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Program Manager Application

Transform the Future of Health

If you have a bold, ambitious idea and feel you would be a good fit for ARPA-H, please complete the form below and submit your cover letter, CV, program concept that addresses the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions, and additional program ideas.

ARPA-H will support concepts brought to life directly from Program Managers that have not only identified a key problem in health today, but are also passionate about a vision to bring forward revolutionary solutions to solve the problem, and do so in an equitable way. ARPA-H embraces a culture of open innovation and empowers its Program Managers to fearlessly pursue health breakthroughs that cannot readily be accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity.

Program Managers at ARPA-H will serve an initial appointment of three years, and no more than six years total, to ensure a constant rotation of new ideas and diverse perspectives.

Application Process

1

Submit your application packet

To get a good idea of the Program Manager position and the ARPA-H approach, review our FAQs and ARPA-H model.

Submit your cover letter, CV, a Program Concept (3-page summary of a potential Program, answering the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions), and a set of up to five additional program ideas (1 paragraph each). The request for the additional program ideas is to help us get a sense of the breadth of your thinking since Program Managers will launch a new program every year to a year-and-a-half. We will contact you following an internal review of these documents.

Submission Form Below

2

Talk with us

If your professional background and program ideas seem a potential fit, an ARPA-H technical lead will reach out to schedule a meeting to learn more about your ideas and answer your questions about the process and life as a Program Manager. Major well-defined problems, a compelling and unique vision of how they might be solved, and clear expertise to move them toward solutions will help you progress to Step 3.

3

Prepare to pitch

You will have the opportunity to work with an ARPA-H technical lead to refine your concept and additional ideas into the shape that ARPA-H seeks. If after a couple of iterations, things seem to be in good shape, you will be invited to give a “job talk.”

4

The pitch!

You will present to ARPA-H staff a bit about yourself and why you want to join ARPA-H then dive deeper into your concept and ideas. You will also meet with ARPA-H leadership. If selected to join the ARPA-H team, we’ll empower you to launch that bold, ambitious idea to change the world by accelerating better health outcomes for everyone.

ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions

Answers required as part of your program concept submission

Based on a set of questions developed by former DARPA Director, George H. Heilmeier (1975-1977), known as the “Heilmeier Catechism,” the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions provide potential ARPA-H PMs high-level guidance for what information should be included in their proposals, as well as allow PMs to communicate to ARPA-H leadership what they hope to accomplish with the program.

  1. What are you trying to do? What health problem are you trying to solve? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
  2. How is it done today? What are the limitations of present approaches?
  3. What is new about your approach? Why do you think you can be successful at this time?
  4. Who cares? If you succeed, what difference will it make?
  5. What are the risks? Identify any risks that may prevent you from reaching your objectives, as well as any risks the program itself may present.
  6. How long will the program take?
  7. How much will the program cost?
  8. What are your mid-term and final exams to check for success?
  9. To ensure equitable access for all people, how will cost, accessibility, and user experience be addressed?
  10. How might this program be misperceived or misused (and how can we prevent that from happening)?

We recognize that the PM appointment has a finite duration, so there is limited time to solve important health challenges that face our nation. ARPA-H is committed to helping you ‘level up’ professionally as you aspire towards making this country a healthier place and accelerating improved health outcomes for all.

Application

Required fields are marked with an asterisk*

Multiple selections are allowed. Control or Command click to select multiple options on a desktop.

Field value(s):

    Separate multiple entries with commas.

    1000/1000

    The title of your first program proposal

    How did you hear about us?

    5-7 keywords seperated by commas

    If a referral, enter the organization or individual that referred you

    Program Concept: You must submit a potential program concept in response to the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions - a seemingly simple set of questions that are notoriously difficult to answer well. These questions are intended to help you focus clearly and deliberately on a specific problem you are trying to solve. Recommended resources:

    • Guide to answering the ARPA-(H)eilmeier Questions. Download Guide
    • Template to help format your responses (no more than three pages per program concept, bibliography does not count toward limit). Download Template

    Attachments: Cover Letter, CV, Program Concept, and Additional Program Ideas

    To complete your application, attach the following four documents as separate PDF files using the upload tool below. Then click the submit button.

    1. Upload a single PDF document no more than two pages, addressing:

      • Why you want to join ARPA-H
      • What you hope to accomplish at ARPA-H
      • Relevant qualifications and attributes (such as domain expertise, team building, drive, and innovativeness)
      • If you have prior ARPA experience, please include up to one additional page describing what were the positive and negative aspects of your experience.

    2. Upload a single PDF document.

    3. Upload a single PDF document no more than three pages, excluding bibliography.

    4. Upload a single PDF document with up to five additional program ideas, no more than 200 words each.

    Program Manager positions are term-limited by design to ensure a constant rotation of new ideas, new problems to solve, and diverse perspectives. Please note that U.S. citizenship is required for employment. Selected candidates for all positions will be required to undergo a thorough background investigation.