Project Manager, Research Strategy

The Project Manager is a key individual contributor and team member in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation (OVPRI), providing strategic and tactical leadership for projects supported by the Vice Provost’s Office. This highly visible role requires strategic thinking, excellent stakeholder management, technical know-how, and operational excellence. This role will employ effective project management techniques to plan, develop, and coordinate key initiatives within the Vice Provost’s Office. The Project Manager is also responsible for tracking qualitative and quantitative data collection and reporting on projects through both written reports and presentations. This role works with both internal and external stakeholders and partners to successfully set and meet project milestones and goals established by the Vice Provost and the Senior Director of Research Strategy.

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Research Strategy, the Project Manager oversees complex projects to advance the university’s research mission and strategic research and innovation vision in coordination with key stakeholders in research and innovation at Vanderbilt University and external partner and/or sponsor entities. This position is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to advance sponsored projects administration, technology transfer and commercialization, research security and compliance, and efforts to increase and diversify Vanderbilt’s research funding portfolio. The ideal candidate should have excellent judgment in knowing when to lead or support a cross-functional team and be capable of bringing out views from all disciplines to inform one strategic plan. A successful candidate will thrive in an ambiguous, cross-functional environment where they can understand different perspectives and provide discussion frameworks to enable trade-offs and decisions.

About the Work Unit:

The goal of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation is to promote Vanderbilt’s distinctive research culture, which aspires to improve the human condition through path-breaking discovery and innovation. In addition to overseeing the university’s research portfolio on all sites, the VP-RI also oversees the implementation of the university’s new future vision and trans-institutional strategies and works closely with the Provost, academic Deans, Vice Provosts, and faculty at large to advance the quality of research and scholarship university-wide. The Office develops strategies and provides services to enhance extramural support for research from all sources including corporate, foundation, federal, and philanthropic; advance a cohesive and vibrant trans-institutional research agenda; and build strategic partnerships around shared priorities in research. The VP-RI works with a broad range of University stakeholders, including faculty and others, in advocating for the research and scholarship missions of all disciplines at Vanderbilt.

About Vanderbilt University:

Vanderbilt is a renowned private institution founded in 1873, located a little more than a mile from downtown Nashville, TN. The university’s students, faculty, staff, and visitors frequently cite Nashville as one of the perks of Vanderbilt. VU is where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. It is a place where your diversity is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work, and never settle for what was good enough yesterday.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of projects, initiatives, engagements, and events across various units.
• Leverage tools and technology to track and oversee the status of multiple projects, ensuring alignment with the Vice Provost's priorities and institutional goals.
• Define and implement processes for prioritizing and balancing the portfolio to maximize impact and resource utilization.
• Regularly review and update the portfolio, making recommendations for adjustments based on progress, strategic importance, and emerging needs.
• Provide comprehensive portfolio reports to the Vice Provost and Senior Director of Research Strategy, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and strategic decisions needed.

Project Management

• Coordinates and implements projects to ensure successful outcomes.
• Implements detailed project plans, including business issue definitions, task delegation, and issue resolution.
• Develop project overviews and guidelines and manage project administration and timelines.
• Track, and maintain project data, metrics and outcomes and provides input on project impact to ensure achievement of goals.

Planning and Execution

• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and partners on key initiatives, overseeing project development, completion, and implementation, including taking meeting minutes, developing Gantt charts, creating working group agendas, and managing stakeholder deliverables.
• Partner with project owners to define project scope, develop project charters, plans, budgets, and resource requirements.
• Provide insights based on project evaluations to support the Vice Provost and Senior Director in strategy development.
• Advise stakeholders on budget or other portfolio implications and develop performance metrics and standards.
• Provide professional and/or technical support and guidance in the execution of project activities.
• Identify the need for communication and training plans; develop tools, job aids, and instructional materials; and lead training as needed.

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication

• Maintain effective relationships with stakeholders across the university and the broader Nashville and Middle Tennessee community, including managing relationships that the Vice Provost has cultivated with internal and external constituencies.
• Communicate project status, issues, and achievements to key stakeholders, including the Vice Provost and Provost.
• Prepare and review regular, ongoing project communications and summaries for the Vice Provost and Senior Director.

Process Improvement

• Identify and implement process improvements for projects and programs.
• Document functional requirements, develop current and future state process flows, and manage testing plans.
• Identify dependencies and implications of changes to functional areas and recommend continuous improvements.
• Partner with the Office of Data and Analytics (DSA) for data-related expertise and analysis.

Supervisory Relationships:

This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities but requires strong influence and coordination across multiple teams and stakeholders. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Senior Director of Research Strategy.

Education and Certifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required.
• A Master’s or advanced degree is preferred.

Experience and Skills:

• A minimum of three to five (5) years of experience and expertise in related project management is necessary.
• Experience working with or for consulting firms on high-level projects is preferred.
• Experience working with or for institutions of higher education is preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is preferred.
• Superior project management and time management skills are necessary.
• Experience in business process change and managing complex projects involving multiple functional groups is necessary.
• Ability to think strategically to manage multiple projects/initiatives with changing priorities and strict deadlines in a rapidly changing environment is necessary.
• Proven ability to navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced environment is necessary.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills are necessary.
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines is necessary.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with individuals across the university and externally are necessary.
• Superior organizational skills, verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to articulate and present information to various and diverse audiences is necessary.
• Evidence of exceptional judgment and decision-making skills is necessary.
• Ability to influence leadership and work effectively on cross-functional teams is necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to handle high-level, sensitive, and confidential information is necessary.
• Proficiency in office software tools (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and other software tools for communication, analysis, and operation is necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze, use, and present data as part of the project management process is necessary.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage AI to increase efficiency and project optimization and use creative, AI-supported tools to advance project goals.