Life Science Program Manager (m/f/d)

About JUNI

JUNI is building the leading startup ecosystem for science-based spinouts in Berlin and Brandenburg. We connect universities, startups, corporates, investors and policymakers, and create the spaces, programs and partnerships that translate research into successful companies.

Life science ventures face their own path from lab to company, and they need support built for it. For our dedicated life science programs we are looking for a Program Manager who turns them from concept into programs that researchers and founders want to be part of.

You work closely with our Life Science Lead Hannah Payette Peterson, who sets the direction and designs the programs with you, and to whom you report. You own day-to-day delivery, from recruiting participants to final follow-up.

Your mission

Program design and set-up

• Turning program ideas into concrete formats, content, participant support, timelines and delivery plans
• Setting up the processes and systems each life science program needs, and improving them during delivery
• Contributing to our wider life science strategy, including partnerships, tools and ecosystem initiatives beyond the programs
• Exchanging knowledge and sparring with the teams behind JUNI's other programs, so that life science programs build on shared methods, tools and networks

Recruitment and selection of participants

• Running recruitment, including direct outreach, partner referrals, applications and initial conversations
• Defining selection criteria with our Life Science Lead Hannah that reflect each program’s purpose, participant group and stage
• Assessing applicants’ scientific background, experience, motivations and fit with the program
• Evaluating projects’ scientific rationale, supporting evidence, potential applications and development needs
• Identifying strengths, weaknesses and unanswered questions, seeking relevant expert input where needed and turning it into clear selection recommendations

Program delivery

• Owning onboarding, schedules, communication, and follow-up through to program completion
• Finding and involving mentors, experts, trainers and partners, including fellowship placement hosts and matching them to what participants needs
• Serving as the consistent point of contact for participants and helping them access relevant advice and support
• Coordinating contributions of JUNI colleagues and external partners to the life science programs
• Tracking participant progress and gathering feedback so we learn and improve our programs.

Your profile

• A life science research background, such as a PhD, or a master's or medical degree with significant research experience, and a first-hand understanding of how researchers think and work so that researchers recognise you as a peer
• Startup-related experience through founding or working in a startup, venture capital, or startup support and ecosystem initiatives
• Scientific and venture judgment to critically assess research and form a reasoned view of a project’s quality, potential applications and development needs, appropriate to its stage
• Awareness of the limits of your expertise, knowing when to bring in specialists, asking focused questions and using their advice to inform an assessment
• Proven ability to manage programs through planning, coordinating people, making decisions and carrying work through to completion e.g., from employment, volunteer work, or previous program management experience
• Ownership and drive, bringing energy and urgency to building new programs and following through on commitments without reminders
• Independence and direct communication, making sound day-to-day decisions, raising issues early and knowing when to involve the Life Science Lead
• A constructive, critical mind, offering considered opinions, questioning assumptions and helping decide where to focus
• Openness to experimentation, learning quickly and shaping formats around what researchers and founders find useful
• Confident use of AI tools in day-to-day work, combined with full ownership of result accuracy
• Fluent English (the working language for this role) with German as a plus, because some communication is in German

An existing life science network is a strong advantage. Whether you have just finished your PhD or have a few years of program experience: capability, ambition and a scientific background matter more to us than seniority.

We offer

• The chance to build JUNI's life science programs from the start, with real ownership of delivery
• Direct contact with researchers, founders, mentors and life science partners across Berlin-Brandenburg
• A motivated team with a hands-on spirit and flat hierarchies
• Flexible working hours
• A modern working environment across several locations in Berlin
• Compensation that reflects experience and responsibility