Temporary VersaWater Research Operations Coordinator
About The Position
This temporary position supports the VersaWater initiative, a ~$5M project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Convergence Accelerator program. The project aims to bring affordable, effective drinking water treatment technology to underserved small communities in the U.S., with deployments in Puerto Rico and New York State. VersaWater focuses on making safe, reliable water treatment work for small systems (under 1,000 people) that have historically been overlooked. The initiative involves technology deployment, demonstration plants, student engagement, funding assistance, and hands-on training to ensure long-term sustainability. A key goal is to develop a successful business model for continued support of small drinking water treatment systems beyond the grant period. This is a collaborative, mission-driven effort at the intersection of engineering, community partnership, and public health.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in science/engineering, business/management, international/global development, or public health.
- Minimum 4 years working experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
- Proven ability to manage timelines, budgets, and deliverables, and track progress effectively.
- Ability to adapt to evolving project needs and maintain focus on achieving long-term goals.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with experience fostering teamwork, collaboration, and a positive, inclusive work environment – including managing conflict constructively.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, including community members, donors, and technical experts.
- Comfortable with Microsoft office products and project management software (Microsoft project, Smartsheets, etc).
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with the WAter, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector and/or U.S. water industry, including processes, regulatory compliance, and funding requirements for implementing water treatment technologies.
- Familiarity with business plan development and entrepreneurship.
- Hands-on involvement in science or engineering projects, with the ability to contribute to detailed design discussions and support technical development.
- Coursework or additional degrees in project or engineering management.
Responsibilities
- Managing sub-awardee budget tracking, invoicing review, and gathering information for monthly and quarterly reporting to NSF.
- Assisting with maintaining project deliverable tracking and coordinating Cornell demo plant logistics.
- Supporting detailed scoping for the next $2M in funding.
- Assisting the PI and Lead PM with other project deliverables related to business development, stakeholder engagement, and water quality testing.
- Reaching out to Cornell staff and faculty to serve on an advisory board.
- Drafting meeting agendas and discussion topics.
- Managing incoming water quality data from a test site and preparing summary reports for the team.
- Assisting with event planning, including managing logistics under the direction of the PI and Lead PM.
Benefits
- There are no benefits for this position
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
