Project Director

Villanova University; Rosemont (PA); Hybrid; USD 73,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Villanova University seeks an experienced Project Director to lead operations for an NIH-funded, multi-site study focused on improving outcomes for lung transplant patients and caregivers.

The role serves as the operational lead across collaborating institutions, driving study execution, compliance, participant engagement, and cross-site coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nursing, social work, psychology, public health or related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in research and academic environments as a project/program manager or equivalent.
• Experience overseeing IRB submissions, regulatory compliance activities, and research documentation across study sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead IRB submissions/modifications across participating sites.
• Manage data use agreements between Villanova and all study sites.
• Serve as the primary liaison for Villanova's research administration for grant-related administration needs.
• Oversee grant budget management, resource allocation, project tracking, and progress reports.

Skills

Project management

Regulatory compliance

IRB submissions

Grant management

Team leadership

Cross-site coordination

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing, social work, psychology, public health or related field

Master's degree in nursing, social work, psychology, public health or related field

Tools

REDCap

NVivo

Microsoft Office Suite

Canva

Adobe Creative Suite

Zoom

Microsoft Teams

LabArchives

DropBox

OneDrive

SharePoint

EndNote

Asana

Norton

Job description

Villanova University

Project Director

Posting Details

Do you have questions about the application process? If so, please refer to the Applicant FAQ's.

Job Information

Posting Number: 20260425S

Position Title: Project Director

Position Type: Staff

Location: Villanova, PA

Recruitment Type: Internal/External Applicants

Work Schedule: full-time/12-months

Avg Hours Week:

Department: 948-Nursing-Research & Innovation

Position Summary

Villanova's Fitzpatrick College of Nursing seeks an experienced and organized full-time Project Director to lead operations for an NIH-funded, multi-site mixed methods study focused on improving outcomes for lung transplant patients and caregivers (R01HL184123, Principal Investigator Brittany Koons). The Project Director will serve as the operational lead across collaborating institutions and will work closely with the Principal Investigator to drive study execution, regulatory compliance, participant engagement, and cross-site coordination.

The Project Director will be responsible for administrative aspects and day-to-day operations of the study, as well as other duties assigned which support the launch and maintenance of the study. This position is a hybrid position with most work time being remote with periodic on-site time required for staff trainings.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University's mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

Regulatory and Compliance

• Lead IRB submissions/modifications across participating sites
• Manage data use agreements between Villanova and all study sites
• Serve as the primary liaison for Villanova's research administration for all grant-related administration needs.
• Oversee grant budget management, resource allocation, project tracking, and preparation of progress reports.

Study Operations

• Monitor recruitment, enrollment, and longitudinal follow-up (e.g., schedule study visits)
• Conduct virtual study visits as needed
• Coordinate multi-site research activities and timelines and ensure protocol compliance
• Set up and manage project in REDCap
• Prepare qualitative recordings for analysis in NVivo
• Implement protocols to capture missing survey data
• Manage incoming data transfers
• Manage participant compensation

Team Leadership

• Train and supervise research assistants and site coordinators
• Facilitate investigative meetings and cross-site communication
• Assist PI with reporting, manuscript preparation, and dissemination activities

Minimum Qualifications

Formal Education

• Bachelor's degree in nursing, social work, psychology, public health or related field

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in research and academic environments as a project/program manager or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Experience managing federally funded, patient-oriented clinical research studies, preferably longitudinal and multi‑site studies
• Demonstrated success supervising and coordinating research staff, including research assistants and study coordinators.
• Experience overseeing IRB submissions, regulatory compliance activities, and research documentation across study sites.
• Experience monitoring grant budgets, resource allocation, and study timelines to support successful project execution.

Work Skills (e.g., written and verbal communication skills)

• Ability to manage high‑priority situations with professionalism, sound judgment, and composure
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to effectively coordinate across multidisciplinary research teams and collaborating institutions.
• Strong organizational, critical thinking, and project management skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex research operations while balancing multiple projects and deadlines
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative working relationships with investigators, research staff, participants, and external partners
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality and regulatory compliance related to patient and research data
• Ability to adapt to evolving study needs and efficiently learn new technologies, systems, and research procedures
• Ability to analyze problems, develop solutions, and proactively address operational challenges in a dynamic research environment

Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)

• Knowledge of principles and compliance requirements of the Health Information Privacy and Portability Act (HIPPA) and its relevance in healthcare-related research
• Knowledge of procedures for participant screening and consent
• Knowledge of processes related to study and grant management

Equipment Knowledge

• Microsoft Office Suite
• Design Software (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite)
• Remote meeting software (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams)
• Data management software (e.g. LabArchives, DropBox, OneDrive, SharePoint, REDCap, NVivo)
• Reference management tools (e.g. Covidence, EndNote)
• Task Management and project tracking software (e.g., Norton, Asana)

Preferred Qualifications

Formal Education

• Master's degree in nursing, social work, psychology, public health or related field

Work Experience

• More than 5 years of experience managing complex clinical research projects within academic medical centers, healthcare systems, or research‑intensive environments
• Experience supporting NIH-funded or other federally funded research programs, including familiarity with NIH reporting requirements and sponsor compliance expectations
• Experience coordinating longitudinal, multi‑site, and/or mixed methods research studies
• Experience managing patient-caregiver dyadic or other family‑centered research studies
• Experience supporting qualitative and survey‑based data collection, management, and analysis
• Experience contributing to scientific dissemination activities, including manuscripts, conference abstracts, presentations, and research reports
• Experience overseeing clinical research data management activities, including data quality monitoring, data cleaning, cross‑site query resolution, preparation of study reports, and collaboration with statistical teams to support data analysis

Specific Job Knowledge (e.g., knowledge of principles and procedures related to field and area)

• The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program certification preferred

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours

• May require some evenings and/or weekends, scheduled ahead of time
• Job could involve sitting for one or more hours on the computer; however, the Project Director can schedule breaks and/or move as needed

Posting Date

09/10/2026

Closing Date (11:59pm ET)

Salary Posting Information

This position falls within salaried grade 16 and the range is $73,100-91,400. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate's qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.

Salary Grade

16

Job Classification

exempt

References Needed

Minimum Number of References Needed 3

Maximum Number of References Needed 3

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*)

Documents needed to complete your application:

Required Documents

1. Cover Letter / Letter of Interest
2. Resume / Curriculum Vitae

Optional Documents

1. Letters of Reference (uploaded by applicant)