Research and Program Manager, Project Unleaded

🔍 Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford, California, United States

New

📁: Administration

📅   : 20 hours ago Post Date

📅   : 107847 Requisition #

This position has been deemed critical by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dean’s Office and is exempt from the hiring pause.

This position is based on Stanford’s main campus with consideration given to the option for a hybrid work schedule (partially onsite and offsite), subject to operational need.

Interested candidates must include a resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa.

About Us

The Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability strives to create a future when humans and nature thrive in concert and in perpetuity. The school is made up of a three-part structure to drive global impact: Our academic departments and programs educate students and create new knowledge across areas of research that are crucial for advancing the long-term prosperity of the planet and people; Institutes bridge scholarship at Stanford and beyond, bringing multiple viewpoints to bear on urgent challenges; The Sustainability Accelerator drives new policy and technology solutions through a worldwide network of partners who work with our teams to develop solutions at a global scale. The school is dedicated to creating and supporting a community with the richness of experience and background needed to create solutions that benefit all people, particularly those most affected by environmental damage and climate change.

For more information on the school, click here.

The Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment works to advance global sustainability through new knowledge and practical, fair solutions to pressing environmental challenges. As part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, the Woods Institute provides an interdisciplinary research hub for scholars from all seven schools at Stanford. Offering targeted research incentives as well as convening, education, and leadership programs, the Woods Institute supports faculty, researchers, and students as they investigate and advance solutions to critical climate, environment, and sustainability challenges. Working on campus and around the globe, the Woods Institute and its hosted centers and programs combine cutting edge scholarship, diverse partnerships, and deep engagement across sectors and disciplines to advance just, practical solutions for people and the planet.

The Center for Human and Planetary Health, launched in October 2024, is the newest Center hosted at the Woods Institute, in close collaboration with the Center for Innovation in Global Health at the Stanford School of Medicine. The Center advances research, solutions, and education to improve health and sustainability. The Center’s lead contamination research initiative, now called Project Unleaded, is a critical part of the new Center. Project Unleaded’s efforts began in 2020 and have spanned 6 countries with 7 external partners. Project Unleaded prioritizes policy-relevant research and deep engagement with local partners in affected countries to achieve lasting change. Project Unleaded’s mission is to create a healthier world by addressing lead poisoning at the source. Research priorities center around 3 goals:

To identify critical lead exposure sources linked with the human lead burden
To develop, test, and scale-up interventions to eliminate sources of lead
To advance lead detection techniques

Project Unleaded is looking for a flexible, collaborative team member who has the ability to contribute independently as a scientist, manage partnerships and a large research program, and support and partner with the Director to develop and lead an exciting new program. The Research and Program Manager will initially take a hands-on role in developing and managing core research activities, including study design, field implementation, and data coordination. As Project Unleaded expands, the position will evolve into a broader role overseeing multiple research initiatives, staff, and strategic partnerships in close partnership with the Director.
The ideal candidate will thrive in both individual contributor and leadership capacities—comfortable rolling up their sleeves to launch complex studies while building the operational and scientific foundation for future team growth. This individual is both strategic and operational—equally able to design study protocols, mentor research staff, and set multi-year research priorities with the Director and other senior leadership. The ideal candidate is highly organized, intellectually curious, and has a passion for translating science into measurable global impact. The person thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative, interdisciplinary, and dynamic environment where priorities can shift regularly to support the broader team’s goals.

Your Responsibilities will include:

Partner with the Director to define strategic research priorities and translate the program’s vision into action, ensuring alignment across projects and teams.
Lead and oversee multi-site, interdisciplinary research studies—initially a large longitudinal cohort study in Pakistan identifying key sources of lead exposure among women and children.
Manage 1-2 large international subawards (up to $1 million each) to partners in Pakistan, and later in other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Ensure partner performance, fiscal responsibility, and impact through proactive communication, deliverable tracking, and budget oversight.
Supervise the design and implementation of study protocols, survey instruments, and sampling strategies; ensure compliance with IRB, data governance, and international regulatory standards.
Manage scientific operations, including field logistics, procurement, staffing, training, and quality assurance across study sites.
Oversee day-to-day program operations in close coordination with the Director, establishing management systems and identifying opportunities for process improvement.
Develop and implement program management tools and knowledge-sharing platforms to enhance coordination and communication across Project Unleaded teams and partners.
Maintain program-level budgets, timelines, and deliverables; monitor progress and ensure accountability across research teams.
Collaborate with biostatisticians and data scientists to interpret and integrate findings from environmental, biomonitoring, and epidemiologic data.
Build and nurture partnerships with government agencies, academic collaborators, NGOs, and community stakeholders to enhance the program’s scientific and policy impact.
Lead or contribute to grant writing, fundraising, and donor reporting activities to support the long-term sustainability of the research portfolio.
Oversee preparation of peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and public communication materials for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Provide mentorship and professional development to junior researchers and field teams.
As the program grows, work with the Director to develop staffing plans; lead hiring, onboarding, mentoring, performance management, and professional development. May directly supervise 1-2 full-time staff, graduate students, and 1-2 part-time/contingent workers with specialized skills.

* The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

To be successful in this position, you will need:

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree and three years of relevant experience or combination of education, training, and relevant experience. For jobs with financial responsibilities, experience managing a budget and developing financial plans.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ability to develop program partnerships and funding sources.
Excellent oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization.
Ability to oversee and direct staff.
Basic knowledge of managing budgets and developing financial plans.

In addition, our preferred qualifications include:

Strategic planning and research program leadership.
Operational and project management excellence.
Stakeholder engagement and cross-sector collaboration.
Scientific and analytical acumen (environmental health, epidemiology, exposure science).
Strong written, verbal, and data communication skills. Demonstrated success in grant writing, report preparation, and scientific communication for both technical and non-technical audiences.
Commitment to research ethics, equity, and global health impact.
Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in environmental science, public health, policy, environmental engineering, statistics, or a related field strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience leading or managing large, multi-site research programs (e.g., randomized controlled trials, community exposure studies, or international field campaigns).
Experience developing and overseeing research study designs, protocols, and compliance documentation (e.g., IRB, data use agreements).
Proven ability to translate scientific vision into operational strategy, aligning people, projects, and resources toward shared research goals.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; ability to liaise with the Director and support ongoing needs across team members, community partners, government agencies, and international counterparts.
Strong organizational and leadership skills, including budget oversight, personnel supervision, and cross-functional coordination.
Strong quantitative and analytical background, with experience in epidemiologic, environmental, or statistical modeling.
Proficiency in R and STATA; experience with GitHub, ArcGIS, QGIS, or spatial/exposure analysis in R is a plus.
Familiarity with environmental laboratory and field sampling methods preferred.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and other research management tools for documentation, planning, and presentations.

* Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact Stanford University Human Resources by submitting a contact form.

The expected pay range for this position is $116,966 to $150,114 per annum.

Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.

How to Apply

We invite you to apply for this position by clicking on the “Apply for Job” button.

Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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