Research Program Manager

Full-time - Mid Level

West Lafayette, IN

Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods

About the position

The Research Program Manager plays a pivotal role in the Research Team at Cook Inc., focusing on the development of Vascular R&D's pipeline for new product innovation. This position is responsible for coordinating activities with academic institutions and collaborative research groups to sustain a portfolio of projects that align with Vascular R&D's research initiatives. The Program Manager will develop innovative approaches to foster academic-industry research collaborations and drive engagement across the MedTech scientific community. A successful candidate will have prior experience in establishing and maintaining successful research arrangements, along with a strong technical background relevant to the field. Excellent communication skills and the ability to work strategically with multiple stakeholders are essential for fostering collaboration and achieving project goals. The role requires the mapping of external academic institutions and research collaborative groups to identify opportunities for Vascular R&D's research initiatives. The Program Manager will lead exploratory discussions with external parties to build a robust pipeline of research engagements. Close collaboration with Research Management and Project Leads is necessary to create, maintain, and execute engagement plans for identified research initiatives. Building and nurturing relationships with academic institutions and collaborative research groups is crucial to understanding their strategic priorities and defining new opportunities for collaboration. Additionally, the Program Manager will facilitate the drafting and negotiation of key terms in collaborative research agreements, ensuring strong communication and documentation skills are applied throughout the process. The role also involves contributing to the development of research study designs and operational plans, including budgets, deliverables, and timelines, ensuring alignment with Vascular R&D's research initiatives. The Program Manager will maintain oversight of deliverables, budgets, timelines, compliance requirements, invoices, payments, and all related documentation for each project, acting as a liaison between external parties and Research Management. The position also requires preparing relevant reports and communications regarding the status of the external research portfolio, maintaining close alignment with internal technical colleagues to ensure that external research efforts are integrated into related internal research project activities. The Program Manager will interact with and coordinate scientific activities with internal stakeholders, particularly within R&D, as they relate to ongoing scientific collaboration projects. Furthermore, the role includes assisting in the review of publication materials to ensure technical accuracy and compliance with confidentiality agreements, promoting the representation of Vascular R&D's collaborative research at external meetings such as medical society congresses and scientific association meetings when possible.

Responsibilities

• Map external academic institutions and research collaborative groups for Vascular R&D's research initiatives.
• Lead exploratory discussions with external parties to build a pipeline of research engagements.
• Collaborate with Research Management and Project Leads to create, maintain, and execute engagement plans for identified research initiatives.
• Foster relationships with academic institutions and collaborative research groups to understand their strategic priorities.
• Facilitate drafting and negotiation of key terms of collaborative research agreements, including intellectual property, confidentiality, and publication.
• Contribute to the development of research study designs and operational plans, including budgets, deliverables, and timelines.
• Ensure deliverables, budgets, timelines, compliance requirements, invoices, payments, and all related documentation are maintained for each project.
• Act as a liaison between external parties and Research Management for communication on project matters.
• Prepare relevant reports and communications regarding the status of the external research portfolio.
• Maintain close alignment with internal technical colleagues to ensure external research efforts are integrated into internal research activities.
• Interact with and coordinate appropriate scientific activities with internal stakeholders related to ongoing scientific collaboration projects.
• Assist in the review of publication materials to ensure technical accuracy and compliance with confidentiality agreements.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field required and 7 years' relevant experience OR Master's Degree and 5 years' relevant experience OR PhD and 4 years' relevant experience.
• Awareness of MedTech trends impacting Cook Medical's Vascular devices business, specifically in technical domains related to new product development and innovation.
• Experience in engaging in academic-industry and/or other public-private medical science collaborative research.
• Demonstrated skills in contracting, intellectual property licensing, grant writing, and project management.
• Ability to address complex problems within discipline or across several projects.
• Ability to independently exercise good judgment toward complex problems and/or situations when given broadly defined parameters for external engagement.