Senior Project Manager – Controlled Research Support Program

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

5d•$90,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Controlled Research Support Program (CRSP) Project Manager will play a critical role in advancing UT Austin’s compliance with Federal standards for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). This position will coordinate and manage projects that ensure the university’s systems, processes, and data handling meet federal security and compliance requirements. The Project Manager will oversee multiple workstreams, including policy development, enterprise technology implementation, training, and auditing. This role will serve as a key liaison between UT Austin’s Enterprise Technology team, the Information Security office, and the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Endeavors to drive alignment with regulations and best practices. This position supports UT’s research security strategy and ability to participate in federally sponsored research requiring enhanced safeguarding controls. Responsibilities include managing initiatives related to secure information systems, system mapping, access control, and incident response, while ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. The Project Manager will also facilitate cross-functional communication, monitor compliance milestones, and support a culture of security for UT Austin’s research and operational integrity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of experience managing IT projects or portfolios preferably in a higher education or government setting.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, complex workstreams and initiatives simultaneously.
Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
Creating business cases and managing project budgets.
Proficiency with project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).
U.S. Citizen, resident, or officially recognized asylee - Applicant selected will be subject to government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information at the level appropriate to the project requirements of the position.
Equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a research university, government contracting, or defense-related environment.
Certification in project management (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent).
Familiarity with IT governance and change management, and compliance audit processes.
Experience with NIST 800-171, CMMC, or Federal research environments.

Responsibilities

Project Management: Collaborate with Enterprise Technology leadership and compliance teams to develop and manage the portfolio of IT and security initiatives required to achieve and maintain CUI compliance.
Maintain a roadmap of compliance and security projects, ensuring prioritization and alignment with federal regulations and institutional objectives.
Track progress and status of workstreams, escalating risks and issues to leadership when needed.
Develop dashboards, performance indicators, and compliance metrics to provide leadership and governance updates.
Lead or support the development of executive-level briefings, audit documentation, and compliance governance materials.
Balance security, usability, and research mission priorities.
Project Coordination: Facilitate coordination across multiple teams, ensuring secure handling of CUI across functions.
Ensure dependencies and interconnections between compliance workstreams are identified, communicated, and effectively managed.
Serve as a central point of contact for CUI compliance projects, status reporting, and key stakeholder communication.
Develop and present business cases to support initiatives, resourcing, and executive decision-making.
Facilitate research project onboarding (intake, assessment, remediation, authorization).
Monitor project onboarding timelines and bottlenecks.
Track research assessment pipelines.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with research leadership, sponsored projects, and information security teams to ensure IT and compliance initiatives align with operational and academic priorities.
Liaise with Enterprise Technology leadership to align resources.
Engage with external auditors, vendors, and Federal partners as needed to support secure project execution and reporting requirements.
Engage with Principal Investigators (PIs) and research administrators.
Resource and Budget Management: Work with leadership to identify and allocate resources necessary for compliance and secure project execution.
Manage project budgets and ensure adherence to compliance-driven financial and contractual requirements.
Provide input on resource planning, staffing needs, and training investments for CUI readiness.
Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to enhance collaboration, communication, and efficiency.
Document and share best practices across workstreams.
Perform other related functions as assigned.

Benefits

Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
Teachers Retirement System of Texas: a defined benefit retirement plan
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
Tuition assistance
Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card