Research Project Manager

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

About The Position

RENCI is seeking an experienced Research Project Manager to contribute to the management of highly complex research and team science coordination projects funded by NIH, NSF, or other federal and state government organizations, and/or to lead collaborative efforts between RENCI and UNC campus units. Reporting to RENCI’s Research Project Management Office, the position supports project-management strategy, business cases, and detailed project plans, and manages execution to meet leadership priorities, timelines, budgets, expected outcomes, and quality standards. The role manages day-to-day project operations in collaboration with RENCI leadership, including meeting coordination and facilitation, note-taking, action-item tracking, team communications, and engagement of staff and stakeholders. The manager creates and maintains tracking tools, tracks deliverables, maintains project documentation, identifies and monitors risks, and escalates issues when appropriate. Financial and administrative work includes supporting budget development and monitoring, tracking assigned budgets, reporting budget or effort changes, assisting with contracts and subawardee deliverables, and contributing to funder reports and sponsor communications. The successful candidate is a motivated, detail-oriented strategic thinker, collaborative team player, and demonstrated problem solver who can make sound decisions independently and in partnership with leadership. The role also supports proposals and stakeholder communications, edits and analyzes scientific and technical materials, and follows or develops standard operating procedures.

Requirements

Ability to independently draft project plans, milestones, deliverables, and timelines.
Ability to lead complex project initiatives, develop and implement program strategies, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Proven ability to lead and participate in technical conversations.
Ability to use and incorporate various hardware and software packages in support of project outcomes.
Familiarity with project management tools, particularly online tools including Atlassian Jira, Confluence, GitHub, and Monday.com.
Understanding of Agile metrics, including tasks, backlog tracking, burndown metrics, velocity, and user stories, to analyze and improve sprint planning.
Ability to write according to correct English usage and an appropriate style guide or accepted industry standards.

Nice To Haves

Three years of experience in project management and/or program coordination and organization.
CSM or equivalent certification.
Experience with federally funded projects.
Experience using project management skills and tools in an academic setting and/or a background in education.
Experience with software development teams.

Responsibilities

Use project task-tracking tools and methods to oversee one or more projects through their lifecycles.
Recognize opportunities for internal improvement and develop plans to implement processes and methods that facilitate project outcomes.
Schedule and facilitate effective, efficient meetings; take notes and track action items.
Work with research project staff to track and ensure completion of prioritized deliverables.
Propose, initiate, and develop activities that advance project goals, such as workstreams, tiger teams, webinars, office hours, and educational resources.
Identify potential project risks and challenges, develop response plans, communicate risks, and recommend mitigation measures.
Maintain and update project tracking tools and project documentation; follow, update, and develop standard operating procedures as needed.
Provide content for or prepare reports in accordance with sponsor requirements and project scope.
Establish and maintain constructive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, and understand departmental operations in relation to stakeholder expectations.
Assist with researching, developing, and executing proposals, including internal and external written and oral communications and client engagement.
Engage research project staff to facilitate project outcomes.
Edit and analyze scientific and technical informational materials or content.
Support budget development and monitoring, track assigned budgets, and report budget or effort changes.
Assist with contracts and manage subawardee deliverables when needed.
Aid in preparing and writing funder reports and other sponsor communications.
Manage project execution to meet leadership priorities, timelines, budgets, expected outcomes, and quality standards.