Research Projects Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

University of the Virgin Islands seeks a Research Projects Coordinator to manage the Brandt laboratory and Reef Response program on St. Thomas, coordinating lab operations, budgets, and community outreach.

The role partners with researchers, students, and external collaborators to advance the NSF CoPe project and related initiatives. The position emphasizes data management, donor communications, and coordinating events and site visits across time zones, with a focus on capacity building and

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 2 years of project management or coordination experience.
• Excellent verbal and written skills with strong organizational ability.
• Experience coordinating budgets, spend tracking and purchasing processes.
• Ability to manage lab operations and coordinate with researchers, staff, students, and external partners.
• Strong communication skills for public relations, donor communications and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Brandt laboratory and Reef Response coral restoration program.
• Coordinate equipment, supplies, and track purchases and budgets.
• Organize project calendars, timelines, and deadlines.
• Assist with travel and student employment requisitions.
• Lead public relations and donor activity efforts.
• Coordinate site visits and community engagement with partners across time zones.
• Monitor data repositories and oversee data sharing with collaborators.

Skills

Budget management

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communications

Project coordination

Public relations

Data management

Website communications

Donor activities

Travel coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Master’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CITI training

Job description

Department Center for Marine and Environmental Studies

Job Description

Under the direction of Research Professor Dr. Marilyn Brandt, the Research Projects Coordinator will play a crucial role in overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Brandt laboratory and Reef Response coral restoration program. The successful candidate will collaborate with researchers, laboratory staff, students, and administrative staff from UVI and collaborating institutions. Key responsibilities include managing laboratory operations, including coordinating and tracking equipment and supply ordering, tracking spending and purchasing, and facilitating communication and collaboration among lab staff, students, and external partners. They will also lead the coordination and implementation of community engagement events, social media and website communications, and communications with potential donors. The successful candidate will also manage team member accountability and track progress and assist with professional development planning activities. In addition, they will manage the laboratory’s data repositories and will provide oversight on data sharing.

A large component of the project will be to manage the UVI component of the “Strong Coasts” program. This program is a research project funded through the National Science Foundation’s ( NSF ) Coastlines and People Hubs for Research and Broadening Participation (CoPe), “Large-scale CoPe: Reducing Climate Risks with Equitable Nature-based Solutions: Engaging Communities on Reef-Lined Coasts.” CoPe supports multi-institutional coastal research hubs that study the interactions between natural, human-built and social systems in coastal populated environments. The Research Projects Coordinator will work with the UVI Strong Coasts team to achieve project goals and also be an active member of the research team within the Center for Marine and Environmental Studies. This appointment will be for one year with the possibility for multi-year extension depending on job performance.

• Office administration and activity organization tasks.
• Track project progress, manage budgets and track expenses.
• Organize project calendars, timelines, and deadlines.
• Assist with travel and student employment requisitions.
• Lead public relations and recruiting activities.
• Coordinate with collaborators for site visits and community engagement.
• Track team accountability and overall progress toward milestones.
• Coordinate and run logistics and technical support for UVI -based collaborative meetings, workshops, and other virtual, hybrid, and in-person events/activities.
• Provide oversight of data management, including sharing of data with partners, collaborators, and public domains.
• Manage Reef Response merchandise, website, newsletters, and donor activities.
• Support growth and program development.
• Ensure implementation of UVI policies and practices

Required Qualifications

This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 2 years of project management or coordination experience. Must possess excellent verbal and written skills, superior organizational skills, proficient computer skills, demonstrate the ability to work independently, and have interpersonal skills to comfortably interface with diverse project members, partners, and students.

Preferred Qualifications

(a) Master’s degree or equivalent experience;

(b) Experience with federally funded programs or University programs;

(e) Experience in higher education and STEM .

(f) Experience working with island communities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

1. Ability to work well in multidisciplinary teams and be detail oriented.

2. Proven interpersonal skills with cross-cultural experience providing complex administrative support in a high-profile environment with tact and diplomacy.

3. Experience managing a budget with multiple deadlines.

4. Ability to present ideas in professional yet user-friendly language.

5. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

6. Ability to work across teams and with various projects and constituencies.

7. Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure.

8. Proven office administration and customer service skills.

9. Working knowledge of office processes, business policy development, and related computer software and electronic communications tools.

10. Has already completed or has the ability to obtain, CITI human subject research completion for UVI .

11. Experience managing or creating high quality content for professional media relations.

12. Project includes communications with collaborators across time zones therefore ability to work outside typical work hours is necessary

Physical Demands

Must be self-motivated.

Must have the ability to be professional and composed at all times.

Must have ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods of time.

Work environment: The noise level in the work environment will be moderate

Some work duties may occur outside typical workday hours because of time differences across project partners.

Location St. Thomas

Position Type Full Time

Posted Salary $50,000.00

Open Date

Open Date 08/26/2026

Close Date

Close Date 09/18/2026

Special Instructions to Applicant

Email is the preferred method of communicating with applicants at the University of Virgin Islands. You will be required to supply your email address during the application process. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT ( ADA ) ACCOMMODATION : In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone who needs an ADA accommodation for the purposes of employment should contact the Human Resources Office at [phone]. For information about relocating to the US Virgin Islands, please visit the Virgin Islands Moving Center at: www.vimovingcenter.com

Reference Letters

References

Accept References Yes

Minimum Requests 2

Maximum Requests 3

Last Day a Reference Provider Can Submit Reference 09/14/2026

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).