Research Projects Program Manager I

University of Louisville; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Louisville is seeking a Research Projects Program Manager to lead testing and validation experiences supporting DoD priorities. The role directs event planning, scenario development, and team coordination to deliver program objectives within a grant-funded framework.

The position requires a security clearance eligibility, in-person work, and collaboration with military, academic, and industry partners. Funding extends through August 15, 2027, contingent on funds availability.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Defense Studies, Systems Engineering, Operations Management, or substantially related field with four years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for DoD sponsors and stakeholders.
• Design, plan, and execute technology testing events, field exercises, and validation experiences that simulate real-world operational conditions relevant to defense priorities.
• Coordinate with military stakeholders, subject matter experts, academic partners, and industry participants to develop test scenarios, success criteria, and evaluation frameworks.
• Oversee project planning, scheduling, and resource allocation to ensure milestones and deliverables are met.
• Assign roles and responsibilities to project staff and ensure clear communication across all functional areas.
• Manage logistics and operational execution for field demonstrations, prototype testing, and technology assessment events.
• Communicate across academic, industry, defense, and federal funding landscapes.
• Track participant progress, testing outcomes, metrics, and program impact; generate reports and demonstrate measurable outcomes.
• Develop after-action reports, lessons learned, and recommendations for refinement and transition opportunities.

Education

Master's degree in Engineering, Defense Studies, Systems Engineering, Operations Management, or substantially related fields

Job description

Department:

Location: Non-Campus Other

Time Type: Full time

Worker Type: Regular

Job Req ID: R109421

Minimum Requirements: Master's degree in Engineering, Defense Studies, Systems Engineering, Operations Management, or substantially related fields and four (4) years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Grade 12 (Salaried)

Position Description

The University of Louisville is hiring a Research Projects Program Manager. The position, with a specialty in operational technology testing and validation, will serve as the overall event director, working to plan, coordinate, and execute testing and validation experiences in support of the Department of War (DoW). This role is responsible for developing event scenarios, assigning team roles, monitoring progress, and ensuring successful delivery of all program objectives.

This is a grant funded position with funding through August 15, 2027. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of funds.

This position supports defense-related projects funded by a U.S. Department of Defense grant. An offer of employment is contingent upon the selected candidate being eligible for and able to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance (Secret or higher) and any necessary export control licenses to perform the job functions.

This is an in-person position.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for DoD sponsors and stakeholders.
• Design, plan, and execute technology testing events, field exercises, and validation experiences that simulate real-world operational conditions relevant to current defense priorities and contemporary conflict environments.
• Coordinate with military stakeholders, technical subject matter experts, academic partners, and industry participants to develop realistic test scenarios, success criteria, and evaluation frameworks.
• Oversee project planning, scheduling, and resource allocation to ensure all milestones and deliverables are met.
• Assign roles and responsibilities to project staff and ensure clear communication across all functional areas.
• Manage logistics and operational execution for field demonstrations, prototype testing, and technology assessment events, including site coordination, scheduling, resource allocation, equipment support, and vendor readiness.
• Excellent communication skills are required, as this position will interact with a variety of personnel across academic, industry, defense, and federal funding landscapes.
• Track participant progress, testing outcomes, technology performance metrics, and program impact; collect and analyze data to generate reports and demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with relevant Statement of Work requirements.
• Develop after-action reports, lessons learned, and recommendations for technology refinement, follow-on funding opportunities, and transition pathways into defense acquisition or pilot programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5 + years of direct experience in program management, defense technology testing, operational exercises, field demonstrations, or technology validation environments.
• Experience coordinating complex technical projects involving multiple stakeholders, vendors, and operational constraints.
• Ability to effectively communicate technical and operational concepts with a variety of audiences.
• Proven expertise in managing programs, including planning, execution, budgeting, risk management, logistics coordination, and delivery of technical demonstrations or validation events (PMP certification or equivalent experience a plus).
• Familiarity with defense innovation, prototype evaluation, dual-use technologies, autonomy systems, sensing platforms, communications technologies, or advanced manufacturing solutions preferred.
• Military service and experience with planning and executing military exercises are highly desired.

Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Louisville is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The University strives to provide equal employment opportunity on the basis of merit and without unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, or pregnancy. In accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veteran Readjustment Act of 1974, the University prohibits job discrimination of individuals with disabilities, Vietnam era veterans, qualified special disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans. The University acknowledges its obligations to ensure affirmative steps are taken to ensure equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. It is the policy of the University that no employee or applicant for employment be subject to unlawful discrimination in terms of recruitment, hiring, promotion, contract, contract renewal, tenure, compensation, benefits, and/or working conditions. No employee or applicant for employment is required to endorse or condemn a specific ideology, political viewpoint, or social viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, or promotion.

Consistent with applicable law, demographic information is collected for aggregate reporting requirements. Demographic information provided through this application is not available to hiring managers/committees and is not considered in hiring or employment decisions.

Assistance and Accommodations

Computers are available for application submission at the Human Resources Department located at 2315 South First Street Walk, Room 02C - Louisville, Kentucky 40292.

If you require assistance or accommodation with our online application process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] or by phone [phone].