Program Manager - Digestive Diseases Research Center

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization:

GI Medicine Admin

Job Summary:

The Program Manager is responsible for managing the Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center (VDDRC), an NIH-funded center dedicated to advancing digestive disease research through multidisciplinary collaboration, investigator development, and shared research resources. This position provides executive-level administrative support to Dr. Richard Peek, Division Director, and plans, develops, and executes programs and initiatives that support the VDDRC's research, training, and operational objectives. The Program Manager works independently under occasional guidance to coordinate complex activities involving faculty, trainees, researchers, and institutional stakeholders.

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DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is a nationally recognized leader in digestive disease research, education, and patient care. The division brings together clinicians, scientists, and trainees to advance understanding and treatment of gastrointestinal, liver, and nutritional disorders through innovative, multidisciplinary collaboration.

A major focus of the division is the Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center (VDDRC), an NIH-funded center that supports and accelerates digestive disease research across VUMC. As one of only a select group of Digestive Disease Research Centers in the nation, the VDDRC fosters collaborative, translational research; provides advanced research core services and pilot funding opportunities; and develops programs to attract, train, and retain the next generation of digestive disease investigators. Through its research infrastructure, scientific programs, and educational initiatives, the VDDRC helps translate basic science discoveries into improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and patient care.

The Program Manager will be embedded within the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and will play a key role in supporting the VDDRC’s research, training, and administrative initiatives, contributing to the division’s mission of advancing digestive health through scientific discovery and innovation

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Program Manager administers and coordinates activities for the Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center (VDDRC), including support for NIH center grant administration, pilot project programs, training and enrichment activities, advisory board meetings, retreats, and center communications. Responsibilities include coordinating required grant documentation, maintaining membership and program records, monitoring reporting requirements and deadlines, preparing materials for progress reports and renewals, and ensuring compliance with sponsor and institutional guidelines.

• The Program Manager also provides executive-level support to the Division Director and serves as a key administrative liaison across the division. In partnership with physician recruitment and departmental leadership, the position coordinates faculty recruitment activities, appointments, onboarding, orientation, and FMLA-related administrative processes. The role requires strong organizational, communication, and project management skills to support multiple priorities and stakeholders across research and administrative operations.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

• Program Management (Intermediate): Planning, organizing, and managing resources to bring about the successful completion of specific program goals and objectives.

• Financial Processes (Intermediate): Ability to monitor costs, expenses and revenue as well as the ability to manage those costs and expenses in relation to budgeted amounts.

• Process Improvement (Intermediate): Identifies, analyzes and improves upon existing business processes for optimization and to meet standards of quality.

• Peer Leadership (Intermediate): The ability to show leadership and influence people of equal rank in an effort to accomplish team goals.

• Networking (Intermediate): Build relationships through industry contacts, professional organizations and individuals.

• Quality Management (Intermediate): Developing a systematic process of checking to see whether a process or service is meeting specific requirements.

Our professional administrative functions include critical supporting roles in information technology and informatics, finance, administration, legal and community affairs, human resources, communications and marketing, development, facilities, and many more.

At our growing health system, we support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level:

3 years

Education:

Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.