Grants & Program Operations Specialist

About VLP Therapeutics

VLP Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies. We operate with a lean, highly collaborative team, and this role will sit at the intersection of sponsored research, scientific programs, CRO/vendor coordination, Finance, and day-to-day program execution.

About VLP Therapeutics

VLP Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies. We operate with a lean, highly collaborative team, and this role will sit at the intersection of sponsored research, scientific programs, CRO/vendor coordination, Finance, and day-to-day program execution.

The Role

We are seeking a Grants & Program Operations Specialist to help keep funded programs, external partners, contracts, budgets, and deliverables moving. This is not a traditional grant-writing role. The primary focus is post-award grant administration and research-program operations, including CRO/vendor coordination and grant/research-related procurement and contract follow-through.

What You’ll Do

• Maintain grant calendars, deliverables, reporting requirements, milestones, amendments, and audit-ready documentation.
• Coordinate scientific, clinical, Finance, and operational inputs for sponsor reports, budget updates, and other post-award requirements.
• Track grant expenditures and funding status with Finance and flag deadlines, variances, or documentation gaps.
• Coordinate CRO and external research activities, including timelines, deliverables, sample shipments, reports, invoices, scopes of work, budgets, and change orders.
• Support procurement and vendor administration for grant and research/program work, including quote collection, purchase requests, contract/SOW tracking, and vendor follow-through.
• Maintain complete contract records and support company-wide visibility through VLP’s Contract Register.
• Run action trackers, status updates, and cross-functional follow-up so commitments are completed on time.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, public health, research administration, business, finance, project management, or a related field.
• Approximately 2+ years of relevant experience in grants, sponsored research, biotech/pharma operations, CRO coordination, procurement/contracts, or program administration.
• Strong project-tracking, written communication, organization, and attention to detail.
• Comfort working with budgets, invoices, contracts, deadlines, vendors, scientists, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Life-sciences experience and exposure to NIH, BARDA, DoD, Gates, GHIT, or other sponsored research programs are preferred.
• Ability and willingness to work primarily on-site in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Compensation & Benefits

VLP’s good-faith salary range for this position is $80,000–$90,000 annually. Actual base salary will depend on relevant experience, depth of sponsored-research/program-operations experience, and internal equity. Eligible employees have access to a benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) retirement plan, and paid time off. Plan terms and eligibility are governed by the applicable plan documents. Other compensation: none currently proposed; VLP to confirm before posting.

VLP Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employ