Research Projects Specialist or Coordinator - Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Urbana (IL); On-site; USD 55,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Tuition waivers for employees and/or/​

Job summary

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) in Urbana-Champaign seeks candidates for two roles: Research Projects Specialist or Research Projects Coordinator. These positions support administrative coordination and financial management of ICT research projects with multiple sponsors, located at the Rantoul, IL site.

The roles involve budget reviews, data reporting, and liaison with PIs, IDOT, and sponsors, plus ongoing process improvements and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (required).
• 1 year of education, training and/or work experience in research project management (Specialist).
• 2 years of education, training and/or work experience in research project management and applying financial processes (Coordinator).

Responsibilities

• Assist with administrative coordination and financial management of ICT research projects.
• Review expenditures and incentive payments for compliance with policies.
• Track and analyze project tasks using project management software.
• Prepare tables, charts and progress reports for metrics.
• Organize technical meetings and communicate objectives to PIs and sponsors.
• Support rollout of new systems and tools and develop training materials.

Skills

Independent work

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Organizational skills

MS Office (Word, Outlook, Excel)

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Research Projects Specialist or Coordinator

Illinois Center for Transportation

Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Positions are located in Rantoul, IL

The Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT) within the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the Grainger College of Engineering seeks applicants for two positions of Research Projects Specialist or Research Projects Coordinator. ICT is located on Rantoul’s former Chanute Air Force Base and the future site of the 238+ acre Illinois Autonomous and Connected Track (I-ACT). ICT is leading the rapidly growing field of smart mobility. To learn more, please visit us online at ict.illinois.edu.

The Assigned Title Is Dependent Upon Qualifications.

The Research Projects Specialist will assist with the administrative coordination and financial management of ICT research projects with various sponsors.

Duties and Responsibilities – Research Projects Specialist:

• Supports ICT’s sponsored research process of active projects, including workplan and budget reviews submitted by researchers, outsourcing to industry and university partners, requests for University accounts to ensure compliance with the research objectives, and act as a liaison between the University and project sponsors.
• Assists in reviewing expenditures and reviewing and processing incentive payments to ensure compliance with sponsor, federal, and University policies.
• Utilize project management software and databases to track and analyze project tasks, performance metrics, and accomplishments over time.
• Provides guidance and assists in the establishment of a grant funded incentive program.
• Assists with preparing tables, charts and progress reports for metric reporting and handles a variety of sensitive and confidential assignments and projects.
• Organize and actively participates in technical meetings, prepares technical research discussion summaries and communicates meeting objectives and outcomes to PIs and sponsors. Travel as needed, mostly during business hours.
• Assumes additional appropriate related research project duties to further the mission of ICT and the department.

The Research Projects Coordinator position will be responsible for the administrative coordination and financial management of ICT research projects with various sponsors.

Duties & Responsibilities – Research Projects Coordinator:

• Responsible for ICT’s sponsored research process of active projects, including workplan and budget reviews submitted by researchers, outsourcing to industry and university partners, requests for University accounts to ensure compliance with the research objectives, and act as a liaison between the University and project sponsors.
• Manages the establishment of a grant funded incentive program.
• Assists with program and/or project financial administration, including budget analyses, financial status reports, requests for subaward contracts and university accounts.
• Exercises independent judgment in reviewing expenditures and reviewing and processing incentive payments to ensure compliance with sponsor, federal, and University policies.
• Coordinates and actively participates in technical meetings, prepares technical research discussion summaries and communicates meeting objectives and outcomes to PIs and IDOT.
• Maintains project management software and databases to track and analyze project tasks, performance metrics, and accomplishments over time. Ensures project documents, records, data and archives are maintained and organized.
• Supports leadership in the implementation of new systems and tools, process improvements, and assist in developing rollout plans and training materials. Maintains and updates process manuals and procedures to reflect current policies and best practices.
• Prepare tables, charts and progress reports for the quarterly ICT newsletter, the annual report, ICT Executive Committee meetings and other presentations.
• Assumes additional appropriate related research project duties to further the mission of ICT and the department.

Minimum Qualifications – Research Projects Specialist:

• Bachelor's de gree
• A total of one (1) year (12 months) in education, training and/or work experience in research project management.

Preferred Qualifications – Research Projects Specialist:

• Two years of project management experience in research administration in either a university or government environment, ideally at the University of Illinois or Illinois Department of Transportation; Experience with a transportation research program.
• Illinois Certified Research Administrator certification.

Minimum Qualifications – Research Projects Coordinator:

• Bachelor's de gree
• A total of two (2) years (24 months) in education, training and/or work experience in research project management and applying financial processes.

Preferred Qualifications – Research Projects Coordinator:

• Two years of project management experience in research administration in either a university or government environment, ideally at the University of Illinois or Illinois Department of Transportation; Experience with a transportation research program.
• Two years additional finance experience in research administration.
• Illinois Certified Research Administrator certification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – Research Projects Specialist:

• Ability to work both independently and as a part of a team in a fast-paced, multi-faceted work environment.
• Exercise judgement to analyze and investigate a variety of questions or issues with minimal supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Flexibility to adapt to sudden changes in tasks.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Ability to successfully perform multiple duties simultaneously with tight deadlines.
• Basic technical business writing skills.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – Research Projects Coordinator:

• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a part of a team in a fast-paced, multi-faceted work environment.
• Exercise judgement to analyze and investigate a variety of questions or issues with minimal supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Flexibility to adapt to sudden changes in tasks.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products, including Word, Outlook, and Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully perform multiple duties simultaneously with tight deadlines.
• Basic technical business writing skills.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This is a full-time Civil Service Program Coordinator position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. The budgeted salary range for the Specialist level position is $55,000 - $60,000 and Coordinator level is $60,000 - $65,000.Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. This position will be expected to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Rantoul location on a full-time basis per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy . This position is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE INFORMATION

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on October 12, 2026. For further information about this specific position, please contact Stacie Mertes and [e-mail]. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

Champaign-Urbana

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits . This includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, a retirement plan, paid time off, and tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal , or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217-333-0885, option #1, or [e-mail].

Requisition ID

1037968

Job Category

Professional and Administrative

Apply at

https://jobs.illinois.edu