Project Administrator

Michigan State University College of Engineering

East Lansing (MI)

On-site

USD 70,000 - 100,000

Full time

8 days ago

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Job summary

Michigan State University College of Engineering seeks a Project Manager for the N-SYNC project, coordinating scientific and administrative tasks across partner institutions to meet milestones, budgets, and compliance during the four-year program.

The role requires 3–5 years in project or program management within research or academic settings, with a preference for PMP/PRINCE2 certification and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a related field.
3–5 years of program or project management experience, preferably in research or academic settings.
Master’s degree or PMP/PRINCE2 certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as central point of contact for PI, co-PIs, and institutions.
Coordinate activities across gene editing pipelines, field experiments, and operations.
Prepare and submit DOE/ARPA-E reports (SOPO, quarterly, annual).
Track milestones, deliverables, and timelines across institutions.
Manage USDA permits and regulatory documentation.
Oversee project budgets with post-award and finance staff.
Coordinate meetings, workshops, and leadership meetings; prepare materials.
Support outreach and industry partnership activities.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Communication skills

Budget management

Cross-institution coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Science, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Biology or related fields

Master’s degree or PMP/PRINCE2

Tools

Microsoft Project

Asana

Trello

SharePoint

Job description

Position Summary

The Topp Lab at MSU is seeking a highly motivated, organized, and proactive Project Manager to support the successful execution of N-SYNC, a large-scale, multi-institutional research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E. The N-SYNC project brings together a multidisciplinary team across multiple U.S. institutions to develop plant genetic and biological solutions that synchronize nitrogen supply and demand in corn agriculture, reduce synthetic nitrogen inputs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining yield. The Project Manager will play a central role in coordinating scientific, administrative, and reporting activities across partner institutions, ensuring that project milestones, budgets, and compliance requirements are met over the four-year project period.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as a central point of contact for the Project PI, co-PIs, collaborating institutions, and administrative teams.
Coordinate project activities across institutions, including gene editing pipelines, field experiments, nurseries, and associated research operations.
Coordinate development and submission of required DOE/ARPA-E reports, including the Statement of Project Objectives (SOPO), quarterly reports, and annual progress reports.
Track milestones, deliverables, and timelines, monitoring progress across collaborating institutions.
Process and manage USDA permits and related regulatory documentation.
Oversee project budget expenditures in collaboration with post-award and finance staff.
Coordinate project communications and meetings, including organizing workshops, seminars, and leadership meetings, and preparing meeting materials.
Support outreach, stakeholder engagement, and industry partnership activities.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Science, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Biology, or related fields.

3-5 years of experience in program or project management, with a preference for experience in research, science, or academic settings.

knowledge equivalent to that which would normally be acquired in a four year college degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Science, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Biology or related fields; three to five years of related and progressively more expansive work experience in program or project management, with a preference for experience in research, science, or academic settings; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications

Master’s degree or Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or similar)

The ideal candidate will exhibit many of the following skills and abilities

Excellent organizational, time-management, and multitasking skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific activities into clear plans and reports.
Proven ability to manage schedules, milestones, and deliverables across diverse teams.
Experience with budget tracking and grant management processes.
Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., "Microsoft Project", "Asana", "Trello", "SharePoint").
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and maintain confidentiality.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to foster collaboration across disciplines and institutions.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

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