Research Program Manager Jobs

Research Program Manager jobs are open across academia, biotech, pharmaceuticals, government agencies, and nonprofit research institutions, from coordinator-level to senior and director roles, with specializations in clinical research, public health, and science policy. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles332+
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerMIT Lincoln Laboratory
Top citySan Jose, CA
Work type49% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 332+ Research Program Manager jobs

Postdoctoral Fellow (Research Associate) - Ph.D. Program in Mathematics
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New 3h ago
Postdoctoral Fellow (Research Associate) - Ph.D. Program in Mathematics
City University of New York
New York, New York
Administrative & Office Support
Program Management
Project Management
$75k - $85k/yr
Military encouraged
10,000+

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Research Analyst, China Program
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New 7h ago
Research Analyst, China Program
Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Washington, District of Columbia
Clinical Trials
Laboratory Research
Research & Academia
$70k - $80k/yr
Bachelor's degree
51-200

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Program Administrator (4722C), Institute for Gender and Sexuality Research - #89860
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New 12h ago
Program Administrator (4722C), Institute for Gender and Sexuality Research - #89860
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Biotech & Life Sciences
Clinical Support
Laboratory Science
$36.8 - $45/hr
10,000+

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Public Health Program Associate (Exposomics Research) - Rollins School of Public Health
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New 13h ago
Public Health Program Associate (Exposomics Research) - Rollins School of Public Health
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia
Business Strategy
Compliance & Risk
Consulting & Professional Services
On-Site
Master of Public Health
10,000+

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Program Manager III - DDSI Research
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New 17h ago
Program Manager III - DDSI Research
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio
Compensation & Benefits
Human Resources
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
Learning & Development
$70k - $106k.5/yr
Bachelor's degree in business administration
10,000+

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Research Program Manager Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • MIT Lincoln Laboratory39
  • TikTok20
  • Medical University of South Carolina11
  • OpenAI10
  • ByteDance10

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software16
  • Education12
  • Healthcare & Medical Services9
  • Investment & Asset Management2
  • Science & Research1

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in research program manager jobs.

  • Bachelor's or master's degree in a scientific, public health, or related field
  • Experience managing federally funded research grants such as NIH or NSF awards
  • Familiarity with IRB protocols, regulatory compliance, and human subjects research requirements
  • Proficiency with project management tools and research administration software
  • Strong written communication skills for reporting to sponsors and institutional stakeholders
  • Ability to coordinate multi-site studies or cross-disciplinary research teams

Tips for Your Research Program Manager Job Search

Tailor your resume to funding cycles

Hiring managers in research settings look for candidates who understand grant timelines and sponsor deliverables. Highlight specific funding mechanisms you've managed, such as NIH, NSF, or federal contracts, and name the award types and total values you oversaw.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists research program manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Quantify your cross-functional coordination

Research program managers rarely do bench work, so your resume needs to show scope through people, timelines, and deliverables. Name how many investigators, sites, or sub-awards you coordinated and what milestones you kept on schedule.

Target postings by research phase

Job listings for this role differ sharply depending on whether the team is in discovery, trials, or dissemination. Filter your search by keywords like protocol development, IRB coordination, or manuscript support to match your actual experience to the right opening.

Prepare a portfolio of regulatory submissions

Many hiring committees ask candidates to walk through a real IRB application, progress report, or sponsor deliverable they produced. Having one clean, anonymized example ready before your first interview makes that conversation concrete and separates you from candidates who can only describe the process.

Negotiate start dates around active award periods

Research program manager roles are often tied to live grants with fixed budget years. When an offer comes, ask about the current funding period and whether the position is on a continuing award or a new submission, so you can negotiate a start date that sets you up for a full first cycle.

Research Program Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most research program managers?

The most active employers for research program managers right now are MIT Lincoln Laboratory, TikTok, and Medical University of South Carolina, and the most openings are in California, Massachusetts, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Academic medical centers, federal contractors, and large nonprofit research institutes account for a significant share of open roles.

How many research program manager jobs are remote?

About 51% of research program manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though availability varies considerably by employer type. Roles focused on data coordination, grant writing, and policy research tend to offer the most location flexibility, while positions tied to active laboratory or clinical trial sites typically require on-site presence.

How do you become a research program manager?

Start by building experience in a research environment, whether as a research coordinator, lab administrator, or program assistant, where you gain exposure to grant cycles, IRB processes, and sponsor reporting. Develop project management skills through formal coursework or on-the-job practice, and work toward credentials such as the Certified Research Administrator designation to signal readiness for independent program oversight.

Can you get a research program manager job with limited experience?

Entry points do exist, particularly at institutions that hire research coordinators and develop them into program managers over time. Prioritize roles at universities or teaching hospitals with structured research operations, where you can learn grant administration and regulatory compliance directly. A master's degree in public health, biology, or a related field can offset limited years of experience when applying to junior-level openings.

What does the research program manager interview process look like?

Most hiring processes include a phone screen with HR, followed by a panel interview with the principal investigator and department operations staff. Expect behavioral questions about managing competing deadlines, navigating sponsor requirements, and resolving protocol deviations. Some employers add a written exercise asking you to draft a project timeline, budget narrative, or progress report summary before or after the panel.

Where can I find and apply to research program manager jobs?

You can find and apply to research program manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your background and apply directly to each listing.

See All 332+ Research Program Manager Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Research Program Manager Jobs