Research Project Manager

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

At Duke, we believe that great ideas emerge when people bring their authentic selves to work. As a Research Project Manager with the Center for Child and Family Policy (CCFP), you'll play a vital role in advancing interdisciplinary research that improves outcomes for children and families.

You will partner with faculty, researchers, administrators, community organizations, and external collaborators to coordinate complex research initiatives from concept to completion. Your expertise in project management, communication, and collaboration will help research teams transform innovative ideas into meaningful impact.

In this role, you'll join a mission-driven environment that values diverse perspectives, teamwork, continuous learning, and professional growth.

Work for this position will be based in the North Carolina counties of Bertie, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pitt, Tyrrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, and Wilson. This position will require significant travel between these counties. Preference would be for the Research Project Manager to live in or near one of these counties.

Be Bold.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead and coordinate research projects across the full research lifecycle while supporting nationally recognized faculty and research teams.

What You'll Do

1. Research Project Management & Cross-Functional Coordination – 25%

Manage and coordinate research projects using established project management processes, tools, and methodologies.

• Maintain and consistently apply standard project management methodologies, processes, tools, templates, and guidelines across assigned research projects.
• Develop detailed project plans, task lists, work breakdown structures, schedules, milestones, and work-effort assessments based on input from principal investigators and project team members.
• Plan, lead, and facilitate cross-functional project team meetings involving faculty, research staff, administrative staff, communications, meetings and events, and external collaborators.
• Monitor project schedules, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables to support timely completion of project activities.
• Coordinate activities among multiple functional groups and project stakeholders to facilitate achievement of project goals.
• Conduct project learning reviews and identify and share best practices across research teams, including practices related to participant payments, secure information transfer, and Duke financial and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain project management tools and procedures that support effective and consistent project implementation.

2. Project Initiation, Protocol, Risk & Resource Management – 20%

Coordinate project start-up, protocol development, project operations, and ongoing management of project risks, issues, scope, schedules, and resources.

• Coordinate project initiation and award start-up activities among principal investigators, research teams, collaborators, and appropriate administrative staff.
• Prepare, draft, and submit protocol applications, amendments, and annual renewals to the Institutional Review Board.
• Manage beginning-to-end submission process for human participants research, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Maintain meticulous documentation of all IRB approvals, protocol modifications, informed consent forms, and adverse event reports.
• Serve as the primary liaison between research team members and the IRB administration to support timely reviews and approvals.
• Advise project teams regarding resources and best practices for participant recruitment, data management, secure information transfer, and other project processes.
• Develop, review, and coordinate project protocols, study materials, forms, procedures, and related documentation.
• Assess project risks and issues in collaboration with project teams and develop appropriate mitigation plans.
• Monitor project schedules, issue logs, risk management plans, and other project indicators and identify deviations that may affect project performance or results.
• Communicate significant schedule, resource, or operational concerns to principal investigators and other appropriate project stakeholders.
• Serve as a liaison regarding proposed modifications to project scope, schedule, resources, or budget.
• Work with appropriate functional managers and team members to resolve scheduling and resource conflicts and escalate difficult project issues when appropriate.
• Develop procedures and protocols that support effective internal project communication and coordination.

3. Budget, Financial & Vendor Management – 15%

Develop and monitor project budgets, schedules, resources, expenses, participant payments, and external service relationships in coordination with principal investigators and appropriate administrative staff.

• Develop detailed project budgets and schedules based on project tasks, materials, staffing and resource requirements, and allocation plans.
• Partner with the assigned grant manager to align project timelines, milestones, and deliverables with funding requirements.
• Monitor project expenses and resource commitments and identify potential budget or resource issues affecting project implementation.
• Serve as a bridge between project PI’s and the project grant manager to communicate adjustments, delays, and resource needs.
• Coordinate and maintain relationships with vendors, consultants, contractors, and other outsourced service providers.
• Maintain records of project expenses and track vendor and contractor milestones and deliverables.
• Coordinate with appropriate financial and administrative staff to support timely sponsor invoicing and payment of contractors and vendors.
• Manage and track payments to research participants.
• Coordinate reimbursement of project-related expenses to project staff.
• Maintain appropriate project records associated with expenses, payments, reimbursements, and external services.

