Project Manager - Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute

West Virginia University•West Virginia, WV

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) at West Virginia University is seeking a Remote Project Manager to serve as the primary administrative and coordination liaison between Cognito Therapeutics, Inc. (Cognito) and RNI. Cognito is a venture-backed startup focused on therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions, utilizing patented gamma stimulation technology. The Partnership Project Manager will facilitate the day-to-day coordination of initiatives across the partnership, working within established governance structures and approved project plans. This role involves working closely with RNI program leadership while interfacing with Cognito representatives for information sharing, coordination, and status reporting to support joint initiatives. Success requires strong cross-organizational coordination, communication, and project governance skills.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare administration, project management, or a related field.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience in project or program management, preferably in healthcare, research, technology, or cross-organizational partnerships.
Demonstrated experience managing projects across multiple organizations or complex stakeholder environments.
Strong organizational, communication, and facilitation skills.
Ability to operate with ambiguity and navigate matrixed reporting relationships.
Proficiency in cross-functional tools (e.g., Asana, Jira, Monday.com, or MS Project).

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with governance structures, steering committees, and executive reporting.
Comfort working with both operational and senior leadership stakeholders.
Exceptional "soft skills" and emotional intelligence; the ability to navigate different corporate cultures and build trust on both sides of the fence.
Ability to communicate complex technical or operational requirements to non-technical stakeholders in both organizations.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day project coordination across joint Cognito–RNI initiatives, including planning, scheduling, task tracking, and delivery.
Develop and maintain integrated project plans, timelines, milestones, and dependencies for joint activities.
Monitor progress, risks, and issues; proactively escalate and drive resolution as needed.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with partnership objectives.
Serve as the central point of contact between Cognito and RNI for operational project activities.
Coordinate resources, inputs, and deliverables for joint activities.
Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among clinical, operational, technical, and administrative stakeholders, including regular "Sync" meetings and joint leadership reviews.
Support partnership governance structures, including working groups, steering committees, and executive updates.
Prepare status reports, dashboards, and meeting materials for partnership leadership.
Track decisions, action items, and approvals to ensure accountability and follow-through.
Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders across Cognito and RNI.
Align expectations, clarify roles and responsibilities, and manage competing priorities.
Support change management and adoption of agreed-upon processes and workflows.
Identify opportunities to improve coordination, efficiency, and execution across the partnership.
Help establish and refine project management standards, tools, and best practices for joint work.
Capture lessons learned and support continuous improvement of the partnership operating model.
Maintain a centralized repository of all joint project documentation, contracts, and meeting minutes.
Ensure that project activities comply with the data-sharing and intellectual property agreements established between Cognito and RNI.