Research Project Management

Penn State University; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University seeks a Manager of Research Project Management to provide strategic and operational leadership for the department's clinical and translational research portfolio. You will oversee a team of project managers, drive standardized workflows, and ensure regulatory compliance across multiple programs and centers.

The role partners with investigators, sponsors, and institutional stakeholders to optimize project management practices, balance resources, and advance the university's

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop a team of Research Project Managers and related staff; oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, succession planning, and professional development
• Establish performance expectations, monitor workload distribution, evaluate operational effectiveness, and promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and service excellence
• Direct the delivery of research project management services across multiple research programs, centers, institutes, or portfolios to ensure projects are completed on schedule, within scope and budget, and in accordance with sponsor and institutional requirements
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve standardized project management methodologies, governance frameworks, operating procedures, workflows, tools, templates, and reporting practices to enhance consistency, efficiency, and research outcomes
• Oversee research project infrastructure, resource planning, capacity management, and staff assignments to effectively balance competing priorities and organizational objectives
• Evaluate research methodologies, project execution strategies, data management plans, operational processes, and project performance metrics; recommend improvements to enhance quality, efficiency, scientific integrity, and organizational effectiveness
• Serve as the primary liaison with Principal Investigators, faculty, leadership, sponsors, advisory boards, regulatory agencies, and external collaborators; facilitate multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research initiatives and strategic partnerships
• Direct governance activities, monitor project portfolios, evaluate risks, resolve escalated operational issues, and ensure accountability for project milestones, deliverables, and sponsor commitments
• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and University regulations, policies, and ethical standards governing research, including human subjects, animal care, biosafety, export controls, data security, responsible conduct of research, and other applicable requirements
• Lead the development, implemen

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

This position provides project, operational, and administrative leadership for the Department of Medicine's clinical and translational research enterprise. This role develops and coordinates a shared clinical research support model that expands investigators' ability to initiate, activate, and sustain clinical and translational research across Department divisions.

The position is designed to create a Department-level infrastructure to support study start-up, IRB and regulatory navigation, standardized workflows, coordinator utilization oversight, investigator intake, and connection to institutional research resources.

The Manager of Research Project Management provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership for a team of research professionals supporting complex research programs, centers, and initiatives; oversees the planning, delivery, governance, and continuous improvement of research project management services while ensuring projects are executed with scientific rigor, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and effective stewardship of financial and organizational resources; partners with Principal Investigators, faculty, research leadership, sponsors, and institutional stakeholders to establish strategic priorities, optimize project management practices, and advance the University's research mission; leads organizational planning, workforce development, process improvement, and resource allocation to strengthen research capabilities and achieve long-term research objectives.

This profile is intended for managers responsible for leading research project management functions supporting multiple research programs, departments, institutes, or centers. Positions assigned to this profile are accountable for personnel leadership, operational management, strategic planning, and the overall effectiveness of research project management services.

• Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop a team of Research Project Managers and related staff; oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, succession planning, and professional development
• Establish performance expectations, monitor workload distribution, evaluate operational effectiveness, and promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and service excellence
• Direct the delivery of research project management services across multiple research programs, centers, institutes, or portfolios to ensure projects are completed on schedule, within scope and budget, and in accordance with sponsor and institutional requirements
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve standardized project management methodologies, governance frameworks, operating procedures, workflows, tools, templates, and reporting practices to enhance consistency, efficiency, and research outcomes
• Oversee research project infrastructure, resource planning, capacity management, and staff assignments to effectively balance competing priorities and organizational objectives
• Evaluate research methodologies, project execution strategies, data management plans, operational processes, and project performance metrics; recommend improvements to enhance quality, efficiency, scientific integrity, and organizational effectiveness
• Serve as the primary liaison with Principal Investigators, faculty, leadership, sponsors, advisory boards, regulatory agencies, and external collaborators; facilitate multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research initiatives and strategic partnerships
• Direct governance activities, monitor project portfolios, evaluate risks, resolve escalated operational issues, and ensure accountability for project milestones, deliverables, and sponsor commitments
• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and University regulations, policies, and ethical standards governing research, including human subjects, animal care, biosafety, export controls, data security, responsible conduct of research, and other applicable requirements
• Lead the development, implemen