Scientific Program Manager

About Arc Institute

Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.

Unlike academia, our scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs work side by side, integrating experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.

Our two Institute Initiatives reflect this model in action:

• Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets, accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.

• Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

More than 300 Arconauts work together at our Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.

About the position

We are seeking a Scientific Program Manager to help coordinate and drive strategic research initiatives across Arc Institute. In this role, you will support the orchestration of complex, multi-disciplinary projects that span our Technology Centers encompassing cellular models, mammalian models, genome engineering, multi-omics, computational biology, and machine learning.

A core part of this role is tactical: gathering critical information from across the institute, identifying and mapping key stakeholders for each initiative, and building the relationships needed to keep ambitious scientific programs moving forward. You will synthesize what you learn into clearly framed options and recommendations so that Technology Center leaders can make well-informed decisions quickly.

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in biological research combined with growing program management skills, sharp instincts for information gathering, and a talent for building trust across diverse scientific teams. You will work closely with institute leadership to facilitate effective cross-functional collaboration and accelerate breakthrough discoveries in complex disease areas and cell modeling.

About you

• You’re a natural information gatherer. You know that great program management starts with understanding the full picture. You proactively seek out the right people, ask incisive questions, and synthesize information from multiple sources to build a clear view of project status, risks, and opportunities that others might miss.

• You build relationships that make things happen. You invest in getting to know stakeholders—their priorities, working styles, and concerns—and you leverage those relationships to facilitate progress. You’re the person people want to loop in because you make collaboration easier, not harder.

• You provide optionality, not just answers. You understand that scientific leaders need options, not just status updates. You excel at framing decisions clearly, presenting well-researched alternatives with trade-offs, and empowering decision makers to choose the best path forward with confidence.

• You love structuring problems and solutions. You take a strategic view and excel at breaking down complex research initiatives into clear workstreams and deliverables, identifying dependencies, and anticipating potential bottlenecks before anyone else.

• You’re able to find the razor’s edge between formality and chaos. You know that the path to the biggest discoveries are never linear. So you balance process formality with leaving space for innovation, always with an eye to delivering outstanding results.

• You are persuasive but tactful. You build strong working relationships with scientists and leadership alike, bringing diplomacy, curiosity, and positive energy to every interaction.

• You’re energized by learning. You’re a lifelong learner who thrives at the intersection of biology and technology, and you’re eager to deepen your expertise in program management within a research environment.

In this position you will

• Proactively gather and synthesize information from across Technology Centers to maintain an accurate, up-to-date understanding of project status, dependencies, risks, and resource needs.

• Identify and map key stakeholders for each initiative, building a clear picture of who needs to be involved, informed, or consulted at each stage.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships across research teams, Technology Center leaders, and Core Investigators to facilitate trust and open communication.

• Develop clearly framed options, recommendations, and decision packages that give institute leadership the information and optionality they need to make timely, well-informed decisions.

• Coordinate research initiatives that span multiple Technology Centers, ensuring clear communication of objectives, timelines, and dependencies.

• Support the facilitation of regular cross-functional meetings to drive progress, surface blockers, and ensure effective resource allocation.

• Design and implement project tracking systems tailored to the needs of scientific research teams.

• Track and communicate project progress to stakeholders at multiple levels, from technical teams to institute leadership.

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and implement solutions to increase research efficiency.

• Contribute to the development of program management best practices for a research-intensive environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Life Sciences or a related field

• 5+ years of industry experience in program management, project coordination, or research operations in a research or translational setting

• Background in one or more relevant biology areas (genome engineering, multi-omics, advanced cellular disease models, etc.)

• Demonstrated strength in information gathering, stakeholder identification, and building productive working relationships across scientific teams

• Track record of synthesizing complex information into clear options and actionable recommendations for decision makers

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects in research environments, balancing competing priorities while maintaining focus on strategic objectives

• Experience designing and implementing project tracking systems for scientific research

• Excellent communication skills with proven ability to engage effectively with research scientists, experimentalists, and senior management

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams

• Experience with advanced project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Asana, Jira, Smartsheet)

• Experience in stakeholder mapping or organizational network analysis in complex scientific organizations

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in Life Sciences or a related field

• Experience with computational biology or machine learning projects

• Background in supporting therapeutic development

• Track record of process improvement initiatives in research settings