Research Program Administration Manager, James C. Wyant College of Optical Scien

The University of Arizona’s Optical Engineering and Fabrication Facility, housed within the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, is seeking a Research Program Administration Manager to lead and coordinate complex, multidisciplinary research initiatives from planning through execution. Based in the state of the art Meinel Building, the Facility serves as a center for optical design, fabrication, and testing supporting both University research initiatives and the broader national and international optics community.

The position will play a critical role in managing technical research projects, ensuring that project milestones, budgets, compliance requirements, quality control standards, and technical deliverables are successfully met. If you are passionate about advancing the frontiers of optical science and engineering, we encourage you to apply and join our dynamic, innovative team.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Project Management and Technical Oversight

• Manage new and ongoing research projects from inception through completion, often overseeing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Track project resources, schedules, deliverables, and technical milestones.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks (technical and management) through ongoing collaboration with PIs and project stakeholders.
• Manage project budgets, cost controls, forecasts, and generate earned value analyses.
• Review and negotiate change orders, amendments, and scope deviations directly with sponsors and coordinate with internal teams.
• Prepare and present project status updates, including progress reports, budget projections, risk assessments, and resource planning to PIs and research leadership.
• Review technical documentation, drawings, and purchasing requests to ensure project requirements are met.
• Facilitate project milestone reviews with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee compliance with system engineering standards, quality control, configuration management, and document control.
• Ensure research project activities align with sponsor technical requirements, University policies, and regulatory standards.

Project and Business Development

• Participate in responding to Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and federal solicitations.
• Collaborate with PIs and cognizant engineers to prepare scopes of work, resource estimates, budget plans, facility descriptions, schedules, and work breakdown structures.
• Draft, review, and edit technical and business proposals to ensure clarity, consistency, and sponsor compliance.
• Support business development initiatives aimed at expanding the College’s research funding and project portfolio.

Internal Business Management and Team Supervision

• Manage internal financial tracking, timesheet oversight, billing processes, and budget forecasting throughout project life cycles.
• Oversee asset and inventory management; ensure compliance with audit and University property policies.
• Supervise the activities of Project Coordinators, student workers, and other assigned support staff to ensure alignment with project timelines and goals.
• Support strategic administrative functions to maintain operational compliance with sponsor and University requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong understanding of research-driven project management practices, including technical, financial, and compliance aspects.
• Technical literacy with the ability to oversee engineering workflows, quality controls, and configuration management.
• Expertise in budget management, forecasting, cost controls, and financial reporting.
• Ability to identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and drive risk resolution.
• Skilled in sponsor communication, including negotiation of contract changes and deliverables clarification.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and supervisory skills, with the ability to mentor and manage support staff.
• Outstanding organizational, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with attention to clarity and detail.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects concurrently with minimal supervision.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Optical Sciences, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Astronomy, Space Sciences, or related technical field.
• At least five (5) years of relevant project management or system engineering experience (three (3) years acceptable with an advanced degree such as MS or PhD), including two (2) years of managerial experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical or scientific projects, preferably within aerospace, defense, astronomy, or space sciences.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States (required by research sponsors such as DOD, NASA, DOE, and NSF).
• Must have a valid driver’s license and ability to drive according to
  the University Fleet Safety Policy.

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a technical field.
• Experience working with federally sponsored projects (NASA, NSF, DOD, DOE) in areas such as technical project management, grant compliance, or research administration.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or equivalent.
• Experience preparing federal research proposals and managing complex research grants or contracts.
• Experience in system engineering principles, quality assurance standards, and configuration control systems.
• Experience using project management tools like MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent software.