ASCEND Project Manager / Navigator

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The School of Medicine Office of Research, within the Office of the Dean, is seeking a highly skilled Project Manager / Navigator to lead the planning, coordination, and execution of projects within the newly formed Accelerating Solutions for Cell and Gene Therapy Evaluation and Novel Delivery (ASCEND) Program. This role serves as both a project manager and a program navigator, functioning as the central operational and coordination hub for ASCEND activities and fulfilling data and reporting requirements. The nature of this work is exciting, fast moving, detail- and customer service-oriented, and involves independent management of large, complex projects with adaptability and confidence. The position supports the launch, implementation, and continuous improvement of a centralized infrastructure for complex, cutting edge cell and gene therapy trials within CU Anschutz and UCHealth. The Project Manager / Navigator will work closely with ASCEND leadership, multiple subcommittees, study investigators, operational partners, and institutional service units to ensure efficient intake, alignment with governance and finance structures, and timely project execution across the research lifecycle. It may also provide support to implementation of long-term follow-up activities for gene and cell therapy clinical trials. This description is a summary only and describes the general level of work being performed. It is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties of this position may change based on business need. We reserve the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the supervisor.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public health, public administration, healthcare, strategic management, project management, or related field.
Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic project management, business planning, data coordination, or organizational change initiatives.
Substitution: An advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis if the degree is in a field of study directly related to the work assignment.
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Analytical Skills – Excellent attention to detail and ability to interpret and understand complex research protocol information and research process steps.
Communication Skills - Excellent command of the English language, and ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally. Comfortable presenting and facilitating in groups.
Interpersonal Skills – Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution; interacts with people in a friendly, open, honest manner; models a commitment to teamwork; demonstrates respect for the opinions of others; and maintains high level of confidentiality.
Customer Service – Demonstrates a commitment to excellent customer service, providing internal and external customers with timely information or assistance in resolving problems.
Adaptability – Adapts quickly to change and can manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a calm, organized manner; is open to new ideas and methods; able to work independently and as part of a team.
Planning and Organizing – Sets priorities, anticipates obstacles when planning, and manages time effectively to accomplish tasks. Proven ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects with strategic impact.
Technology Skills – Adept at utilizing technology to effectively communicate and complete work and ability to learn new technology. Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word) and experience using and collaborating in project management software.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public administration, health administration, business administration, or related field.
Experience supporting clinical research programs, clinical trials offices, or translational research initiatives.
Experience working in academic medicine or healthcare systems in a project management or data entry/coordination role.
Experience developing or maintaining data systems and dashboards to guide decision making.
Project Management Professional (PMP) or comparable certification.

Responsibilities

Lead end‑to‑end project management for ASCEND initiatives, including collaborating with others to develop and update project plans, timelines, and deliverables, and tracking and reporting on progress.
Monitor progress and proactively identify barriers, risks, and mitigation strategies for multiple concurrent projects.
Serve as the primary navigator and point of contact for ASCEND inquiries, coordinating intake, triage, and routing to appropriate institutional partners.
Guide investigators and study teams through ASCEND processes, requirements, and service offerings with a high level of customer service and responsiveness.
Ensure appropriate handoffs between ASCEND and collaborating programs, clinical operations, and research support units.
Act as a central coordination hub across departments, centers, hospitals, and external partners involved in ASCEND‑supported activity.
Facilitate collaboration among diverse stakeholder groups, ensuring alignment, communication, and accountability.
Support ASCEND governance and subcommittees by providing administrative support, including scheduling, preparing agendas, presentations, meeting materials, taking notes, tracking action items, and following up on decisions.
Support development, documentation, and refinement of ASCEND workflows, standard operating procedures, templates, and operational models.
Prepare and maintain operational reports, program databases and dashboards, and provide leadership with updates on ASCEND activity, progress, and performance.
Identify opportunities for process improvement and scalability to support program growth and sustainability.
Independently coordinate and manage data entry and queries. Coordinate and meet data deadlines.
Support implementation of long-term follow-up protocol for cell and gene therapy studies. Ensure complete source documentation is compiled.