Project Manager - NCTI

ucf; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI) at the University of Central Florida is launching a national pilot funded by the NSF. The Project Manager will coordinate project plans, timeliness, reporting, governance, and compliance to support successful delivery of institute objectives.

Ideal candidates will have experience managing complex projects in federally funded or regulated environments, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex projects in federally funded environments.
• Experience with NSF-funded projects is valuable.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to coordinate governance and reporting across multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Administer the national competition: support design/deployment of solicitation, manage applications and intake, coordinate Selection Board logistics, and ensure NDA/conflict-of-interest documentation.
• Perform operational data collection supporting the research and evaluation program: administer surveys, maintain records; provide data to external evaluators and support data collection activities.
• Prepare and coordinate reporting: assemble inputs for NSF annual reports and dashboards; track deliverables and metrics.
• Maintain compliance documentation: participant-support cost records, milestone verification, FDA/NSF approvals tracking, and policy documentation.
• Coordinate meetings and governance operations: schedule and support the commercialization-support review committee and governance activities.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Regulatory compliance

Data collection & reporting

Job description

National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI):

The National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI) is a national initiative dedicated to helping innovative technology companies transform breakthrough ideas into commercial success. Supported through a National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative and led by the University of Central Florida, NCTI serves as a national hub connecting entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, government partners, and commercialization experts to accelerate innovation, business growth, and economic impact. NCTI is designed to help promising deep-technology companies navigate the journey from scientific discovery and technological advancement to sustainable market success.

As a new institute, NCTI offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of technology commercialization on a national scale. Through strategic partnerships, individualized commercialization support, and a collaborative innovation ecosystem, the institute is advancing solutions that help high-potential companies overcome commercialization barriers and bring transformative technologies to market. NCTI combines the agility and entrepreneurial spirit of a startup with the resources and credibility of a leading research university, creating an environment where innovation, partnership, and impact drive meaningful results.

The Opportunity :

Join the founding team of the National Commercialization and Translation Institute, a national pilot funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. The Project Manager will coordinate project plans, timelines, reporting activities, governance processes, compliance requirements, and stakeholder engagement efforts that support the successful delivery of institute objectives. Working closely with institute leadership, university partners, and external stakeholders, this role will help establish and maintain the operational infrastructure necessary to launch and sustain a first-of-its-kind national program.

Successful candidates will bring demonstrated experience managing complex projects in federally funded, research, higher education, government, or similarly regulated environments. Strong organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities are essential. Experience with NSF-funded projects is particularly valuable, although experience supporting NIH or other federal agency awards is also highly relevant. This position presents a unique opportunity to contribute to a national pilot initiative whose findings may influence future NSF commercialization efforts and innovation programs nationwide.

This is a Contracts & Grants (C&G) funded position. Employment is subject to availability of funding and may cease at the time funding for this employment is depleted. This position is approved for the first 18 months of the 24-month grant period.

Classification Title: Administrative Project Manager III

Responsibilities:

• Administer the national competition (S1 to S3): support design and deployment of the solicitation and published review criteria; manage the application period, applicant communications, and intake; screen applications administratively; and run Selection Board logistics, including scheduling, materials, scoring-record capture, structured finalist interviews, and NDA/conflict-of-interest documentation. The Project Manager administers these processes; substantive input to the review rubric and criteria, and leadership of cohort onboarding and entry orientation, rest with the Commercialization Director.
• Perform operational data collection supporting the research and evaluation program (M3): administer founder and stakeholder surveys on the fixed cadence; maintain participation, expenditure, and milestone records; capture operational records feeding the national longitudinal registry; provide organized, auditable data to the external evaluator (RTI International); and support the evaluator's data collection, including implementation-fidelity documentation, records assembly for case narratives, and scheduling and logistics for RTI's structured interviews - while evaluation design and interpretation remain with RTI.
• Prepare and coordinate reporting: assemble inputs for NSF annual reports and learning sessions; maintain institute dashboards and records for the PI/PD, Executive Director, and Strategic Board; track deliverables and metrics against the project's Table 1 targets and Table 3 activities.
• Maintain compliance documentation: participant-support cost records and milestone-verification files for the commercialization-support review committee; NSF prior-approval tracking (including any rebudgeting of unexpended participant support); records retention consistent with the project's Data Management and Sharing Plan; and institute policy and procedure documentation.
• Coordinate meetings and governance operations (M1): schedule and support the commercialization-support review committee's