Senior Research Program Manager (TEMP)

The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees; United States; On-site; USD 76,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Pegasus Research Institute (PRI) is the University of Central Florida's applied research institute, bringing together expertise to solve real-world challenges across space technologies, health, energy, immersive experiences, and national security.

The Opportunity: PRI provides strategic and operational leadership for large-scale research programs, overseeing sponsorship, budgets, schedules, and deliverables, while coordinating among investigators, staff, sponsors, and external partners to

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution with 8-12 years of experience leading large, multidisciplinary research, engineering, or technology programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout of complex research programs and projects.
• Develop and maintain integrated program plans, work breakdown structures, schedules, budgets, milestones, and performance metrics.
• Coordinate and lead cross-functional and multi-institutional teams to ensure alignment of program goals, deliverables, and timelines.
• Monitor program performance and progress, proactively identifying and mitigating risks, issues, dependencies, and changes that may impact project outcomes.
• Ensure timely and accurate sponsor reporting and facilitate deliverable reviews and acceptance processes.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, program updates, and strategic reports for institute leadership and external stakeholders.
• Support proposal development, project startup activities, and ongoing program administration for sponsored research awards.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration among researchers, sponsors, partners, and administrative units.
• Oversee program budgets and resource allocations to ensure effective stewardship of sponsored funds.
• Promote consistent project and program management practices across the institute, including the development of tools, templates, and standard operating procedures.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Proposal development

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Pegasus Research Institute: Pegasus Research Institute (PRI) is the University of Central Florida's applied research institute, bringing together expertise from across UCF to solve complex, real-world challenges. Through multidisciplinary collaboration among faculty, researchers, students, and industry and government partners, PRI helps move innovative ideas from research and prototyping to real-world validation and deployment. Its work spans space technologies, health and human performance, energy and sustainability, immersive experiences, and transformative technologies and national security, creating a dynamic environment where research, innovation, and operational impact intersect.

The Opportunity : The position provides strategic and operational leadership for large-scale research programs and initiatives within the institute. This position is responsible for planning, coordinating, and overseeing complex sponsored research activities, ensuring successful execution of program objectives, contractual requirements, budgets, schedules, and deliverables. The incumbent serves as a key liaison among principal investigators, research staff, institutional leadership, sponsors, and external partners, supporting the institute's research mission through effective program management, stakeholder engagement, and continuous process improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout of complex research programs and projects.
• Develop and maintain integrated program plans, work breakdown structures, schedules, budgets, milestones, and performance metrics.
• Coordinate and lead cross-functional and multi-institutional teams to ensure alignment of program goals, deliverables, and timelines.
• Monitor program performance and progress, proactively identifying and mitigating risks, issues, dependencies, and changes that may impact project outcomes.
• Ensure timely and accurate sponsor reporting and facilitate deliverable reviews and acceptance processes.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, program updates, and strategic reports for institute leadership and external stakeholders.
• Support proposal development, project startup activities, and ongoing program administration for sponsored research awards.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration among researchers, sponsors, partners, and administrative units.
• Oversee program budgets and resource allocations to ensure effective stewardship of sponsored funds.
• Promote consistent project and program management practices across the institute, including the development of tools, templates, and standard operating procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's degree from an accredited institution with 8-12 years of experience leading large, multidisciplinary research, engineering, or technology programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Integrated program plans, work breakdown structures, schedules, budgets and milestones.
• Sponsor reporting, deliverable acceptance, and executive briefings.
• Leadership of cross-functional and multi-institution teams.
• Risk, issue, dependency, and change management.
• Mentoring program managers and promoting consistent execution practices.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, industry, and sponsored-research award structures.

Additional Application Materials Required:

• Cover letter required.
• Curriculum vitae required.
• Official transcripts required (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H-1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to Abram Walton, [e-mail] and Wayne Fogel, [e-mail]

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The anticipated hourly range for this position is $55.08 - $81.42. The final rate will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

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