Research Project Manager Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

IonE seeks a full-time, 1-year temporary Research Project Manager, Level 2 to support a diverse portfolio of interdisciplinary research initiatives. This is a one-year position supported through external funding, with the potential for continuation beyond the initial appointment period based on performance, funding availability, and organizational needs. Anticipated start date is September 8, 2026.

The Research Project Manager, Level 2 develops work plans, manages timelines and reporting processes, coordinates project teams, and supports proposal development and project execution across the full research lifecycle. Working in close collaboration with PIs, researchers, and external partners, this role helps advance projects toward shared goals while navigating the operational, administrative, and relational complexities inherent in collaborative research. The individual in this role serves as the primary project manager for an assigned portfolio of research projects and leads project management for proposal development and submission activities.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized and resourceful project manager who enjoys supporting interdisciplinary teams and helping them achieve meaningful sustainability and environmental impact goals. They are comfortable coordinating distributed teams, navigating complex and sometimes sensitive stakeholder relationships, and translating sponsor requirements into practical project management processes. They are proactive in identifying needs, resourceful in solving problems, and eager to continuously expand their knowledge of research administration, grant management, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Competitive candidates will typically bring experience spanning research, project management, research administration, and/or higher education environments. They will have demonstrated success supporting the full lifecycle of research projects, including proposal development, project implementation, reporting, and closeout, and will be capable of independently developing and managing project workflows following initial onboarding and training.

This position will focus on a suite of projects including: 

• environmental decision support science projects focused on moving the needle to more usable Federal data products that improve lives and livelihoods; 
• stakeholder-engaged sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) research focused on evaluating policy and market pathways for SAF expansion while minimizing unintended impacts to biodiversity, water quality, and land use - providing actionable information to state leaders; and
• local and regional food systems assessment focused on identifying key drivers of greenhouse gas emissions and prioritizing strategies that reduce emissions, strengthen food economies, advance food sovereignty, and improve community food security.
  This position works closely with PIs and research teams and involves regular engagement with project sponsors, collaborators, and University partners. The position reports to Kelly Abraham, Senior Research Project Manager, and works closely with Dr. Melissa Kenney, Director of Research & Knowledge Initiatives, as well as other faculty investigators and research staff across the Institute on the Environment. The successful candidate will join a collaborative team that includes other research project managers and professionals with diverse expertise and backgrounds.

The individual in this role may mentor student employees supporting research projects, collaborate with project management team peers, and provide guidance to researchers and postdoctoral fellows in the application of project management practices, departmental systems, and operational processes that enable teams to work effectively and collaboratively.

A recording of the informational webinar held on July 15 is available to watch here. 
 

The position is located at IonE on the St. Paul, MN campus, and the person will be expected to fully participate in IonE, including attending IonE events and developing working relationships with other IonE staff and external partners. This position is structured to be primarily in-person, but could be set up to allow for a day or two of teleworking per week. There is no moving allowance provided for employees who will be permanently or temporarily moving to the Twin Cities metro region for this position. The position may involve some infrequent travel for workshops, conferences, and meetings as dictated by individual projects. We encourage applications from individuals who belong to groups that have been historically underrepresented in environmental work and in academia, including those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, those with disabilities, and those from LGBTQIA+ communities. IonE offices and meeting spaces are accessible, and the building has accessible gendered restrooms on-site. Non-gendered restrooms are accessible through the tunnel system but would not be considered convenient for regular daily use.
 

This position follows a standard Monday - Friday (e.g., 40 hours per week at 1FTE), typically during normal business hours. Work hours may vary on infrequent occasions to accommodate meetings with internal and external stakeholders, project deadlines, and program-related events.
 

Project Management and Technical Support for Research Projects - 60%
This category of work constitutes the program and project management activities that support highly collaborative, distributed teams and external stakeholders in achieving shared goals and milestones. 

• Development of interdisciplinary research project workflows and timelines given proposal priorities and milestones; provide weekly project priorities with team member assignments 
• Manage the planning, logistics, and facilitation of project meetings, conference calls, committee meetings and stakeholder meetings or workshops (in-person, hybrid, and virtual) to promote internal team communication and external collaboration with other impact-oriented stakeholders 
• Project support such as helping to organize metadata files, providing survey or interview implementation and administration, or Institutional Review Board (IRB) documentation
• Serve as a primary contact for day-to-day project management, responding to inquiries from and proactively communicating with project researchers and external collaborators.
• Provide project management support to signature cohort-based research experiences, such as the IonE Postdoctoral Fellowship and research experiences for undergraduates, including support during the application and selection process, informal professional development onboarding to research projects and project management processes within our department.
• Keep project records organized and up-to-date, given existing team standards or by developing updated or new standards. Maintain and follow the required change control plans when changes must be implemented on externally funded projects.
• Other research support, as needed 

Manage the reporting and fiscal activities of the research projects - 20%
This category of work reflects the required project reporting to different audiences and grant budget management toward project milestones. 

