Research Project Manager: ATHENA NSF Programmable Cloud Lab - UTK

University of Tennessee; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Tennessee in Knoxville hosts the ATHENA NSF‑PCL Center. The Research Project Manager will lead day‑to‑day operations, coordinating scientific, operational, financial, and administrative activities across partner institutions, ensuring ATHENA's mission is achieved.

The role requires strong project management, budgeting, and communication skills, with experience in federal grant administration and NSF policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, communications, science, engineering, economic development, nonprofit management, or related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project, program, or research administration.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day management and administration of ATHENA.
• Coordinate activities across UT, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Pellissippi State, and other partners.
• Manage project milestones, budgets, and reporting to NSF.
• Coordinate national collaborations and external engagement.
• Support website updates, newsletters, and annual reports.

Skills

Project management

Multi-institution collaboration

Communication

Budget management

Federal grants administration

NSF policies

Program coordination

PM software & collaboration tools

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Project management software

Collaboration tools

Job description

ATHENA is a newly funded $20 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Platform for Programmable Cloud Lab (PCL) headquartered at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) in collaboration with Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University and Pellissippi State Community College, with multiple academic, national laboratories, and industrial partners. ATHENA is one of NSF's flagship national testbeds established to develop the next generation of autonomous laboratories, AI-driven scientific discovery, cloud-connected instrumentation, and cyber-physical infrastructure for materials research.

The Research Project Manager will oversee the day-to-day management and administration of ATHENA and serve as the operational leader of this nationally visible initiative. The successful candidate will coordinate scientific, operational, financial, and administrative activities across partner institutions; work directly with the ATHENA Director, Co-Directors, Principal Investigators, institutional leadership, and NSF program officers; manage project milestones and budgets; coordinate reporting; facilitate national collaborations; and help ensure successful implementation of ATHENA's scientific and educational mission.

Project Management and Strategic Coordination (45%)

• Manage all operational aspects of the ATHENA NSF-PCL Center.
• Coordinate activities among investigators at the University of Tennessee, Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, Pellissippi State Community College, and other partner institutions.
• Coordinate implementation of ATHENA's national cyber-physical infrastructure connecting autonomous laboratories across UT.
• Develop and maintain project management timelines, milestones, deliverables, risk management plans, and project dashboards.
• Track scientific, educational, software, infrastructure, and workforce development milestones across all project thrusts.
• Organize Monthly Business Review, Executive Committee, Leadership Team, External Advisory Board meetings, NSF site visits, workshops, and annual meetings.
• Serve as the primary administrative point of contact for ATHENA stakeholders.
• Coordinate collaborative activities among faculty, students, postdoctoral researchers, industry, and national laboratories.

Budget Management and Financial Oversight (20%)

• Assist ATHENA leadership in managing the approximately $20 million NSF award over the four-year project.
• Monitor expenditures, subawards, spending projections, and financial performance across UT and work with participating institutions.
• Work closely with departmental business offices and sponsored programs.
• Prepare financial summaries and support budget planning and modifications.
• Ensure spending aligns with project milestones and NSF requirements.

Reporting, Assessment, and Compliance (15%)

• Coordinate preparation of NSF quarterly reports and required documentation.

National Coordination and External Engagement (10%)

• Serve as ATHENA's primary administrative liaison with other NSF PCL nodes.
• Coordinate cross-node meetings, workshops, conferences, and collaborative initiatives.
• Facilitate communication with NSF program officers, advisory boards, industry partners, and national laboratories.
• Support website updates, newsletters, annual reports, and communication activities promoting ATHENA nationally.

Other Duties as assigned (10%)

Required Qualifications

Education : Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, communications, science, engineering, economic development, nonprofit management, or a related field.

Experience : Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project, program, or research administration.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong project and program management skills.
• Knowledge of federal grant administration and NSF policies.
• Ability to manage complex multi-institutional research programs and large budgets.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience with project management software and collaboration tools.
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Education : Master's degree in Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Higher Education Administration, or a related field.

Experience :

Experience managing federally funded research centers or multi-institutional programs.

Experience overseeing multi-million-dollar budgets.

Experience organizing scientific conferences and workshops.

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is desirable.

Working Loc