Project Manager - Sponsored Research Projects

Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA Full-time Project Management

Posted on April 2, 2024

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Project Manager - Sponsored Research Projects

The Strategic Interdisciplinary Research Office (SIRO) at Penn State is seeking a Project Manager to support a complex $30M+ sponsored research project titled “The Interaction of Ionizing Radiation with Matter (IIRM) University Research Alliance (URA)” funded by the DOD Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) agency.

This position can operate fully remotely within the US. Standard work times will be in EST.

SIRO is a central research administration unit that is part of the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (OSVPR). The mission of the OSVPR is to support a rigorous program of faculty and student research and creative accomplishment by enhancing the environment for scholarly and artistic endeavors, encouraging the highest standards of quality, and fostering ethical conduct in research. SIRO's mission is to provide direct support for strategic multi-college and multi-institutional research efforts.

Responsibilities are specific to lifecycle project management of the DTRA IIRM grant while assisting with project team management across multiple PSU Colleges/Departments, external collaborators, and subrecipients. The position may evolve to support other federal grants and contracts in the future.

This position will report to the SIRO Associate Director of Project Management while working cross-functionally with leadership and staff from other PSU colleges to include but not limited to the College of Engineering and the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL), as well as the Project Principal Investigator.

Responsibilities: Responsibilities for this position include the following:

Direct assignments of administrative team members and monitor status of assigned tasks
Liaise with cross-functional teams and conduct regular communications with Principal Investigators, Subrecipients, Sponsor, Internal PSU and departmental/college staff on a variety of administrative functions that occur between award inception and close-out
Plan and forecast sponsored and cost share budgets in-line with strategic plan
Monitor project financial health to ensure expenditures on track with appropriate spend rate
Monitor multiple subrecipient budgets, expenditures, cost share, amendments
Monitor timelines, end dates, budget realignments and extensions, prior approval requirements for changing aspects of a fund
Review sponsor and University guidelines, ensure team understanding and compliance
Assess unique project requirements and work with various units to support
Assist with preparation and submission of complex quarterly, annual, and final reports
Participate and assist with internal and external audits
Manage and coordinate the process of accessing sponsored funds and relative budget realignments
Monitor and track Human Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements
Oversee closeout procedures for timely financial and technical close-out
Participate in administrative and technical meetings
Utilize project management tools to track, monitor, and convey data
Recommend and provide process improvement strategies and relative guidelines and/or standard operating procedures to support

Education and Experience: This position requires a Bachelor's degree or higher and 1+ years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Additional experience is required for higher level positions. Experience in project management of research administration is preferred and industry certifications such as PMI or CRA are desirable.

The Project Manager is expected to possess the ability to work in a team environment as well as independently, have strong time management, organizational, data analytics and communication skills, and contribute to innovative ideas in improving and streamlining processes while providing tools to best manage the project.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts (75% discount for spouse and children), and paid holidays. Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/benefits for more detailed information.

Apply online at https://psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Staff/job/Penn-State-University-Park/Project-Manager---Sponsored-Research-Projects_REQ_0000054427-1

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: For more about safety at Penn State, and to review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters, please go to http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/, which will also provide you with detail on how to request a hard copy of the Annual Security Report.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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