• Collect data, maintain databases given best practices, and compile required grant reports on activities and outcomes 
• Coordinate project-related financial transactions, including making purchases, managing subaward or shadow budgets, tracking expenses, in collaboration with the PI, Program Manager,  university sponsored research offices, and finance partners to ensure the most allowable, allocable, and compliant methods are used.
• Write briefs synthesizing information gathered at major project workshops and meetings and facilitate transmission of that information to the appropriate channels
• Manage comprehensive project reporting, including annual reports and interim updates, data and file management throughout the project lifecycle, dashboard management, financial tracking, and budget-related reporting. 
• Support relationships with contractors and external vendors, including setting up contracts, tracking deliverables, and submitting invoices.

Pre-award proposal development support - 10%
This category reflects the activities associated with applying for grants, external sales, and other external funding sources (i.e., pre-award) to grow our program and impact.

• Development of proposal workflows and timelines given proposal priorities and milestones; provide regular proposal updates and priorities with team member assignments, including clear delegation among the team to meet deliverables on time.
• Lead the coordination and agenda setting for proposal team meetings and follow-up with notes and action items
• Using RFP requirements, create shared files and customized grant documents given templates that include basic entry of standard information 
• Coordinate the collection or customization of required RFP documentation (e.g., biosketch, letters of support) in the required format needed for proposal submission
• Support proposal development including references, formatting, editing, and consistency checks
• Identify and contribute to process improvements in support of proposal and research project management by identifying more efficient systems, processes, or templates.
• Other proposal support, as needed 

Other -10%
This category reflects IonEs learning orientation and commitment to professional development and being part of our community.

• Participate in and contribute to IonE-wide activities (e.g., Annual Meeting, all-staff meetings, retreats, and cross-team initiatives)
• Support emerging organizational priorities and initiatives as needed
• Contribute to cross-cutting KI or IonE strategic initiatives
• Develop or grow your understanding of the intersection of DEIJ principles and how it intersects with your current work and future professional goals
• Identify and contribute to process improvement initiatives and knowledge sharing across the project management team and IonE.
• Follow project management trends and develop your skills, and bring your insights and ideas back to your team, work, and career development goals.
• Contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and high-functioning team environment
• Engage in institutional practices aligned with UMN and IonE values
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• B.A./B.S. degree, plus 2 years of relevant experience; or combination of related education and experience equal to 6 years.
• Demonstrated project management and coordination experience supporting complex projects or initiatives involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and evolving timelines.
• Experience developing and maintaining pre-award and post-award research administration processes, including project workflows, timelines, documentation, tracking systems, meeting coordination, and operational procedures that support successful project execution.
• Demonstrated ability to monitor project progress, identify risks, barriers, or dependencies, and implement solutions or appropriately escalate issues using professional judgment and established practices.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying sponsor and University requirements related to interdisciplinary research administration, grants management, or project compliance.
• Demonstrated experience managing pre-award proposal development and submission processes, including developing proposal timelines, coordinating multidisciplinary proposal teams, preparing and reviewing proposal budgets, and ensuring compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple concurrent responsibilities while maintaining a high level of attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing grant proposals, reports, project communications, meeting materials, and other professional documentation for diverse audiences.
• Experience collaborating with principal investigators, project sponsors, and cross-functional teams to coordinate activities, facilitate communication, clarify next steps, maintain accountability, and support progress toward project goals and deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives, and to foster inclusive, respectful, and productive working relationships.
• Demonstrated commitment to valuing, promoting, and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
   

Preferred Qualifications:

• A connection or commitment to sustainability or environmental issues and topics.
• Experience working with a variety of external funding mechanisms, proposal budgeting practices, and research administration processes, with the ability to learn and apply University of Minnesota policies, systems, and procedures.
• An understanding of project goals, how to collect data and draw valid conclusions, and summarize research findings or project outcomes 
• Experience using Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office applications for project coordination, documentation, spreadsheets, reporting, and communication, with the ability to learn and apply new systems and software as needed.
• Intercultural competency and high emotional intelligence, demonstrating a welcoming and inclusive approach to interpersonal interactions and a team-orientation
• Professional or p