4. Proposal Development & Research Planning – 10%

Coordinate project management and administrative activities supporting research proposal development and transition to project implementation.

• Liaise with principal investigators, research development staff, grants and contracts personnel, and other administrative staff during proposal development.
• Develop and monitor proposal timelines, milestones, responsibilities, and internal deadlines.
• Organize and coordinate file-sharing processes and collection of proposal materials.
• Coordinate document review, revisions, and completion of materials required for proposal submission.
• Monitor proposal development activities to ensure established milestones and submission deadlines are met.
• Assist research teams with translating proposed activities into project plans, schedules, resource requirements, and budgets.
• Coordinate transition activities from proposal development and award notification to project start-up.

5. Stakeholder & Project Communications – 15%

Develop and manage communications and working relationships among internal and external project stakeholders.

• Initiate, establish, and maintain effective working relationships with principal investigators, research staff, administrative units, external collaborators, community partners, contractors, research participants, and other key stakeholders.
• Serve as a liaison among project stakeholders regarding activities, schedules, responsibilities, deliverables, and operational requirements.
• Develop and manage communication plans for project teams, external collaborators, research participants, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate project communications through websites, social media, newsletters, presentations, and other communication channels.
• Facilitate communication regarding project milestones, changes, risks, deadlines, responsibilities, and decisions.
• Coordinate with communications staff and research teams on strategies for communicating and promoting research findings.
• Serve as a project resource to participants, staff, and collaborators.

6. Research/PI Support, Dissemination & Project Events – 15%

Coordinate activities supporting principal investigators, research dissemination, project publications, and project-related meetings and events.

• Assist in writing, editing, and coordinating project materials including reports, monographs, slide decks, newsletters, presentations, and website content.
• Support principal investigators in preparing tables, charts, data displays, and other materials for papers, publications, reports, and presentations.
• Provide copy-editing, formatting, bibliography preparation, and other publication support.
• Assist with development and implementation of communications strategies to promote and disseminate project findings.
• Coordinate logistics for project meetings, workshops, conferences, and other in-person or virtual events, including facilities, space, catering, technology, and related logistical requirements.
• Work with principal investigators and project teams to ensure project meetings and events support established project goals.
• Coordinate project materials, communications, and other activities associated with research dissemination and project events.

Perform any other related duties incidental to the work described herein. The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

What You'll Bring

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Requires Bachelor degree in related field. Additional training or certification in project management or a related area is preferred.

Successful applicant must maintain active CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) in Human Participant Research and any other requested certifications deemed necessary to carry out the functions of this position.

EXPERIENCE

Work requires experience in project management, research administration, research operations, or a related area sufficient to independently coordinate multiple components of research projects and work effectively with faculty, research staff, administrative partners, and external stakeholders.

Experience should demonstrate increasing responsibility and independence in project planning, coordination, budget and schedule management, communication, and problem resolution. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

Why Duke?

At Duke, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to research that directly improves the lives of children and families while working alongside world-class faculty and collaborative research teams.

You'll benefit from:

• Opportunities to work on impactful, interdisciplinary research initiatives.
• A collaborative and mission-driven culture.
• Professional development and career growth opportunities.
• Access to Duke's innovative academic and research environment.
• Comprehensive employee benefits and wellness resources.

Choose Duke.

Your project management expertise can help advance research that informs policy, strengthens communities, and improves outcomes for future generations.

Join a team where your work matters and where collaboration, innovation, and purpose drive meaningful change.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply today and help advance research that creates lasting impact for children, families, and communities.

Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $78,347.00 to USD $133,188.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goesbeyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender,gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built oncollaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: DAAS@duke.edu; phone: 919-668-1267).