Job Description

Senior Innovation Research Network Manager

The Senior Innovation Research Network Manager will work closely with the Network's faculty co-directors to conceive of, and refine, strategic directions for the Network as well as translate that vision into operations and activities. The Food and Agriculture Research Mission (FARM), an Innovation Research Network in the School of Public Health (SPH), is advancing interdisciplinary solutions for healthier food and a healthier planet by bringing together expertise from academia and the private and public sectors. The Senior Network Manager, FARM will work closely with FARM's co-directors to conceive of, refine, and enact strategic directions for FARM.

The Senior Network Manager will coordinate and implement projects and initiatives, including diverse stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, budgeting, event planning, and administering funding programs.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Supports efforts to position FARM to advance research that will inform FARM priorities, focusing on trends and developments in the field regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Develops a detailed strategic plan together with FARM's co-directors and the Executive Director, Networks and Innovation, for executing the objectives of FARM.
• Develops and maintains a system to track and monitor progress in achieving metrics based on FARM's strategy, which includes metrics of engagement within and outside the institution, grant funding, publications and other written products, and impact, defined as influencing or changing clinical, economic, or policy practice.

Network Management

• Prioritizes and independently manages complex activities as identified during strategic planning. These may include but are not limited to: collaborating with other Innovation Research Networks in the School of Public Health; developing work timelines; preparing briefs and reports; engaging internal and external stakeholders; disseminating FARM products; and identifying and responding to funding opportunities.
• Prepares FARM's annual report.
• Collaborates with the Communications Director, SPH, on FARM content for the SPH website and other internal and external communications outlets; ensures the currency, accuracy and relevance of FARM communications assets and collateral.
• Manages FARM's budget, including budget planning, forecasting, and tracking expenditures. Works closely with SPH finance and accounting teams to ensure compliance with financial policies and guidelines. Identifies opportunities for leveraging other funds, cost-saving and efficiency improvements.
• Plans and coordinates regular meetings with FARM personnel and internal and external partners. Work involves agenda development, maintaining detailed notes for FARM-related meetings, and leading meetings with key stakeholders to advance objectives.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Establishes and maintains regular communication with and between key stakeholders critical to achieving success, other personnel and units associated with the Innovation Research Networks, including faculty, staff, students, community partners, and regional/national/global colleagues.
• Represents FARM co-directors and the SPH at internal and external meetings, conferences and events.
• Collaborates with internal (other WashU schools, departments, etc.) and external organizations (other universities, governmental agencies, funders, nonprofit and private sector entities) to promote FARM's initiatives and projects.
• Provides thought leadership and navigates complex situations, leveraging high levels of influence.
• Coordinates a regular cadence of meetings involving FARM stakeholders from across the university. Prepares agendas, distributes materials, and facilitates discussions during meetings. Ensures that action items and follow-ups are tracked and completed. Fosters effective communication and collaboration among the team members, delegating tasks as appropriate.

Team Supervision and Coordination

• Supervises/manages research assistants and performs other duties as assigned.
• Collaborates with other SPH teams, including Research Development and Data Management and Analytics.

Event Planning and Execution

• Determines and prioritizes activities of the most significant impact, as well as contributes to the development of event content for communication purposes.
• Plans and executes FARM events (e.g., seminars, symposia, and workshops). This includes, but is not limited to, collaborating with stakeholders to determine event goals, themes, and logistics, managing event budgets, including cost analysis and budget allocation, and planning and preparing materials for attendees and presenters.

Working Conditions

• Normal office environment
• Work location: 4300 Duncan Avenue, St. Louis (as of August 1, 2025)
• Typically sitting at desk or table
• Repetitive wrist, hand or finger movement
• Ability to move to on and off-campus locations
• Office equipment

Required Qualifications

Education: Master's degree

Certifications: No specific certification is required for this position.

Work Experience: Relevant Experience (7 Years)

Skills: Not Applicable

Driver's License: A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in food systems, food and nutrition security, public health, agricultural technology, or other appropriate discipline or related fields.
• Seven years of professional experience in roles relevant to advancing food systems-related research.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ten years of professional experience in complex program and project management of food systems-related research in a research-intensive university (or similar environment), stakeholder engagement, community outreach and public presentations.
• Experience convening and managing interdisciplinary and multisectoral project teams.

Grade

G15

Salary Range

$84,200.00 - $148,500.00 / Annually

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We've got you covered.
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit:

EEO Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by

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