Research Project Manager - Comprehensive Integrated Research Operations (CIRO)

About the role

Department: Comprehensive Integrated Research Operations (CIRO)

Administration

About the role

Job Family Group: Professional Staff

Job Description Summary

The Research Project Manager within Comprehensive Integrated Research Operations (CIRO) supports the management and administration of complex research portfolios in collaboration with faculty investigators, institutional partners, and external sponsors. This position coordinates sponsored research activities, major research projects, and program initiatives while providing administrative and operational support to the research enterprise. The primary focus of this role is to support faculty investigators through effective management of extramural funding, project activities, and research operations.

Job Duties

• Manage assigned research portfolios in collaboration with faculty investigators, institutional partners, and sponsors to support project goals and institutional priorities.
• Support the planning, coordination, and implementation of research projects and specialized initiatives in collaboration with faculty investigators and research teams.
• Administer extramural and intramural research funds, including budget monitoring, financial projections, reporting requirements, and resource planning.
• Support proposal development activities and research collaborations that advance institutional research priorities.
• Serve as a liaison among sponsors, principal investigators, collaborators, and internal stakeholders to facilitate communication and coordination of research activities.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, sponsor requirements, contracts, agreements, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) throughout the project lifecycle.
• Conduct regular portfolio reviews with project leaders to monitor financial projections, proposal activity, milestone completion, and achievement of research objectives.
• Identify and recommend improvements to streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and ensure effective workflows while maintaining quality standards.
• Supervise and train staff to support performance, professional development, and compliance with institutional standards.
• Partner with the Director to develop, refine, and implement SOPs, workflow processes, and process improvement initiatives.

Additional information

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. It is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, duties, and assignments. Furthermore, job duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Qualifications

Work Experience

• Four (4) years of experience in business administration or a related field. Relevant education may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis.
• Five (5) years of experience in research administration (e.g., managing extramural funding, coordinating large research projects, liaising with sponsors), project management, or grant management.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Health, Research Administration, or related field.

Certifications/Licenses: One of the following

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
• Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC)
• Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP)

Work Experience

• Five (5) years in a large clinical unit within academia or research administration.

Skills

• Strategic Planning
• Budget Development
• Organization
• Attention to detail
• Communication
• Interpersonal skills

Required Documents

• CV/Resume
• Cover Letter

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance and includes health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan. Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and various additional voluntary insurance plans are available. Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire, plus ten paid holidays.

One paid discretionary day is available after six months of employment, and paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave is available after 12 months of employment. A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) are available.

• Employee Type: Regular
• Time Type: Full time
• Rate Type: Salary

Compensation Statement

The pay range listed for this position is determined by our compensation program using market data and salary benchmarking. A combination of factors is considered in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, education, experience and training, qualifications relative to the requirements of the position, and funding. At the University of Kansas Medical Center, a reasonable estimate for the starting pay range will be the minimum to midpoint of the posted range, taking into account the combination of factors listed above.

Pay Range

• $92,800.00 - $139,200.00
• Minimum $92,800.00
• Midpoint $116,000.00
• Maximum $139,200.00