Research Program Manager

Elinor Coatings, LLC; Fargo, Northern (ND, KY); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage (vision, dental, 2

16 days PTO + 14 holidays + 12 sick

Voluntary HSA / Flex / EAP

Job summary

Elinor Coatings, LLC in Fargo, ND is seeking a Program Manager to partner with the Director of Research, drive cadence, track deliverables, and move research and productization initiatives forward.

You will coordinate across research, productization, operations, and finance, manage risks and timelines, and provide executive-ready updates to CEO and CTO. The ideal candidate has 5–10 years of program management in technical environments and a proven ability to run multi-team operating rhythms.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years in program or project management in research, product development, regulated environments, or complex technical organizations.
• Demonstrated experience running multi team operating rhythms.
• Proven ability to manage cross functional dependencies.
• Experience with project management tools (Wrike, Jira, Asana, Smartsheet, Monday, etc.).
• Strong background in risk management, timeline enforcement, and stakeholder alignment.

Responsibilities

• Execution Cadence Ownership - Build and run weekly, monthly, quarterly operating rhythms.
• Deliverable Tracking - Maintain project plans, dependency maps, and risk logs.
• Cross Functional Coordination - Track alignment across research, productization, commercialization, operations, and finance, and promptly alert leadership to any roadblocks, misalignments, or emerging risks.
• Dashboard & Reporting - Provide real time visibility into progress, blockers, and resource needs.
• Leadership Materials - Prepare updates for reports for CEO, CTO, and other senior leadership.
• Meeting Discipline - Enforce agendas, outcomes, and follow through.
• Documentation Oversight - Ensure SOPs, templates, and workflows are current.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional coordination

Risk management

Executive reporting

Stakeholder alignment

Tools

Wrike

Jira

Asana

Smartsheet

Monday.com

Job description

Elinor Coatings creates solutions for corrosion, degradation, and fouling through research in surface protection. We value environmental sustainability and conservation and diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and personalities. This role will join a team of researchers in developing new formulations of protective and anti-corrosion coatings for metals. Support long-term federal research contracts in aerospace and ground vehicle support.

About the Role

The Program Manager is the operational partner to the Director of Research, driving cadence, tracking deliverables, and keeping research and productization initiatives moving with clarity and accountability. This role maintains cross-functional alignment, manages risks and timelines, and provides executive-ready visibility into progress and blockers. The ideal candidate brings strong project management experience, high follow-through, and the ability to execute decisively in fast-moving, technical environments.

Responsibilities

• Execution Cadence Ownership - Build and run weekly, monthly, quarterly operating rhythms.
• Deliverable Tracking - Maintain project plans, dependency maps, and risk logs.
• Cross Functional Coordination - Track alignment across research, productization, commercialization, operations, and finance, and promptly alert leadership to any roadblocks, misalignments, or emerging risks.
• Dashboard & Reporting - Provide real time visibility into progress, blockers, and resource needs.
• Leadership Materials - Prepare updates for reports for CEO, CTO, and other senior leadership.
• Meeting Discipline - Enforce agendas, outcomes, and follow through.
• Documentation Oversight - Ensure SOPs, templates, and workflows are current.

Requirements

• 5-10 years in program or project management in research, product development, regulated environments, or complex technical organizations.
• Demonstrated experience running multi team operating rhythms.
• Proven ability to manage cross functional dependencies.
• Experience with project management tools (Wrike, Jira, Asana, Smartsheet, Monday, etc.).
• Strong background in risk management, timeline enforcement, and stakeholder alignment.
• Experience in preparing executive level reporting.
• Prior roles require high accountability, fast execution, and a calm, solutions-focused approach.

Benefits and Pay

• Full Time/Benefited
• Salary starting at $103k+, depending on experience
• 100% paid employee healthcare, vision, dental, disability and life insurance
• Starting PTO is 16 days annually with 14 paid holidays and 12 paid sick days
• Voluntary HSA, Flex, Employee Assistance Program and more