Industry Partnerships Project Manager

University of Colorado•Colorado Springs, CO

7d•$71,301 - $90,694•Hybrid

About The Position

The University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine Office of Research is seeking a Project Manager to support strategic, sponsor-funded collaborations within the Office of Clinical Trials. The role serves as alliance manager and industry partnership lead, acting as the central operational and relationship hub for designated external industry partners, such as pharmaceutical or biotechnology sponsors. It coordinates complex, sponsor-supported clinical research activities and supports a responsive, solutions-oriented experience for internal and external stakeholders. The work is fast-paced, highly visible, detail- and service-oriented, and requires independent management of large, complex projects, sound judgment, and professional representation of CU Anschutz in industry interactions. The position reports to the Research Office Manager and is contingent upon anticipated external sponsor funding associated with strategic industry partnerships. The position is hybrid, with at least three days per week on campus and additional in-person attendance as needed for meetings. Duties may change based on business needs and at the supervisor’s discretion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public health, life sciences, healthcare administration, project management, or a related field; a combination of education and related technical, military, or paraprofessional experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis.
Five years of progressively responsible experience in project management, client or stakeholder management, clinical research, healthcare, or related operational environments.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship; the employer cannot provide work visa sponsorship or employment authorization now or in the future.
Ability to build and sustain strong relationships with external industry partners.
Demonstrated experience providing high-touch, responsive customer service or account management.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex academic or clinical concepts to external stakeholders.
Experience preparing executive-level presentations, reports, and briefings.
Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects with competing priorities.
Strong planning, organization, and time management skills.
Ability to work effectively across a highly matrixed organization without direct authority.
Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills.
Ability to manage ambiguity and rapidly changing priorities, identify issues proactively, and develop solutions.
Sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion in all interactions, including representing CU Anschutz to external partners.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business, health administration, life sciences, or a related field.
Experience supporting industry-sponsored clinical trials or research partnerships.
Experience working in academic medical centers or healthcare systems.
Experience with clinical trial budgeting, contracting, or sponsor management processes.
Project Management Professional (PMP), Prosci, or comparable certification.
Experience in consulting, industry liaison, or executive support roles.
Understanding of the clinical trial lifecycle, contracting, and sponsor expectations.
Experience with reporting tools, dashboards, client relationship management, and data systems.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end project management for industry-sponsored initiatives, including developing and maintaining project plans, timelines, and deliverables.
Track multiple concurrent projects and clinical trials, identifying risks, dependencies, and mitigation strategies.
Align project execution with sponsor expectations, contractual obligations, and institutional workflows.
Serve as the primary point of contact and alliance manager for assigned external partners, providing a responsive, solutions-oriented experience.
Build and maintain trust-based relationships with sponsor representatives and act as a knowledgeable, reliable liaison.
Manage partner communications, expectations, and issue resolution proactively, promptly, and professionally.
Plan and manage partner-facing on-site events and meetings, including logistics, communications, and other event needs.
Develop and deliver executive-level sponsor updates, briefings, and presentations tailored to industry audiences.
Navigate sponsor-initiated projects by coordinating intake, routing, and follow-up with appropriate institutional partners.
Coordinate seamless handoffs among study teams, research administration, and sponsor stakeholders.
Coordinate activity across departments, research teams, hospitals, and industry partners.
Facilitate alignment among investigators, operational teams, finance, contracting, and sponsors.
Support governance structures by coordinating meetings, preparing materials, tracking action items, and ensuring follow-through.
Develop or maintain operational reports, dashboards, and tracking tools to monitor sponsor-related activity and performance.
Support the development and refinement of workflows, standard operating procedures, and operating models for sponsor-facing processes.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and partnership value.
Maintain organized records, including agreements, budgets, and reporting files, and support routine financial and status summaries.
Ensure timely completion of deliverables and compliance with internal and external reporting expectations.
Support invoice and payment tracking and basic financial reconciliation in collaboration with finance teams.