Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
| Company | The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research |
| Category | Science & Research |
| Location | United States |
| Remote | On-site (inferred) |
| Employment | Not stated |
| Level | Senior |
| Salary | Not stated by the employer |
| Posted | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Last verified | 9 Aug 2026 |
| Source | Employer ATS (greenhouse) |
Description
Job Title: Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager
Position Summary: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research ("the Foundation") is seeking top talent for its Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager position. Reporting to the Director of Translational Biomarkers, this position develops a scientific strategy for biomarker-focused portfolios spanning discovery, validation, and clinical implementation.
The Senior Scientific Portfolio Manager oversees complex portfolios and programs throughout all stages of grant-making and funding, including proposal development, review, contracting, milestone management, and close-out. This role requires shaping of an impact-driven biomarker agenda—advancing fluid biomarkers to accelerate therapeutic development and improve clinical trial design. This position synthesizes emerging biomarker science to inform funding priorities, collaborates closely with internal and external stakeholders, and communicates portfolio strategy and progress to partners and donors.
Key Responsibilities:
Shapes, recommends, and communicates a creative, solutions-focused, value-added scientific agenda/POV within assigned biomarker portfolios and programs, leveraging input from internal team and external advisors and regularly communicates progress
Manages assigned portfolio(s) (depending on experience level) through all stages of grant-making and funding (proposal development, review, contracting, milestone management, and close-out), troubleshooting and problem-solving as needed
Conceptualizes and implements departmental RFAs and RFPs, communicates learnings and makes suggestions for improving processes through discussions with team members
Supports department management with operational and budgetary planning around assigned portfolios and/or programs
Develops and maintains strong positive relationships with research community and key opinion leaders in assigned programs and/or portfolios
Serves as organization point person for internal and external communication of progress in assigned programs/portfolios/cross-functional strategies
Represents research strategy at internal and external meetings and takes an active role supporting more significant donor/fundraising stewardship
Supports research management in new team member onboarding, mentoring, and coaching (on portfolio and program level)
Educates self on current key scientific advances and challenges relevant to Parkinson’s disease, helps identify gaps in assigned portfolio/programs and recommends strategies to address these gaps through by working closely with team and department lead
Qualifications & Skills:
PhD plus relevant work experience in biopharma or healthcare consulting with demonstrated experience in biomarker development and/or translational research
Relevant experience in scientific management of projects and portfolios and operating at both strategic and tactical levels
Ability to synthesize large amounts of information related to projects and portfolios managed and provide a scientific point of view to diverse audiences
Exceptional communication skills, written and verbal; ability to articulate portfolio and program vision and ensure that team and department leads are aligned with and aware of program strategy, status, and risks
Demonstrate initiative and independence to identify short and long-term portfolio needs with input from peers within and across research business unit
Expertise in biomarker research and interpretation of biomarker data to inform th