Lab Project Manager (Project Management Specialist), Observing Civic Engagement Lab

Indiana University Bloomington; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lab Project Manager will help manage a project studying community-based nonprofit organization in Bloomington, Indiana for the Observing Civic Engagement Lab.

The role requires leading a team of student researchers, coordinating across many partner organizations, and maintaining data quality and participant safety throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; fields listed in the HTML include social sciences or related fields.
• 2 years of relevant experience.
• Ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion.
• Demonstrates project management skills and strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Leads a team of approximately 25-30 student research assistants, recruiting, training, scheduling, mentoring, and monitoring performance.
• Monitors research activities to ensure adherence to project protocols and quality standards.
• Manages scheduling and logistical coordination across about 60 community organizations.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with community organizations and coordinates participation.
• Identifies operational risks and implements solutions to support project continuity and safety.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Time management

Reliability

Education

Bachelor's degree in sociology, political science, public affairs, business or relevant social science

Tools

Microsoft Office (Teams, Outlook, Excel)

Qualtrics

Job description

Department

THE O'NEILL SCHOOL - BL SPEA (BL-SPEA-IUBLA)

Department Information

The O'Neill School of Public and Environment Affairs works to build a better world by stewarding the development of equitable and inclusive societies, democratic governance, and a healthy, sustainable environment. With partners across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, we pursue education, scholarship, and civic engagement at the crossroads of policy, science, and management. We give our students the knowledge and skills to have a significant impact in varied settings around the globe.

Job Summary

The Lab Project Manager will help manage a project studying community-based nonprofit organization in Bloomington, Indiana for the Observing Civic Engagement Lab.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Leads a team of approximately 25-30 student research assistantsby recruiting, training, scheduling, mentoring, and monitoringperformance. Provides ongoing guidance, answers procedural andcoding questions, facilitates communication, and fosters aproductive and inclusive team environment that supports studentdevelopment and project success.
• Monitors research activities to ensure adherence to establishedproject protocols and quality standards. Reviews submittedobservations, provides feedback and corrective guidance, resolvesdata collection issues, and collaborates with project leadership topromote data accuracy, consistency, and reliability.
• Manages the scheduling and logistical coordination of researchactivities across approximately 60 community organizations.Oversees observation calendars, assigns research assistant shifts,monitors coverage needs, and ensures efficient deployment ofproject resources to support data collection objectives.
• Establishes and maintains productive relationships withcommunity organizations participating in the research project.Conducts outreach, recruit organizations, coordinatesparticipation, responds to inquiries, and serves as a primary pointof contact to support engagement and long-term collaboration withproject stakeholders.
• Identifies, evaluates, and addresses operational, logistical, and participant-related risks associated with field-based researchactivities. Exercises sound judgment in responding to emergingissues and implements solutions that support participant safety,project continuity, and successful completion of projectobjectives.
• Maintains organized project records, databases, schedules, anddocumentation to support research operations and reporting.Monitors data integrity, track project activities, and ensuresinformation is accurately maintained and readily accessible foranalysis and decision-making.

General Responsibilities

• Manages medium to large projects, from start to finish,ensuring on time completion within budget.
• Develops project plan(s) and efficiently analyzes, tracks,forecasts, and reports on project metrics and shortfalls.
• Coordinates and facilitates efforts of project team(s)consisting of various staff and hourly employees.
• Communicates ongoing changes in tasks, goals, orperformance.
• Collaborates to ensure that project objectives are achievedwithin established time frames.
• Participates in client meetings, vendor/contract decisions, anddevelopment of project requirements and specifications.
• May provide guidance and support to less experiencedpeers.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

Education

Required

• Bachelor's degree (preferably in sociology, political science,public affairs, business or relevant social science or professionalfield.)

Work Experience

Required

• 2 years of relevant experience.

Skills

Required

• Ability to drive multiple projects to successfulcompletion.
• Demonstrates project management skills.
• Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent collaboration and team building skills.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Highly thorough and dependable.

Preferred

• Proficient with Microsoft Office programs (Teams particularlyShifts, Outlook, Excel).
• Aptitude for creating and managing surveys withinQualtrics.
• Familiarity with social science research on civilsociety/nonprofit organizations.

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and tooperate a computer and other standard office productivityequipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periodsof time moving around an office environment and the campus. Theperson in this role must be able to perform the essential functionswith or without an accommodation.

Additional Information

This position is grant-funded with expected annual renewals.Renewals are contingent on the availability of grant funds.

Work Location

Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs

1315 East 10th Street, Bloomington, Indiana 47405

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, criticalillness, and supplemental accidental death & dismembermentinsurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject tovesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IUcourses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteerevents
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IUBenefit Programs Brochure .

Job Classification

Career Level: Career

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: General Administration

Job Family: Project Management

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Indiana University is an equal opportunity employer and provider of ADA services and prohibits discrimination in hiring. See Indiana University Notice of Non-Discriminationhere which includes contact information.

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