Research Project Manager

Job Title

Research Project Manager

Agency

Texas A&M University System Offices

Department

Center for Applied Communications and Networks

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

The System Offices is one of several system members within the Texas A&M University System representing one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a network of 12 universities, a comprehensive health science center, nine state agencies, and the RELLIS Campus. The Texas A&M University System mission is to provide education, conduct research, commercialize technology, offer training, and deliver services for the people of Texas and beyond.

The System Offices, within the Texas A&M University System, provides an outstanding benefits package including, but not limited to: competitive health benefits; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; a defined benefit retirement plan to include an employer contribution through Teachers Retirement System of Texas (TRS); if applicable, a defined contribution retirement plan to include an employer contribution through an approved ORP vendor: additional voluntary tax deferred annuity (TDA) options; tuition assistance; and wellness programs to promote work/life balance.

Salary:

$4,180.17 - $6,971.89 per month commensurate with experience.

Job Description Summary:

The Project Manager at the Center for Applied Communications and Networks is responsible for coordinating multiple technical projects related to research, development, testing and evaluation of network technologies and communications systems. The role is involved from initial proposal development through project completion and final reporting. Example activities include tracking project milestones and expenses, coordinating activities and events, collaborating with stakeholders, organizing meetings and summarizing meeting outcomes, generating reports, and generally supporting the successful execution of projects. The Project Manager will work closely with faculty, researchers, and industry partners to help the center achieve successful, on-time, and on-budget project results.

Responsibilities:
15%: Proposal Development Coordination and Support

- Consult with partner organizations and update team members on any changes to policies, procedures, and due dates.

- Facilitate proposal development meetings, including tracking action items and decisions, and preparing and disseminating meeting minutes.

- Assist the proposal team by tracking the status of specific requirements outlined by the funding agency, such as forms or deliverables.

- Track submission deadlines and manage the submission process, including setting intermediate deadlines to achieve on-time completion and submission of proposals.

65% Project Management

- Manage multiple projects simultaneously, collaborating with center leadership, project teams, sponsors, and stakeholders.

- Manage the project tracking system(s)/platform(s) to ensure accurate and current project status is maintained and tracked.

- Facilitate project kickoff, status, and closeout meetings, including tracking action items and decisions, and preparing and disseminating meeting minutes.

- Assist project team with identifying and tracking project scope, deliverables, resource requirements, budgets, risks and mitigation plans, compliance, and other key project management data.

- Monitor project budgets and prepare project financial reports.

- Compile status and performance data and create project reports, executive summaries, and presentations.

- Assist with the development of project tracking and implementation protocols and procedures.

- Coordinate and support secure document storage and access protocols.

5% Event Coordination

- Support a variety of sizes and types of events, ranging from smaller events, such as executive briefings, up to larger events, such as symposiums and joint demonstration and testing events with 100s of attendees.

- Coordinate registration, logistics, communications, materials, and personnel 5% Training and Development

- Stay abreast of emerging technologies and best practices in the areas of interest to the center

- Participate in SRS Trainings for Certified Research Administrator sessions.

- Participate in professional development with special emphasis on leadership development, industry related acumen, and project and program management.

5% Supervision & Training

- Lead, motivate, develop and coach graduate assistants and student workers.

- Model ethical and performance standards.

10% Other Duties

- Other duties as Assigned

Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Computer Science, Management, Information Systems, Accounting, or similar field.
- Six years of experience managing large scale, IT-related projects, including both waterfall and Agile project management methodologies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to manage multiple large projects, including tracking of deliverables, agreements, budgets, schedules, reporting and communications, and interaction with project team, sponsors, and stakeholders.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with multiple project teams, sponsors, and stakeholders.

- Familiarity with technology evaluation processes and research methodologies.

- Proficiency in using Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, ...).

- Proficiency with project management tools and software (such as Jira, ClickUp, MS Planner, MS Project, ...).

- Ability to produce concise reports, correspondence, presentations, and other written materials.

- Detail-oriented, critical thinker, with strong analytical, planning, organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.

- Sitting, standing, seeing, hearing, talking, walking, climbing stairs, lifting up to moderate weight.

- Work will generally be inside environmentally controlled office space, but will sometimes involve activities at outdoor facilities, subject to outside weather conditions, sometimes in extreme temperatures.

- Frequent travel around TAMU and RELLIS campuses.

- Occasional travel to other campuses and project sponsor or partner locations.

- Occasional travel to events and symposia.

- Occasional work outside of normal office hours, such as when preparing for or hosting an event.

- Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Project management related certifications, such as: Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Scrum Master, Lean Fundamentals, Six Sigma Green Belt, and others. 
- Experience managing IT-related (e.g., communications systems, networks, computing) projects. 
- Master's degree in related field. 
- TAMU System business applications proficiency (e.g., Maestro, Workday, Concur, Canopy, AggieBuy). 
- Event management experience (e.g., meetings, conferences, exercises, group test events, field test events, demonstrations, .. ) 

Other Requirements:

This position requires the ability to perform the following essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Sit or stand for extended periods
• Communicate effectively (verbally and/or non-verbally)
• Move throughout various work environments, including navigating stairs
• Lift and carry items weighing up to a moderate amount

Work will generally be performed in an environmentally controlled office space; however, occasional activities at outdoor facilities may be required, which could involve exposure to varying weather conditions, including extreme temperatures.

Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

This is a security-sensitive position and is restricted to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents only. Only complete applications will be considered for employment at The Texas A&M System Offices. Incomplete job application data could result in your application being rejected without an option to reapply. A cover letter and resume may be required in addition to a completed employment application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.