Social, environmental, and behavioral influences accruing over the life-course are by far the strongest predictors of health and disease. Founded in 2015, the Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences is a research center dedicated to improving individual and population health by bringing together diverse disciplines and data to better understand and address the complex and intertwined social determinants of health.

One important goal of the Center is to spur and support transdisciplinary PHS-related research that advances our understanding of social determinants (with longer-term goal of using this knowledge to inform policy and programs). Toward this end, we have established 15 research partnerships that vary in terms of their location, complexity, and topics. PHS will soon be launching a satellite center, the Stanford Center for Health and Development (SHD) in Mumbai, India, to solve India’s most pressing health and development issues.

SHD will be launching several exciting projects this year focused on transforming primary health care through digital innovation, advancing rural health, developing sanitation innovations, reducing wasting and stunting, and utilizing AI To achieve health care for all. Over time, we expect our portfolio to expand significantly. Under minimal supervision, the India Project Director (PD), will:

Manage India-based Project Portfolio

SHD will be launching several exciting projects this year focused on transforming primary health care through digital innovation, advancing rural health, developing sanitation innovations, reducing wasting and stunting, and utilizing AI to achieve health care for all. Over time, we expect our portfolio to significantly expand. For each India-based project the PD will be responsible for:

• Developing an overall project plan (goals, milestones, metrics)
• Assembling a project team, bringing people with the right skill-sets and knowledge together
• Helping to secure project funding:
• Identifying and prioritizing funding opportunities
• Driving/coordinating responses to funding solicitations
• Ensuring project goals are met on-schedule, anticipating and resolving potential issues. Examples:
• Solve administrative or logistical challenges
• Manage research and/or data issues (e.g., working with PHS’ data core to provide Stanford scholars with secure access to datasets located in diverse countries with different regulatory requirements)
• Provide ad-hoc support to move a project forward (e.g., conducting a literature review, preparing slides, writing job gifs, etc.)
• Developing/overseeing project programming (events, meetings, workshops, etc.) that advances the project’s goals and objectives
• Managing project-related budgets
• Engaging, when appropriate, faculty and/or external partners in the project
• Complying with Stanford and India financial, administrative, and research policies and regulations
• Overseeing internal and external communications
• Create and implement systems for ensuring smooth internal communications among core project team members
• Develop and execute external communications plan, broadly disseminating key research findings
• Representing the project at key events and meetings (i.e., able to act as the face of the project as needed)

Nurture/manage India-focused faculty partnerships

The PD will be responsible for identifying, engaging, and supporting faculty from across the university with an interest in conducting health and/or development related research in India. For example, the PD may help with:

• Connecting faculty members with partners on-the-ground
• Facilitating administrative and/or logistical support
• Connecting faculty members with our data core team

Support development efforts

The PD will support development efforts. Examples:

• Coordinating responses to funding announcements at Stanford
• Collaborating with Stanford’s development office
• Reaching out to and engaging faculty re: specific funding opportunities

Support SHD’s administrative and logistical operations

The PD will be the SHD Director’s go-to person at Stanford, assisting her/him with:

• Arranging faculty and/or partner visits
• Understanding and complying with Stanford’s administration, financial, and research policies and regulations. This will require working in very close collaboration with Global Business Services, DoR, Office of General Counsel, etc.)
• Writing reports, drafting agreements, etc.
• Managing the CRM system
• Fulfilling faculty and/or partner requests
• Coordinating efforts between Stanford and India

* - Other duties may also be assigned

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Extraordinary project management skills
• Knowledge of basic social science research principles and concepts (desired)
• Able to exert influence without authority
• Excellent writer (e.g., able to draft project-related reports, conference agendas, etc.)
• Ability to quickly come up to speed on new content areas/topics, developing an understanding of the overall landscape
• Demonstrated ability to move a project from nascent stage to maturity
• Willingness to travel internationally on a regular basis (the PD will be expected to make frequent trips to India)
• Comfortable with ambiguity
• Experience successfully working in developing economy context
• Strong interpersonal and communications skills
• Willingness to get hands dirty when necessary to move a project forward
• Passionate about improving the lives of underserved populations

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED): 

Bachelor's degree and five years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):

• Demonstrated ability to establish priorities, manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time-sensitive projects with multiple deadlines.
• Ability to accomplish goals working through formal and informal channels, with diplomacy and tactfulness.
• Demonstrated creativity, problem solving, critical analysis, initiative, judgment and, decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and meet budget goals.
• Demonstrated solid planning and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience working independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Strong relevant subject matter knowledge.
• Ability to direct the work of others, for jobs requiring supervision.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
• Frequently stand/walk, sitting, grasp lightly/fine manipulation.
• Occasionally use a telephone.
• Rarely lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11-20 pounds.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORK STANDARDS:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.

Additional Information

• Schedule: Full-time
• Job Code: 4122
• Employee Status: Regular
• Grade: J