Research Project Manager

The University of Kansas; Kansas City (KS); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kansas, located in Kansas City, KS, seeks a Research Project Manager for the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project. The role focuses on designing community outreach, developing materials for funders, coordinating services, and conducting evaluations to expand the center’s impact.

Hybrid on-site role with responsibilities spanning budget management, event planning, literature reviews, and proposal writing.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with one year related experience or a bachelor’s degree with three years experience.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit sector preferred.
• Strong organizational, writing, and editing skills; excellent communication.
• Ability to manage budgets, develop proposals, and coordinate events.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate dissemination of new materials, channels, services, and products using effective marketing concepts.
• Oversee project logistics: scheduling, space, resources, staffing, and purchasing.
• Review and track invoices; support investigators with stakeholders.
• Provide training and technical assistance; organize center and community events.
• Conduct project evaluations and impact reporting; ensure policy compliance.
• Maintain building and center space; manage communications and vendor relations.
• Develop budgets, fee-for-service plans, and coordinated budgets; prepare proposals.

Skills

Project management

Budget management

Marketing

Public relations

Research experience

Writing/editing

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree + 1 year related experience

Bachelor’s degree + 3 years experience

Job description

Position Overview

The Juniper Gardens Children’s Project (JGCP), a community-based research center affiliated with the University of Kansas, is seeking a Research Project Manager to work full-time to develop community projects and services that amplify the reach of the center’s research and impact. The responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to designing community outreach, dissemination, and marketing channels; developing materials and products for funders, practitioners, and policy makers; coordinating services derived from JGCP’s research including managing budgets and expenditures; collaborating with investigators and community partners to plan and host community events; performing a variety of administrative and facilities management tasks; assisting with writing proposals and popular press articles; conducting internal and programmatic evaluations and other types of assessments; and crafting impact and financial reports. The position is at JGCP, located in downtown Kansas City, Kansas in the Children’s Campus of Kansas City building: 444 Minnesota Ave, Suite 300, Kansas City, KS 66101.

Job Description

40% Project Coordination, Execution, Support and Evaluation:

The project manager works closely with JGCP’s leadership and investigators to execute the new dissemination and implementation mechanisms.

• Coordinate the dissemination of new materials, channels, services, and products using effective and innovative marketing concepts and strategies.
• Oversee the projects’ logistics such as scheduling, identifying space, curating resources, staffing, and purchasing.
• Review, track, and maintain invoices.
• Support JGCP investigators when interacting with local, regional, and international partners.
• Provide training and technical assistance.
• Organize center and community events.
• Conduct and coordinate project evaluations and impact reporting.
• Oversee the center’s adherence to internal and external policies and regulations.

30% Administrative and Facilities Management:

The project manager will maintain the building and center space, as well as engage in administrative and operations tasks, including overseeing tasks performed by others.

• Create and maintain a welcoming environment for staff and visitors.
• Manage internal and external communications.
• Supervise the distribution of US mail and campus mail.
• Oversee the maintenance of the building, including the center’s space, equipment, supplies, and facilities.
• Coordinate with outside vendors for building maintenance.
• Manage subleasing tenants, including agreements, onboarding, and communication.
• Provide literature review, copy editing, proof reading, referencing, presenting, and formatting support to investigators.
• Assist with scheduling, purchasing, and financial transactions, as needed.
• Assist with project management, as needed.
• Monitor the investigators’ regulatory requirements and needed trainings.

25% Project Development:

The project manager works closely with the JGCP directors and investigators to conceptualize, design, and develop multiple dissemination and implementation mechanisms (i.e., projects) that will amplify the reach and impact of the center’s research and service in local, regional, and international communities.

• Develop fee-for-service business plans, services, and products.
• Develop dissemination and implementation materials and channels.
• Develop budgets and a coordinated budget model.
• Develop requests for proposals and review applications.
• Develop and maintain manuals of operations and other procedural guides.
• Develop marketing campaigns using state-of-the-art marketing strategies.
• Develop plans for project evaluation and impact reporting.

Position Requirements

• This position will be a hybrid of primarily on-site work and minimal telework, as deemed by the supervisor.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree with one year related experience or a bachelor’s degree with three years experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education, a non-profit organization, or related field/sector.
• Doctoral degree.
• Property management experience.
• Research experience.
• Experience writing and editing.
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills as evidenced by experience.
• Experience in business or finance.
• Experience in marketing or public relations.
• Experience developing new projects based on community need.
• Experience maintaining confidentiality regarding sensitive personnel issues.
• Skills in complex problem solving, including data-based decision making as evidenced by experience.
• Experience with working collaboratively with other individuals.

Contact Information to Applicants

If you have questions about the position, you may email Dr. Spencer at [e-mail]. If you have questions about the application process, you may contact Diana Skill at [e-mail].

Advertised Salary Range

Begins at $69,500

Application Review Begins
Monday November 16, 2026
Anticipated Start Date
Monday January 4, 2027