University of Colorado Boulder · 8 hours ago
Senior Program Manager, Strategic Research
Boulder, CO
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
$110K/yr - $125K/yr
5+ years expUniversity of Colorado Boulder is seeking a Senior Program Manager for Strategic Research to lead high-impact research initiatives within the Research & Innovation Office. This role involves expert project management, supporting Principal Investigators, and contributing to the growth of the project management community on campus.
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Responsibilities
Coordinate, implement, and facilitate program strategy by managing project delegation, and program implementation. Monitor and coordinate resources and budget as assigned
Provide insights and guidance to help campus collaborators understand and engage with assigned programs
Connect with project leaders and various partners about program progress and issues
Participate in the program process to ensure an understanding of project requirements and program goals/objectives
Assess and recommend internal capacity to deliver and engage with programs
Coordinate solutions at the project level and integrate project-based understanding to inform ongoing program strategy
Manage collaborator assessments and communications
Serve as a trusted oversight and management partner to program leaders, faculty, and PIs, supporting informed decision‑making, accountability, and alignment between program execution, project execution, requirements, and institutional priorities
Assess, track, manage, and monitor risk, coordinating actions where identified
Assist the Director in advancing office and campus-research and sponsored projects portfolio goals and objectives
Serve as a trusted oversight and management partner to PIs, supporting informed decision‑making, accountability, and alignment between project execution, requirements, and sponsor priorities
Facilitate the project lifecycle execution, including goal tracking, deliverable management, and schedule optimization supporting technical, cost, and schedule performance
Develop and maintain integrated project schedules, adjust timelines and dependencies as needed to accommodate evolving priorities and constraints
Facilitate effective communication and coordination among internal teams, external collaborators (subrecipients, consultants, vendors), and sponsors. Lead regular tag-ups, kick-off meetings, and sponsor reviews
Lead operational execution for large-scale, multi-stakeholder research and translational projects, overseeing integrated workflows, resource allocation, and cross-functional coordination. Ensure project infrastructure supports timely delivery, compliance, and strategic alignment with institutional goals
Support project by assisting the PIs in goal deliverables, creating reports, and finalizing documents for sponsor. Contribute to project-related meetings, record meeting minutes, and prepare follow through agendas
Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, including compliance, financial, and operational, by collaborating with institutional offices and tracking adherence to award terms, regulations, and university policies throughout the project lifecycle
In partnership with the DRA and Campus Controller’s Office, assess project financial status and implications, ensuring alignment with budgetary goals and sponsor expectations
Establish and maintain collaborative project management environments and tools that support transparency, accountability, and efficient workflow across all phases of research administration
Lead structured change management efforts, including impact assessment, documentation, and coordination with compliance offices. Facilitate stakeholder engagement and transition support through clear communication, training, and updating project systems
Serve as the primary liaison to external partners and sponsors, facilitating clear and consistent communication, setting expectations, and ensuring coordinated execution across institutional and sponsor priorities. Represent the university’s strategic research interests in collaborative engagements and formal reviews
As needed, prepare and deliver executive‑level briefings and written updates on project status, including schedule, budget, risk posture, emerging issues, and forward‑looking mitigation or contingency planning for PMO and institutional senior leadership
Partner with the Director to contribute subject matter expertise and implementation insight to the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of project management frameworks, tools, templates, and standardized processes, as aligned with the assigned project
Develop and institutionalize best-practice procedures for strategic research and related initiatives contributing to targeted training and consultative support to faculty and staff to support adoption and operational excellence
Cultivate strategic relationships across university research areas and external funding entities—including industry partners, federal agencies, and philanthropic organizations—to align institutional strengths with sponsor priorities
Collaborate with faculty, campus partners, and the Director to identify and advance new sponsored research opportunities, employing existing projects to foster long-term partnerships and follow-on funding
Build and sustain trusted relationships with faculty, PIs, and campus leaders, serving as a credible advisor on project health, risk, and execution strategy across large and complex research efforts
Serve as a subject matter expert and peer resource to PMO staff and campus partners, supporting knowledge-sharing and institutional capability development in alignment with PMO priorities
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute
5+ years of relevant university, industry, non-profit, and/or government agency experience involving large, multi-faceted projects and/or programs
Direct experience in proposal development or management, award processes, and post-award management requirements on federal awards
Experience in research administration, research management, or related fields
Demonstrated ability to build relationships and collaborate with principal investigators, faculty, external partners, and campus colleagues
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience presenting complex topics to a variety of audiences
Proven skills in organizing work, prioritizing objectives, and managing multiple projects or timelines in a dynamic environment
Ability to lead projects or teams across functions, fostering a collaborative culture within a large and complex organization
Understanding of organizational risk and compliance, with the capacity to evaluate internal controls and implement appropriate policies
Eagerness to learn and adapt to new areas in research management
Proficiency with office productivity software (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Commitment to service excellence and integrity in research and operations
Preferred
Project Management Institute certification(s), such as Project Management Professional (PMP)
Experience managing complex sponsored research in bioscience/health or CU Boulder-aligned strategic areas such as aerospace, climate and environment, quantum science and technology, or artificial intelligence
Experience supporting research projects operating within regulated or quality driven environments (e.g., GLP, clinical, biosafety, or sponsor specific compliance frameworks), including coordination of documentation, timelines, and cross functional stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to identify potential quality, compliance, or operational risks and advance appropriately within a structured project management framework, including coordination with Quality Assurance, compliance, or oversight partners as needed
BS/MS or PhD degree in the life sciences, bioengineering or related degrees to assist in the technical content of the project
Experience managing or administering federal grants or contracts
Project management experience on large-scale research programs (e.g., projects valued over $1M)
Direct project management experience with industry and federal sponsored projects or similar federal research initiatives
Experience developing contract strategy or working with university research administration
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Retirement plans
Generous paid time off
Tuition assistance for you and your dependents
ECO Pass for local transit
Company
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado Boulder is a bold, innovative community of scholars and learners who accelerate human potential
5001-10000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$29.19MKey Investors
"US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administation"U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyNational Science Foundation
2023-10-10Grant· $1.4M
2022-06-28Grant· $0.03M
2021-09-29Grant· $22M
Leadership Team
Kristin Masker
Associate AD Budget & Finance
Recent News
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2026-01-22
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