Academic Program Manager Jobs in Detroit, MI (NOW HIRING)

Program Manager
Job No: 26107
Department: Michigan Tech Rsrch Institute(MTRI)
Work Type: Staff - Full Time
Location: Michigan Tech Research Institute (Ann Arbor, MI), Dayton, OH
Full Time / Part Time: Full Time
Categories: Research
Applications Close:
Michigan Technological University is an R1 technological research university founded in 1885 in Houghton. Our rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's scenic Upper Peninsula and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Research focus areas include defense, health, energy, automotive, environment, and aerospace.
The area's waters, forests, and snowfall support year-round recreation, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, and paddling. The University is an integral part of the region, supported by a friendly and welcoming community that takes pride in being a true college town. We embrace our size, climate, sense of adventure, and originality.
Summary
Michigan Technological University is seeking a Program Manager for our Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) department. Candidates for this position may opt to work in either Ann Arbor, MI or Dayton, OH. At MTRI, we develop advanced technologies that help our nation better understand, sense, and operate within complex natural and humanmade environments. Our work spans multidisciplinary research and applied development, advancing ideas from foundational concepts to mission-relevant prototypes. We are seeking a Program Manager to support and scale advanced research and development efforts in a DoD-focused R&D environment. This role operates at the intersection of science, engineering, mission application, and is responsible for translating sponsor-driven research into structured execution and delivered outcomes.
This role is responsible for:
• Owning end-to-end planning and execution of R&D programs aligned with DoD sponsor objectives
• Translating sponsor requirements into executable plans, milestones, and deliverables
• Coordinating cross-functional teams across science, engineering, product, and operations
• Managing schedules, dependencies, resources, budgets, and program risks across multiple efforts
• Communicating program status, risks, tradeoffs, and decisions to leadership and sponsors
• Supporting proposal development and capture activities for new research opportunities
Responsibilities and Essential Duties
1. Develop and maintain program roadmaps, integrated master schedules, and dependency maps aligned with sponsor objectives and contractual requirements
2. Translate ambiguous or exploratory research efforts into structured execution plans, including milestones, deliverables, decision points, and readiness criteria
3. Manage program risks, issues, and tradeoffs, and drive resolution through structured processes and data-informed decision-making
4. Lead program reviews, technical interchange meetings (TIMs), and milestone assessments aligned with sponsor expectations
5. Coordinate execution across multidisciplinary teams including scientists, engineers, analysts, and external collaborators
6. Prepare clear, concise sponsor-facing communications, including status reports, technical summaries, risk assessments, and decision briefs
7. Coordinate with external stakeholders including government program managers, research labs, academia, and industry partners
8. Support program execution activities such as resource planning, labor forecasting, and delivery of required program artifacts (e.g., reports, briefings, deliverables)
9. Commit to learning about continuous improvement strategies and applying them to everyday work. Actively engage in University continuous improvement initiatives
10. Apply safety-related knowledge, skills, and practices to everyday work
Required Education, Certifications, Licensures
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical field
Required Experience
1. 5+ years of experience in technical program management, program management, or related roles in R&D or engineering environments
2. Experience managing complex, cross-functional technical programs involving engineering and/or scientific teams
3. Demonstrated ability to manage scope, schedule, dependencies, resources, risks, and stakeholder communication
Desirable Education and/or Experience
1. Experience working with DoD sponsors such as AFRL, DARPA, ONR, Army Research Lab, or Space Force organizations
2. Experience supporting proposal development and capture efforts
3. Experience coordinating with external partners including government labs, academia, and industry collaborators
4. Experience with program execution in regulated or government contracting environments (e.g., working with statements of work, deliverables, reporting requirements)
5. Advanced degree in a technical field or engineering management discipline
Required Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities
1. Ability to obtain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance, which requires United States citizenship. Obtaining a national security clearance while holding a dual citizenship will not be possible when the foreign country poses a risk to the national security of the United States
2. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing leadership and sponsor-facing materials
3. Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced R&D environments with evolving requirements 4. Sufficient technical fluency to engage credibly with engineering and research teams
Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and/or Abilities
1. Active U.S. Department of Defense security clearance at Secret-level or higher
Work Environment and/or Physical Demands
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
Required Training and Other Conditions of Employment
Every employee at Michigan Technological University will receive the following 4 required trainings; additional training may be required by the department.
Required University Training:
• Employee Safety Overview
• Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation Training
• Annual Data Security Training
• Annual Title IX Training
Background Check:
Offers of employment are contingent upon and not considered finalized until the required background check has been performed and the results received and assessed.
Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) % (1=100%)
1
FLSA Status
Exempt
Appointment Term
12 months
Shift
Pay Rate/Salary
Negotiable based on experience
Title of Position Supervisor
Executive Director
Posting Type
Internal & External
Dependent on Funding
Yes
Additional Information
This position is contingent upon the continued availability of external funding.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or accommodations during Michigan Tech's hiring process please notify the Human Resources office at 906-487-2280 or hr-help@mtu.edu.
Other Conditions of Employment:
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of your appointment, and maintain eligibility without sponsorship throughout your appointment.
Michigan Technological University is an Equal Opportunity Educational Institution/Equal Opportunity Employer that provides equal opportunity for all, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. Michigan Tech will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the Michigan Tech Public Safety.
In compliance with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and its implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 86), Michigan Tech is committed to maintaining a drugfree campus environment and actively promoting the health and safety of its community. Find our notice that outlines the University's policies, legal sanctions, health risks, and available support resources related to the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol.
Required Education, Certifications, Licensures* (minimum requirements)
Advertised: 08 Jul 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications Close:
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