Research Project Manager

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

About The Position

The Research Project Manager is a key member of the UNC Surgical Health Services Research Center (USHER) within the Department of Surgery. The role plans, coordinates, implements, and manages research studies and funded projects, ensuring that goals, timelines, regulatory requirements, and budgets are met. The manager works closely with faculty investigators, research staff, collaborators, sponsors, and community and healthcare partners across all phases of the research lifecycle. The role also supports center activities and strategic initiatives and may contribute to disseminating research findings through presentations and publications.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience in project management, clinical research, health services research, or a related field.
Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills and ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including faculty, staff, trainees, research participants, and external partners.
Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and projects simultaneously.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to prepare reports, study documentation, and professional correspondence.
Sound judgment, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills for managing complex projects and making independent decisions.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public health, clinical research, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Manage day-to-day operations of multiple research projects, monitor study progress, track milestones and deliverables, manage timelines, and support achievement of project objectives.
Coordinate project operations, including planning and facilitating meetings, preparing agendas and materials, documenting action items, and following up on tasks.
Manage project budgets by forecasting expenditures, monitoring spending, and preparing and submitting invoices.
Serve as a liaison among faculty investigators, research staff, sponsors, collaborating institutions, and community partners.
Supervise, train, and mentor clinical research assistants and graduate research assistants.
Prepare and submit regulatory and administrative documentation, including IRB applications, protocol amendments, continuing reviews, progress reports, and sponsor reports.
Develop and maintain study documentation, including research protocols, manuals of operations, data management plans, quality assurance plans, and safety monitoring procedures.
Participate in research center activities, strategic initiatives, and center-wide meetings to support USHER’s mission and growth.
Ensure compliance with institutional, federal, and sponsor regulations governing human subjects research and project management activities.
Contribute to dissemination of research findings through presentations and publications, as applicable.