At Sage Bionetworks, we believe in the power of open science and interdisciplinary collaboration to create a new vision of human health. We strive for actionable biomedical insights through the responsible sharing and reuse of data, all guided by our deep scientific expertise and diligent governance controls. We're a dynamic, adaptable team, and at Sage, we highly value individuals who can flexibly navigate various roles and functions. Diversity in experiences, backgrounds, and identities is essential for our rich culture of learning and collaboration. Our partnerships, both within Sage and with external communities, are founded on principles of trust, transparency, and a commitment to growth. Together, we are leaving a lasting imprint on the fields of science and medicine.
This position is on the Sage Bionetworks Science and Data team. In this role, you will apply your skills as a Senior Scientific Program Manager by coordinating multi-stakeholder efforts to build transformative data infrastructure for rare disease research and diagnostics—bringing together clinical data providers, technology partners, patient advocacy organizations, and research institutions to create sustainable, interoperable platforms that accelerate diagnosis for millions of people living with rare diseases.
We are looking for someone who thrives at the intersection of data science, clinical research, and community engagement in the rare disease ecosystem. Can you facilitate collaboration among computational biologists, data scientists, and governance experts while navigating the unique challenges of rare disease data—from ultra-small populations to fragmented data across clinical encounters? Can you balance technical requirements with the urgent needs of rare disease communities navigating diagnostic odysseys? If so, you could be our next Senior Scientific Program Manager.
You would bring your expertise in coordinating large-scale biomedical data initiatives, managing diverse stakeholder relationships across rare disease organizations and clinical networks, implementing governance frameworks for sensitive health data, and translating between technical teams and rare disease advocacy partners to advance rare disease diagnostics.
Job Summary:
As a Senior Scientific Program Manager, you will drive program delivery for a multi-year, multi-institutional effort to build a comprehensive rare disease data platform. This platform will integrate heterogeneous data—from genomics and imaging to clinical observations and patient-reported outcomes—to enable AI-powered diagnostic algorithm development. You will manage complex projects spanning data ingestion, harmonization, benchmarking, and discovery tools while ensuring alignment with patient priorities and clinical needs. You will work with senior stakeholders to orchestrate collaboration among technology developers, rare disease researchers, and patient advocacy organizations. In this role, you can also expect to interface with personnel across similar programs in our Cancer Biology and Alzheimer's Diseases portfolios, among other research domains.
Key Responsibilities:
- Project Ownership: Take full ownership of project delivery from initiation through completion, ensuring outcomes align with program requirements and success metric, in addition to organizational strategy and impact goals.
- Strategic Planning: Translate strategic objectives into actionable project plans, milestones, and success metrics, leveraging project management tools and AI as needed
- Partnership Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with external collaborators, partners, and funders, representing project priorities effectively.
- Team Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams and facilitate collaboration among research, technical, and operations staff to achieve project milestones.
- Risk and Issue Management: Anticipate risks, interdependencies, and resource challenges; develop and deploy decision-making, issue, escalation and risk mitigation strategies to maintain project momentum.
- Budget and Resource Management: Develop and manage project budgets, forecasts, and resource plans.
- Process Development: Establish and evolve project management frameworks that increase efficiency, clarity, and accountability.
- Leadership Alignment: Partner with scientific program leadership to define priorities, drive decisions, and adjust project plans in response to evolving needs.
- Communication and Collaboration: Create transparent communication channels across teams, leading regular meetings, updates, and reports for internal and external audiences.
- Mentorship: Mentor and support professional development of junior and mid-level project managers.
- Strategic Contribution: Contribute to institutional strategic planning and implementation of program management best practices.
We’d Love to Hear from You If You:
- Hold a bachelor's degree in a field such as biomedical research or health informatics
- Have 5+ years of experience in scientific program management, biomedical research coordination, or health data infrastructure projects
- Have experience leading highly collaborative, multi-stakeholder projects, ideally in research, life sciences, or data-focused organizations, with demonstrated ability to independently manage large-scale, high impact projects
- Have expertise in agile, hybrid, or matrixed project management environments and tools.
- Have proven success in stakeholder management, risk mitigation, and process improvement.
- Have exceptional communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to influence across teams and technical levels.
- Have experience in resource management (i.e. budgeting, forecasting, team member training and onboarding)
- Have experience and accountability reporting for complex initiatives.
- Have experience assessing the use and application of AI tools to support the design, execution and management of programs
- Thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy contributing to team success
Preferred Skills:
- 7+ years of experience in scientific program management, biomedical research coordination, or health data infrastructure projects
- Familiarity with rare disease communities
- Familiarity with clinical data types
- Familiarity with data governance frameworks for sensitive health data
- Experience translating between technical and community partners
- Knowledge of data platforms, data commons, biomedical technology infrastructure
- Effective communication skills for diverse audiences from patient advocates to technical developers
- Experience developing and tracking project success metrics
- Familiarity with healthcare interoperability standards and biomedical ontologies
- Track record of building relationships and engaging diverse stakeholder communities
- Adaptability to work across multiple disease areas and project contexts
Job Functions and Physical Requirements
The following cognitive and physical activities outline the essential functions required for successful job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to fulfill these functions.
Physical Demands
- Extended periods of sitting at a desk and using a computer.
- Repeated wrist, hand, and finger movements.
- Requires clear vision for tasks like data analysis, transcribing, computer use, and reading.
- Occasionally lifting or moving objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
Cognitive Demands
- Able to work effectively under deadlines.
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Flexibility to adapt to changing environments, priorities and multitask.
Additional Requirements
- Travel is required a minimum of two times per year for on-site events in Seattle, WA.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Works well in a team and maintains professionalism.
- Follows company policies, procedures, and relevant laws and regulations.
Note: This list is not exhaustive and may be subject to modification as job duties evolve.
About Us
Sage Bionetworks is a nonprofit biomedical research organization that was founded in Seattle in 2009. We focus on advancing human health through open science practices and radical collaboration, with a view to breaking down existing silos in science and technology. Through our work, we guide responsible data sharing and reuse, benchmark scientific methods and results, and empower participants to be active partners in research. We are a bold team of scientists, engineers, product developers, governance specialists and business experts, working to bring data and communities together in unique ways that accelerate medical progress. As a growing organization, Sage is supported through a dynamic portfolio of competitive research grants, commercial partnerships, and philanthropic contributions.
Sage Bionetworks is pleased to offer a comprehensive benefit package, competitive to both commercial and not-for-profit life science organizations. The plan includes: health, dental, vision, life, AD&D and long term disability benefits; paid time off; a retirement plan; flexible spending accounts; a shared incentives plan, voluntary long term care insurance, and other voluntary products. Additional information can found here: Benefits – Sage Bionetworks
At Sage Bionetworks, we implement equitable workplace strategies to guarantee fair compensation. Actual compensation is determined based on current market data, experience, and internal pay parity. This position is classified as a Sage Senior level position, with a hiring salary range of $93,300 to $121,700. New hires typically receive an offer between the minimum and midpoint of the range, although higher offers may be considered based on experience and market conditions.
We have a distributed workforce and support remote and/or on-site hybrid work arrangements within the United States. All interviews will be conducted virtually unless otherwise communicated.
At Sage Bionetworks, we uphold equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants without bias to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. We strictly prohibit discrimination and harassment based on these protected categories, in compliance with federal and state equal employment opportunity laws.