The Geneva Foundation

Chief of Staff, Programs

The Geneva Foundation

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Office

Location: Rockville • Maryland • United States

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Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Serve as the most senior Geneva employee on-site, with full supervisory responsibility for all Geneva personnel
  • Oversee research operations and employee productivity, ensuring team members thrive and research priorities, goals, and objective key results (OKRs) are achieved on schedule
  • Directly supervise scientific support staff, technical research personnel, non-technical program management staff, and administrative personnel
  • Lead recruiting, onboarding, performance management, coaching, corrective action, and professional development in coordination with Geneva People Operations
  • Develop and mentor staff to strengthen technical capability, operational discipline, and internal leadership capacity
  • Foster disciplined, collaborative, and mission-driven laboratory culture
  • Assure all Geneva employees comply with The Geneva Foundation and Federal site policies, procedures, and SOPs
  • Collaborate with leadership to set annual goals and communicate vision to broader team
  • Provide regular operational, technical and financial updates to leadership
  • Assess and design internal operations, identify areas of process enhancement, and lead successful execution of change management plans to deliver efficiency and effectiveness of operations
  • Collaborate with Geneva corporate personnel and Principal Investigators (PIs) on audits, administration, and regulatory compliance activities
  • Own day-to-day internal operations laboratory, translating scientific priorities and institutional requirements into executable operational plans
  • Ensure operational readiness of laboratory and office environments, including space utilization, equipment coordination, safety practices, and continuity of operations
  • Oversee non-technical program management functions, including schedules, milestones, deliverables, internal reporting, and coordination across teams
  • Serve as the primary internal coordination point for operational engagement to ensure timely and compliant completion of required research, administrative, and educational activities
  • In collaboration with leadership, develop and effectively implement fiscal and financial operational strategies, initiatives, and resource management plans
  • In conjunction with research statements of work and timelines and Geneva Finance, conduct budget and operational analysis, budget forecasts and recommend options for novel approaches and cost-effective strategies
  • Develop and manage financial reporting in coordination with Geneva finance, program management personnel, and portfolio personnel
  • Analyze and track program requirements and funding in the near to medium term time horizon (one to five years)
  • Optimize staff, materials, and equipment through monitoring expenditures and outcomes
  • Ensure optimal use of funds and personnel to meet research and educational mission.

Requirements

  • Master’s degree (or higher) in Business Administration, Health Administration, Science or Engineering field, or a related field
  • Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in research operations, laboratory management and operation, or complex program operations within a federal, academic, nonprofit, or government-affiliated research environment
  • 10+ years’ experience in developing research program strategies and plans
  • Demonstrated experience supervising multidisciplinary technical and non-technical personnel in an in-person setting
  • 8+ years’ direct experience interpreting and implementing federal and non-federal sponsor guidelines and regulations required
  • Strong working knowledge of sponsored research operations, internal controls, and compliance requirements
  • Experience overseeing the financial execution of research programs, including coordination with finance team on budgeting, expenditure tracking, forecasting, and resource allocation in a sponsored research environment
  • Experience working with DoD-affiliated research environments preferred
  • Prior experience in a Chief of Staff, Operations Director, or equivalent internal leadership role
  • Able to exercise independent judgment in fast-paced, high-pressured environment with strict deadlines and to manage multiple projects
  • Excellent communication skills with the proven ability to convert strategic vision into sound operating business plans and processes with the experience necessary to effectively focus and motivate employees
  • Proven ability to solve complex technical and management problems in a timely and professional manner
  • Must be flexible with changing priorities and able to communicate in a diplomatic and professional manner.
Benefits
  • Medical, dental, and vision healthcare
  • Flexible Spending Account
  • Health Savings account, with employer contribution
  • Short-and long-term disability
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Life & ADD insurance
  • 403b retirement plan with generous employer match
  • Flexible leave options
  • 11 paid holidays per year
  • Up to 4 weeks of paid time off in a rolling year
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
research operationslaboratory managementprogram managementbudget forecastingfinancial reportingcompliance requirementsinternal controlsresource allocationprocess enhancementchange management
Soft Skills
leadershipcommunicationproblem-solvingflexibilityindependent judgmentteam motivationcollaborationcoachingmentoringstrategic vision
Certifications
Master’s degreeBusiness AdministrationHealth AdministrationScienceEngineering