Senior Project Manager, Monogenic Epilepsy

Department
 

BSD PED – Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation – Pediatric Cancer Data Commons: Operations

About the Department
 

The Biological Sciences Division’s ‘Data for the Common Good’ (D4CG), is a rapidly-growing team of experts in medicine, clinical research, public health, data standards, data infrastructure and programming, data governance and international data sharing. Headquartered in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago, Data for the Common Good works to connect and share disparate data sets in order to alter long-standing research paradigms and enable the study of new research questions that drive cures. Its signature flagship project, the Pediatric Cancer Data Commons (PCDC), houses the world’s largest set of clinical data for pediatric cancer, uniting clinical data from across five continents for almost all types of pediatric cancer. Leveraging its expertise in establishing data commons, Data for the Common Good has expanded to create similar infrastructure across other rare diseases, including rare forms of diabetes, pediatric epilepsy, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis,traumatic brain injury,and adult cancers, as well as a university-wide initiative called the Sociome, a scalable and extensible infrastructure and architecture that will ultimately assemble, quantify and organize the entirety of social context experienced by every individual.
D4CG has been funded to create the world’s largest pediatric epilepsy data commons, gathering EEG, clinical, microbiome, and genetic data from medical centers and patient advocacy groups, working with these data contributors to agree on a common set of data elements. The D4CG team will then link retrospective data to real-world clinical information, such as demographics, surgical history, device use records, diet records, medication history, and/or family history. By doing so, we enrich the usefulness of data and open new avenues of research.

Job Summary
 

The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for managing the development of the pediatric epilepsy data commons, including: the creation of new or cultivation of existing consortia to contribute data to the effort, represent D4CG and pediatric neurology in the development of project oversight, organizational structure of the contributors, liaise with technical team on the development of data structures and workflows, maintain product delivery according to milestones and report on overall project progress. The job uses best practices and knowledge of non-technical (not information technology or clinical related) projects from conception to completion. Assembles teams and develops detailed work plans, schedules, project estimates, resource plans, and status reports while being the point of contact for those projects.
​​Our department follows a hybrid work structure that fosters productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being. Working from the office is encouraged for tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.
This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities

• Plans, coordinates, arranges, and reports on epilepsy consortia meetings and workshops with key stakeholders, including D4CG team experts, pediatric neurology physicians and technologists, informaticists, technology experts, and project sponsors. 

• Creates project management and consortia work plans and timelines and communicates accordingly with D4CG leadership, project management team, and consortia leadership; Builds and executes project plans.  

• Ensures project deliverables are completed according to both internal and stakeholder timelines, notifies D4CG leadership when project timelines are at risk, and works with team members to ensure corrective measures are taken to ensure successful project completion. 

• Coordinates events, researches logistics, assists with planning and preparing presentations, event outreach, and post-event write ups. 

• When necessary, assembles and leads a project team, assigns individual responsibilities, identifies appropriate resources needed, and develops schedules to ensure timely completion of projects. 

• Is responsible for tracking progress, conducting analyses, as well as preparing for and facilitating project meetings. 

• Acts as a resource for a project team, including interpretation of complex project issues and providing analytical guidance to a project team. 

• Coordinates the successful integration of vendor and/or consultant tasks and tracks and reviews vendor and/or consultant deliverables. 

• ​​Performs other related work as needed. 

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications  

Education: 

• MS, MA, or MPH in related field. 

Experience: 

• Experience with project management practices, tools, and software. 

• Experience working and communicating effectively with stakeholders from various backgrounds and specializations. 

• Scientific background and interest – particularly clinical trials, medicine, or public health. 

• Familiarity with clinical/phenotypic data.  

• Experience facilitating technical discussions, as well as the ability to synthesize, summarize and generate insight from large amounts of complex data and information. 

• Experience working in non-profit or university research organization. 

• Experience with grant management, budgeting, and reporting. 

Preferred Competencies  

• Demonstrated success in managing the operation of public services. 

• Demonstrated interest in developing programs. 

• Interest in digital tools and methods for research. 

• Demonstrated record of success in developing and maintaining strong working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators and other internal and external partners.  

• Knowledge of project management concepts, tools, software, and best practices. 

• Ability to work independently, as well as collaboratively, in a changing environment. 

• Understanding of clinical trial, registry and other clinical data, electronic health record data processes and data flow. 

• Knowledge of medical research and clinical data. 

• Strong and effective oral and written communication skills.  

• Ability to facilitate group decision-making processes and foster an environment of healthy team idea exchange and collaboration. 

• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders from various cultures, countries, and knowledge bases. 

• Ability to accurately monitor project progress, to keep track of effort and funds expended and committed, and to anticipate at an early stage any need for changes in project direction, scope, objectives, funding, or timeline. 

• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and independently follow through with detail on general, and sometimes ambiguous, instructions for projects. 

• Ability to facilitate technical discussions, as well as the ability to synthesize, summarize and generate insight from large amounts of complex information. 

• Excellent communication, time management / organization, troubleshooting, and analytical skills. 

Working Conditions   

• ​​Eligible for hybrid work based on business needs and the demands of specific tasks. Working from the office is encouraged for tasks that require a high degree of collaboration. 

Application Documents   

• Resume (required) 

• Cover letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Administration & Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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