Project Manager For Creative Initiatives Jobs in Colorado

University of Colorado Anschutz Department: School of Medicine, Office of Research Job Title: Industry Partnerships Project Manager Position #: 00849224 – Requisition #: 40146 Job Summary

The University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz School of Medicine (SOM) Office of Research is seeking a highly skilled Project Manager to support strategic, sponsor‑funded collaborations within the Office of Clinical Trials. The role serves as a project manager and industry partnership lead, functioning as the central operational and relationship hub for a designated external partner (e.g., pharmaceutical or biotechnology sponsor). It is responsible for tracking and coordinating complex, sponsor‑supported clinical research activities while ensuring a high‑quality, responsive, and solutions‑oriented experience for external stakeholders. The position is fast‑paced, highly visible, detail‑ and service‑oriented, and requires independent management of large, complex projects, strong judgment, and the ability to represent CU Anschutz professionally in interactions with industry partners. The position will report to the Research Office Manager and is contingent upon anticipated external sponsor funding associated with strategic industry partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Program and Project Management (25%)
  • Lead end‑to‑end project management for industry‑sponsored initiatives, including development and maintenance of project plans, timelines, and deliverables.
  • Track progress across multiple concurrent projects and clinical trials, identifying risks, dependencies, and mitigation strategies.
  • Ensure alignment of project execution with sponsor expectations, contractual obligations, and institutional workflows.
• Industry Partner Relationship Management (25%)
  • Serve as the primary point of contact and relationship manager for assigned external partner(s), ensuring a high‑quality, responsive, and solutions‑oriented experience.
  • Build strong, trust‑based relationships with sponsor representatives, serving as a knowledgeable and reliable liaison.
  • Manage partner communications, expectations, and issue resolution in a proactive and professional manner.
  • Develop and deliver executive‑level communications, including sponsor updates, briefings, and presentations tailored to industry audiences.
• Navigation and Intake Coordination (20%)
  • Serve as a navigator for sponsor‑initiated projects, coordinating intake, routing, and follow‑up to appropriate institutional partners.
  • Ensure seamless handoffs across study teams, research administration, and sponsor stakeholders.
• Cross‑Functional Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement (15%)
  • Act as a central coordination hub for sponsors across departments, research teams, hospitals, and external partners.
  • Facilitate alignment among investigators, operational teams, finance, contracting, and sponsor stakeholders.
  • Support governance structures by coordinating meetings, preparing materials, tracking action items, and ensuring follow‑through.
• Operations, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement (10%)
  • Devise and maintain operational reports, dashboards, and tracking tools to monitor sponsor‑related activity and performance.
  • Support development and refinement of workflows, SOPs, and operating models for sponsor‑facing processes.
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, and overall partnership value.
• Administrative and Data Coordination (5%)
  • Maintain organized records (agreements, budgets, reporting files) and support preparation of routine financial and status summaries.
  • Ensure timely completion of deliverables and compliance with internal and external reporting expectations.
  • Provide administrative support for tracking invoices, payments, and basic financial reconciliation in collaboration with finance teams.

Qualifications Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, public health, healthcare administration, project management, or related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in project management; client or stakeholder management; clinical research, healthcare, or related operational environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in business, health administration, or related field.
• Experience supporting industry‑sponsored clinical trials or research partnerships.
• Experience working in academic medical centers or healthcare systems.
• Experience with clinical trial budgeting, contracting, or sponsor management processes.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Prosci, or comparable certification.
• Experience in consulting, industry liaison, or executive support roles.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Partnership & Relationship Management: Ability to build and sustain strong relationships with external industry partners. Demonstrated experience providing high‑touch, responsive customer service or account management.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex academic or clinical concepts to external stakeholders. Experience preparing executive‑level presentations, reports, and briefings.
• Project & Operational Management: Proven ability to manage complex, multi‑stakeholder projects with competing priorities. Strong planning, organization, and time‑management skills.
• Interpersonal & Influencing Skills: Ability to work effectively across a highly matrixed organization without direct authority. Strong collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Adaptability & Problem Solving: Ability to manage ambiguity and rapidly changing priorities. Proactively identifies issues and develops solutions.
• Clinical Research Experience: Understanding of clinical trial lifecycle, contracting, and sponsor expectations preferred.
• Professionalism & Discretion: Demonstrates sound judgment, professionalism, and discretion in all interactions. Represents CU Anschutz effectively with external partners.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management tools. Experience with reporting tools, dashboards, client relationship management, and data systems preferred.

Work Location

Hybrid – this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of at least three (3) days per week on campus and as needed for in‑person meetings.

Anticipated Pay Range

The starting salary range for this position has been established as $71,301 to $95,543. The position may be eligible for overtime compensation, depending on the level.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu.

Background Check Statement

The University of Colorado Anschutz is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID‑19 virus and other vaccine‑preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety‑sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.