The Staff Program Manager will lead complex programs across multiple departments to ensure timely and regulatory-compliant product development in cancer detection technologies.
Our mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. We are working to change the trajectory of cancer mortality and bring stakeholders together to adopt innovative, safe, and effective technologies that can transform cancer care.
We are a healthcare company, pioneering new technologies to advance early cancer detection. We have built a multi-disciplinary organization of scientists, engineers, and physicians and we are using the power of next-generation sequencing (NGS), population-scale clinical studies, and state-of-the-art computer science and data science to overcome one of medicine’s greatest challenges.
GRAIL is headquartered in Menlo Park, California, with locations in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom. It is supported by leading global investors and pharmaceutical, technology, and healthcare companies.
For more information, please visit grail.com.
The Staff Program Manager will provide senior-level program management expertise within GRAIL’s Global Development and Operations (GDO) Program Management team. This role is responsible for leading complex, cross-functional programs that span Development (Assay Development, Automation, and Systems & Platform Development), working in close collaboration with Research, Quality, Regulatory, Compliance, Software, and Operations functions.
This position plays a critical role in enabling seamless handoffs and transitions from Research to Development and Development to Operations for both New Product Development (NPD) and Continuous Improvement and Expansion initiatives. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strategic leadership, operational excellence, and technical acumen to drive high-impact outcomes across the full development portfolio.
This is a hybrid role in Menlo Park, CA with 3 days in office. We will also consider candidates in Durham NC.
Responsibilities
- Lead the planning, execution, and governance of large-scale programs with moderate to high complexity and strategic importance.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure integrated program plans are aligned with corporate objectives and product lifecycle goals.
- Monitor and control project scope, timelines, risks, and interdependencies to ensure successful delivery of key milestones and deliverables.
- Facilitate communication and alignment across Development, Research, and Operations to optimize cross-functional collaboration and decision-making.
- Apply expert-level knowledge of project management principles, design controls, and regulatory frameworks to ensure compliant execution of product development activities.
- Act as a GDO Program Management subject matter expert (SME) by contributing to best practices, process improvements, and tool development within the organization.
- Oversee and manage program-level schedules, budgets, resource plans, and performance metrics.
- Prepare and deliver program updates, risk assessments, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and executive leadership.
- Support cross-functional investigations and process improvements aimed at enhancing operational readiness and execution quality.
- Collaborate with quality and regulatory partners to ensure alignment with internal standards and external regulatory expectations.
- Contribute to long-range strategic planning for the Development portfolio, including budgeting and capacity forecasting.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering, or technical discipline and 8–12 years of relevant experience; or Master’s degree with 5–8 years; or PhD with 2–5 years in the diagnostics, medical device, pharmaceutical, or biotech industry.
- 2+ years of direct program or project management experience in regulated product development or clinical laboratory operations.
- Demonstrated experience working under design control and executing design transfer processes.
- Familiarity with managing post-approval regulatory changes and associated cross-functional impacts.
- PMP Certification is highly desirable.
- Ability to travel 10-20%.
- Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Proficient in program management tools and methodologies (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, JIRA, Workday Project, or equivalent).
- Effective communicator with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
- Demonstrated ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and drive initiatives to completion.
- Proven track record in navigating complex, matrixed environments and leading cross-functional teams.
Key Competencies:
Expected full time annual base pay scale for this position is $163K-$204K. Actual base pay will consider skills, experience and location.
Based on the role, colleagues may be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan tied to company and individual performance, or an incentive plan. We also offer a long-term incentive plan to align company and colleague success over time.
In addition, GRAIL offers a progressive benefit package, including flexible time-off, a 401k with a company match, and alongside our medical, dental, vision plans, carefully selected mindfulness offerings.
GRAIL is an Equal Employment Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. We will reasonably accommodate all individuals with disabilities so that they can participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation. GRAIL maintains a drug-free workplace.
Top Skills
JIRA
Ms Project
Smartsheet
Workday Project
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