Research Project Manager

professional opportunities that span the campus and community. University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The School of Data and Information Sciences (SDIS) was founded in 2026 by joining the School of Information and Library Science (1931) and the School of Data Science and Society (2022). SDIS brings together longstanding excellence in information and library science with leadership in data science, including computational and statistical methods, and societal applications.

Home to a top ranked library and information science program, SDIS is recognized for strong teaching, research and service and is the home to the Carolina Health Informatics Program (CHIP) and the Center for Information, Technology and Public Life (CITAP). The School teaches and trains undergraduate and graduate students in data science, health informatics, information science and library science, as well as offers certificates for adult learners.

SDIS conducts research and scholarship across the data and information life cycle, with an emphasis on human-centric, ethical and applied approaches. Committed to data, information and AI literacy for all Tar Heels, SDIS faculty are tackling our communities’ most pressing needs and our world’s most intractable challenges.

Position Summary

The SDSS is seeking an experienced Research Project Manager to report to its Office of Research Strategy and Leadership Team. The position will be responsible for managing one or more highly complex research and team science coordination projects and/or leading collaborative efforts between SDSS and UNC campus units. Projects may be internal to SDSS and UNC or supported by an external sponsor such as NIH, NSF, other federal agencies, state agencies, and non-government sponsors.

Incumbent will develop project management strategy, supporting business cases, and detailed project plans and will manage project execution to ensure adherence to budget, schedule, reporting, and scope in collaboration with SDSS and project leadership and, as applicable, other Research Project Managers. Incumbent will manage day-to-day operations for these projects in collaboration with SDSS leadership to include scheduling meetings, running meetings, taking notes, capturing and tracking action deliverables, communicating with all teams, and maintaining project tracking tools, documents, and other artifacts.

Incumbent should be a highly motivated, detail-oriented strategic thinker, a team player, and a demonstrated problem solver with a proven ability to make decisions. Tasks include:

• Providing program management to include strategic planning, communications, outreach to funded collaborators and/or project stakeholders to help manage team relations.
• Coordinating multiple collaborative groups and activities.
• Monitoring and tracking project milestones and deliverables.
• Recognizing areas for internal improvement and developing plans for implementing updated or new processes and methods to facilitate project outcomes.
• Conferring with project personnel to identify and resolve problems.
• Working with relevant business offices and project leadership to develop project budgets, and supervising project resources to assure projects stay on track and within budget.
• Working with relevant teams to write reports.
• Providing proposal development support for research proposal concepts including gathering, summarizing, and analyzing information about funding opportunities, sponsors, and competitors.
• Providing project management for proposals include tracking and gathering of required materials and creation of final documents.
• Supporting event planning to execute events related to projects (workshops, hack-a thons, training events, and multi-institutional meetings).

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Master’s or Bachelor’s and 0-2 years’ experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Project Planning and Management:

• Ability to plan and manage large, multi-faceted and specialized projects and assist with project events.
• Ability to manage day to day business operations of a project.
• Proven ability to lead complex project initiatives, develop and implement program strategies, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to generate routine project reporting.

Interpersonal

• Ability to establish and maintain a variety of positive and constructive working relationships.

Technical:

• Familiarity with a range of project management tools, particularly online tools such as Jira and/or Monday.com.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Prefer three years’ experience in project management and/or program coordination and organization. PMP Certification is a plus. Experience with federally funded projects is a plus. Experience using project management skills and tools in an academic setting and/or a background in education is a plus. Experience in supporting faculty in applying for sponsored project funding is a plus.

Special Physical/Mental Requirements

N/A

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.

Organization

The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students.

Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you.

Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117

Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894

Total Student Enrollment: 30,011

Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States

Type of Institution: Public, four-year

Faculty: 3,000

Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent

Faculty/student ratio: 1/14

Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities.