Sr. Program Manager, Health Science, Food Data Governance

Overview

Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us.

 

The American Heart Association has an opportunity for a Sr. Program Manager, Health Science, Food Data Governance. This position can be home-based.

 

This is a full time, benefits eligible, grant funded opportunity. Current funding will expire on April 30, 2026, with the possibility of extension.

 

The Sr. Program Manager, Health Science, Food Data Governance will play a critical role in developing, operationalizing, and leading data governance policy, ethical frameworks, and metadata standards to ensure scientific integrity, interoperability, compliance, and benefit-sharing for The Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI). This position requires specialized expertise in metadata standards, data quality, and data stewardship. This position further requires knowledge of food composition analysis, food systems, and data science to support the distribution and use of PTFI tools, data, and training.

 

The Periodic Table of Food Initiative (PTFI) is a science-to-action initiative co-managed by the American Heart Association that is offering standardized multi-omics tools, data, and training to characterize food quality of the world’s edible biodiversity. Our global ecosystem is mapping food quality based on diverse components, including macronutrients, micronutrients, and specialized metabolites (or bioactives), as well as their variation across food systems. PTFI’s vision is a world where stakeholders in food, agriculture, and health are enabled to lead data-driven solutions that provide healthy food from sustainable food systems. For more information on the PTFI, please explore: https://foodperiodictable.org.

 

The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work-life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award-winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally.

 

#TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work-life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Valued at the American Heart Association by following us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and at heart.jobs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and expand the PTFI Edible Biodiversity Strategy and Metadata Workstream with a focus on metadata management, legal and ethical compliance, adherence to data principles, integration of key interoperability standards (i.e., FoodOn, NCBI Taxon, ABS, IDSov, and in-house metadata modules)
• Operationalize thematic metadata modules (e.g., Regenerative Agriculture, Climate, Data Sovereignty) through the PTFI Database and with communities of practice. 
• Increase data literacy and awareness of data governance principles (i.e., FAIR, CARE, TRUST, and the UNESCO Recommendations on Open Science) and obligations, and advocate for data governance initiatives and promote a culture of data stewardship throughout the global ecosystem
• Oversee the PTFI Ethics & ABS Expert Council, ensuring leadership feedback and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Prepare and publish peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts and develop scientific outreach materials.
• Represent the PTFI at scientific conferences, forums, and other engagements to showcase the initiative and its impact.
• Contribute to fundraising efforts through the development of project proposals and related initiatives.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g. Agriculture, Nutrition, Food Science, Biology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Public Health, Environmental Science, or a related discipline) ideally with laboratory experience.
• 5 years or more of experience in participating in interdisciplinary and multi-institutional projects. Global experience preferred.
• Knowledge of food composition analysis, food systems research, and data science.
• Specialized knowledge and expertise in on-farm crop and food sampling, metadata interoperability, data quality, data governance, and data stewardship.
• Solid skills conducting qualitative and quantitative agricultural research.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an international and multi-disciplinary environment 
• Strong o