interface with external partners and facilitate joint development efforts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology or equivalent. Advanced knowledge in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, or related technical fields preferred.
• 2-3 years’ program management experience or related, relevant experience.
• Advanced knowledge of Salesforce or other customer relationship management systems.
• Certification or formal training in Program or Project Management is a big plus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Experience collaborating cross-functionally to execute successfully on project directives independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in addition to having the ability to effectively communicate within the project teams as well as to top level management.
• Excellent organization and time management/multi-tasking skills (comfortable in an ambiguous and fast-paced environment, operating at both strategic and tactical levels).
• Experience facilitating risk mitigation, decision making, and issue resolution.
• Experience compiling GANTT charts and project plans.
• Experience with project management tools (Salesforce, Google, Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, Confluence).
• Advanced genetic diagnostics/molecular biology subject matter expertise.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.