Project Manager – School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (Remote)

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

1d•$98,840 - $120,805•Remote

About The Position

This is a full time, 32 hours per week, 3-year term position with the possibility of renewal based on available funding, performance, and business needs. The Project Manager, in collaboration with the Principal Investigator, is responsible for fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and growth-oriented work environment that encourages teamwork, supports individual development, and ensures all team members feel valued and aligned toward achieving the project’s goals. This work is part of the National Science Foundation’s Convergence Accelerator Program which is focused on sustainability and national-scale impact. At the end of the fixed three-year term, teams are expected to provide high-impact deliverables that bring research off the shelves for positive societal impact. This project is within NSF’s Equitable Water Solutions Track. The Project Manager, over the next two years, is responsible for: Developing with the team a sustainable business plan to continue these efforts beyond the project's scope by engaging with business leaders and other partners. This includes interpreting and analyzing partner needs and identifying the human and material resources needed. Refining the implementation process for delivering high-quality water treatment systems to underserved small communities through a previously developed implementation pilot process. This work includes developing and recommending innovative business processes to coordinating collaboration among numerous stakeholders (academia, industry, non-profit, etc.) to refine the implementation framework. The framework involves providing community planning support, securing funding connections for, and deploying effective water treatment technologies. Establishing and maintaining the project's culture/climate by cultivating and facilitating effective relationships between project managers, stakeholders, and the communities served, and by ensuring high-visibility deliverables are completed on time and within defined budget restrictions. Developing and maintaining project plans, including developing and monitoring project budgets, tracking and monitoring deliverables, managing the change process for complex and high-visibility deliverables, coordinating team meetings, documenting and reporting progress, overseeing compliance, assessing and managing issues to prioritize and drive resolution, identifying and mitigating risks, coordinating with stakeholders, and refining workflows for improved efficiency. Contributing to the scientific and engineering development of water treatment technologies, including participating in design discussions on automated coagulant dosing, water quality testing, and other conventional water treatment processes. The Project Manager will work with designers and engineers to pilot new technologies outside of the university. Additionally, the Project Manager will assisting the PI in managing students research. Strong knowledge of the U.S. water industry, water treatment design, funding requirements, business development, and community engagement practices, along with excellent interpersonal skills and cross-cultural experience, are essential to succeed in this role Campus Collaboration: The Project Manager will work closely with stakeholders across multiple university campuses to ensure regular consistent communication and alignment on project goals and vision. This role requires fostering strong relationships, coordinating resources, and facilitating cross-campus initiatives that will result in the various university team members working together as one team. Success Factors: Effective Communication: All key stakeholders feel informed and aligned on project objectives, timelines, and deliverables. Strong Relationships: Established trust and productive partnerships with key campus representatives and departments. Seamless Coordination: Resources, schedules, and activities are efficiently organized across campuses to minimize delays and conflicts. Achievement of Goals: Cross-campus projects are completed on time, within scope, and meet or exceed expectations. Resolution of Challenges: Identified and addressed inter-campus challenges proactively, ensuring a smooth path to success. While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 5 to 7 years of relevant experience or equivalent combination in science/engineering, business, or international/global development.
5 years working experience in the water industry or adjacent field as an engineer, project coordinator/manager, community engagement specialist or similar.
Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects involving diverse cultural perspectives.
Experience working directly with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds.
Comfortable with Microsoft office products and project management software (Microsoft project, smartsheet, etc).
Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.
Familiarity with the U.S. water industry, including processes, regulatory compliance, and funding requirements for implementing water treatment technologies.
Proven ability to develop and maintain detailed project plans, manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables, and track progress effectively.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, including community members, donors, and technical experts.
Strong interpersonal skills, with experience fostering teamwork, collaboration, and a positive, inclusive work environment.
Experience mentoring or supervising students or early-career professionals.
Ability to adapt to evolving project needs and maintain focus on achieving long-term goals.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects, particularly those with a focus on community engagement or underserved populations.
Experience overseeing or analyzing work across multiple project areas, with the ability to monitor performance and report status to leadership.
Background in science, engineering, business, or international/global development, with a strong understanding of relevant technical concepts.
Familiarity with policy and procedural implementation as it affects project planning, scheduling, and stakeholder obligations.
Experience engaging with underserved or disadvantaged communities, with knowledge of best practices for community involvement and planning.
Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, including risk assessment, mitigation planning, and the ability to prioritize and drive resolution of complex, high-visibility issues.
Familiarity with business plan development and experience in working with donors and business leaders to secure funding or support.
Hands-on involvement in science or engineering projects, with the ability to contribute to detailed design discussions and support technical development.
Medium to advanced fluency in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Develop a sustainable business plan to continue efforts beyond the project's scope by engaging with business leaders and other partners.
Interpret and analyze partner needs and identify necessary human and material resources.
Refine the implementation process for delivering high-quality water treatment systems to underserved small communities.
Develop and recommend innovative business processes to coordinate collaboration among numerous stakeholders (academia, industry, non-profit, etc.).
Provide community planning support, secure funding connections, and deploy effective water treatment technologies.
Establish and maintain the project's culture/climate by cultivating and facilitating effective relationships between project managers, stakeholders, and the communities served.
Ensure high-visibility deliverables are completed on time and within defined budget restrictions.
Develop and maintain project plans, including developing and monitoring project budgets.
Track and monitor deliverables.
Manage the change process for complex and high-visibility deliverables.
Coordinate team meetings.
Document and report progress.
Oversee compliance.
Assess and manage issues to prioritize and drive resolution.
Identify and mitigate risks.
Coordinate with stakeholders.
Refine workflows for improved efficiency.
Contribute to the scientific and engineering development of water treatment technologies.
Participate in design discussions on automated coagulant dosing, water quality testing, and other conventional water treatment processes.
Work with designers and engineers to pilot new technologies outside of the university.
Assist the PI in managing student research.
Work closely with stakeholders across multiple university campuses to ensure regular consistent communication and alignment on project goals and vision.
Foster strong relationships, coordinate resources, and facilitate cross-campus initiatives.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care options
Generous retirement contributions
Access to wellness programs
Employee discounts with local and national retail brands
Three weeks of vacation
13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
Two additional floating holidays
Tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program
Tuition aid for external education
Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program