Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF)
The Community Manager of Research Data Resources is focused on fostering an inclusive, online community of research data users who can more easily work with each other using data that have been generated through MJFF-funded projects in the search for a cure, treatments and interventions for people living with Parkinson’s Disease.
About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.
Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson’s and their families.
We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 250 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is seeking top talent for its Community Manager, Research Data Resources position. The Foundation takes a holistic approach to investing in Parkinson’s research, providing intellectual and financial capital to accelerate discovery and therapeutic development. As part of this strategy, MJFF collaborates with the researcher community to collect, distribute, and promote the accessibility of a multitude of research data resources. As Community Manager, you will be focused on fostering an inclusive, online community of research data users who can more easily work with each other using data that have been generated through MJFF-funded projects in the search for a cure, treatments, and interventions for people living with Parkinson’s Disease.
You will report to the Senior Associate Director, Research Data Resources and work closely with MJFF and our supporting stakeholders to plan, execute and deliver on building an online community of practice centered around MJFF’s data resources. You will be joining a growing, remote-first team with an office based in New York. You will serve as a key liaison to promote engagement between users of our research data to enable them to more easily conduct research, extend our network of collaborators and decrease barriers to participation into our research ecosystem. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, be excited by the opportunity to expand and maintain a diverse community of researchers with whom they can empathize deeply, and be committed to increasing equity and access in Parkinson’s research.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
The Community Manager will primarily support the expansion, formalization and day-to-day operations of MJFF’s burgeoning community of research data users, by:
- Building and managing an active, diverse and inclusive online community by staying informed of the needs and motivations of current and prospective members and responding with programming that meets these needs.
- Onboarding new members to the community, ensuring they know where to access key information about the community and feel welcome and encouraged to participate.
- Supporting identification and tracking of relevant metrics to assess community growth and impact(s) and providing regular updates about the community to other MJFF staff.
- Leveraging these metrics to develop content and programming that speaks to the needs and interests of community members to drive engagement.
- Participating in community discussions, as appropriate, forging connections between existing members and between members and other sources of knowledge.
- Maintaining existing scaffolding and, when necessary, developing new materials (e.g., how-to guides and tip sheets) to support member participation and knowledge dissemination.
- Moderation of community leveraged knowledge sharing platforms.
- Regularly checking-in with community leaders, coordinating and hosting community calls and other events aimed at catalyzing community participation.
- Representing the community both internally and externally, responding to direct inquiries and sharing knowledge about community activities, opportunities and lessons learned.
- Track and assess status of specific community projects and various community operational activities.
- Occasionally contribute to additional projects (beyond community management) to support the broader efforts of the Research Resources team.
- Some travel may be required (~10%).
Qualifications and Skills:
- History of proven successes in community management or program/project management experience where participants have been successfully engaged in a collaborative and generative manner.
- Experience in one or more of the following:
- Working in a relevant discipline such as science, math, or science communication;
- A bachelors degree in this space; or,
- Exposure to a collaborative research environment.
- Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the Parkinson’s Disease research space and neurodegenerative research more broadly.
- Familiarity with or willingness to learn knowledge management/communications platforms and repositories, such as: Discourse, GitHub, Slack, Zenodo.
- Action-oriented, diplomatic, agile and proven team-advocate with the ability to balance short- term deadlines with multi-year priorities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills across multiple mediums (e.g., presentations, status updates, reports, etc.) with a sensitivity to the needs of different audiences and contexts.
- Strong project management skills and organization, whether using a specialized software tool (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira, Planner) or through custom tools.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with a track record of cultivating trust through active listening and responsive dialogue to support productive collaborations.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team and to prioritize time and work.
Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $65,000 – $85,000. In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- 15+ options for medical insurance (with MJFF paying 90 percent of the premiums).
- Competitive dental and vision plans.
- 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Employer paid life and disability insurance.
- 18 days Paid Time Off (PTO); 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 1 Floating Holiday; summer Fridays (office closure at 2pm) and a summer holiday week over July 4.
- Three ways of working: office first, hybrid-flex, or remote work. We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done.
Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. MJFF provides staff andleadership cultivation through regular training courses and events.
Vaccine Statement:
At The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), the health and safety of our team and our community is a priority. MJFF has made the decision to require all staff receive the COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment. Successful applicants for this position must be fully vaccinated by date of hire and proof of vaccine is required. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after both doses of two-dose vaccine or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine has been administered. Anyone unable to be vaccinated, because of medical or religious reasons, can request a reasonable accommodation for consideration.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing their specific qualifications and interest in the position.
MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.
To apply for this job please visit www.michaeljfox.org.