Project Manager, Digital Health Behavior Research

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; North Carolina; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Paid leave

Professional training opportunities

Career growth and development

Job summary

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) in Kannapolis, NC, seeks a Digital Health Project Manager to guide CHAI Core projects from concept to implementation. You will partner with investigators, designers, and researchers to translate goals into actionable plans and software requirements.

This role emphasizes managing scope, timelines, budgets, and deliverables while aligning user needs with research objectives and technical feasibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 3+ years in project management or related field.
• Experience coordinating digital health projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication across technical and non-technical audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead project planning, requirements gathering, and software specifications.
• Coordinate UX research, testing, and collaboration among investigators, designers, and developers.
• Manage scope, timelines, budgets, and deliverables to ensure on-time, within-scope results.
• Communicate progress and risks to stakeholders and maintain a user-centered focus.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Organizational skills

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Jira

Figma

Job description

Posting Information

Department Nutrition Research Institute-633300

Career Area Research Professionals

Posting Open Date

Application Deadline 09/30/2026

Open Until Filled No

Position Type Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Working Title Project Manager, Digital Health Behavior Research

Appointment Type EHRA Non-Faculty

Position Number 20004429

Vacancy ID NF0010037

Full Time/Part Time Full-Time Permanent

FTE 1

Hours per week 40

Position Location North Carolina, US

Qualifications

Hiring Range Dependent on experience and qualifications

Proposed Start Date 10/12/2026

Position Information

Be a Tar Heel!

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute ( NRI ) is a world-renowned center and a global leader in precision nutrition research. Our on-site facilities include multiple wet labs and clinical facilities as well as a vivarium and a metabolic chamber. Approximately two hours from UNC -Chapel Hill , the NRI is located on the beautiful North Carolina Research Campus ( NCRC ) in Kannapolis, NC , a mid-size city with a small-town feel. The institute is within walking distance of the city center which includes shops, restaurants, a minor-league ballpark, theater, and music hall of fame. We are also a short drive to Charlotte and Winston-Salem/Greensboro. The NRI offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life, and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance. EHRA Non-Faculty permanent employees are eligible for up to 24 days of annual leave per calendar year. We also offer professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development, and lifelong learning.

Primary Purpose Of Organizational Unit

Learning how people can eat uniquely!

The UNC Nutrition Research Institute ( NRI ) is an internationally recognized center conducting innovative basic and translational science to establish how individual differences in nutrient requirements and responses to diet affect our nutritional needs. Our research contributes to the prevention and mitigation of chronic disease across the lifespan from periconception through aging.

Our Mission is to lead precision nutrition research through understanding how genetics and environment affect an individual’s requirements for and responses to nutrients.

NRI principal investigators hold faculty appointments in the departments of Nutrition and Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill. Their research interrogates nutrient roles in disease prevention, disease risk factors, and the impact of gene-environment and gene-nutrient interactions.

The NRI promotes excellence in nutrition knowledge, teaching, and research. We seek and encourage a diversity of experiences and ideas and provide the tools and flexibility for all employees to achieve success and excellence within their chosen occupations and aspirations.

We are committed to open dialogue, careful listening, becoming educated about the systems that hinder or prevent success, and taking action to ensure that all are equally acknowledged for their contributions and equally reap the benefits of being part of our community.

Our Vision is to use scientific discovery to ensure optimal health through individualized nutrition.

Everyone who works at the NRI supports this hopeful vision. Working at the NRI means doing good for the world. Join us!

The NRI and this position are in Kannapolis, NC, in the Charlotte region.

Position Summary

The Connected Health Applications and Interventions ( CHAI ) Core is an NIH -funded core facility that provides digital health intervention development, qualitative research, user experience research, and project management services to investigators across the University of North Carolina and beyond. CHAI supports the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of web- and mobile-based health interventions that improve patient outcomes, support behavior change, and enhance healthcare delivery.

The Digital Health Project Manager serves as the primary point of contact for research teams developing digital health interventions and applications. This role guides projects from initial concept through implementation, partnering with investigators, designers, developers, and qualitative researchers to translate research goals into actionable project plans and software requirements.

The position is responsible for managing project scope, timelines, budgets, and deliverables while ensuring alignment between user needs, research objectives, and technical feasibility. The position facilitates requirements gathering, leads project planning activities, develops software specifications and user stories, coordinates user experience and usability research, supports quality assurance testing, and manages communication among project stakeholders.

This role requires strong project management, communication, and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to navigate complex research environments and support multiple concurrent projects. The successful candidate will build trusted relationships with investigators, proactively identify risks and dependencies, and ensure projects are delivered on time and within scope while maintaining a user-centered approach to digital intervention design.

Minimum Education And Experience Requirements

Master’s or Bachelor’s and 0-2 years’ experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of experience in project management, digital product management, user experience research, software development, healthcare technology, research administration, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and defined timelines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Experience working independently in a highly collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience

• Master’s degree in public health, health sciences, information science, human-computer interaction, communications, business, or a related field.
• PMP , Agile, Scrum, or other project management certification.
• Experience working with digital health technologies, software development teams, user experience research, or health-related research projects.
• Experience with Jira or similar project management tools.
• Experience with Figma or similar digital design tools.
• Familiarity with usability testing, qualitative research methods, or user-centered design principles.
• Experience supporting grant-funded research projects or academic research environments.
• Working knowledge of web design, UX/UI best practices, and accessibility principles to effectively partner with designers and developers.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Special Instructions

Posting Contact Information

Department Contact Name and Title Shena Cunningham, Personnel Administrator

Department Contact Telephone or Email 704-250-5000

Office of Human Resources Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at [phone] or send an email to [e-mail]

Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.