Project Manager, Research & Validation Studies

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Part Time Professional Carlsbad, CA, US

Salary Range: $38.00 To $42.00 Hourly

Position: Project Manager, Research & Validation Studies (part time)
Reports to: Head of Scientific Research
Location: Carlsbad, CA, hybrid 1-2 days a week in office
Employment Status: Part-time, with the potential to transition to a full-time position.
Hourly Range: $38 - $42 per hour

, we are building the future of sleep health through rigorous science, research, and real-world validation. Our research team works with leading brands and partners to evaluate sleep products, technologies, and interventions using thoughtful study design, strong operational execution, and a commitment to scientific integrity.

We are looking for a Project Manager, Research & Validation Studies to manage a portfolio of 10+ concurrent validation studies from proposal through completion. This role sits at the intersection of science, business development, client partnership, and research operations, helping turn new opportunities into well-run studies that meet both scientific standards and partner commitments.

You will serve as a primary point of contact for external sponsors, coordinate timelines and deliverables across the internal science team, support proposals, budgets, service agreements and Statements of Work, and own the IRB submission process. You will bring structure to a fast-moving research environment while ensuring studies stay on schedule, within scope, and grounded in sound methodology.

The ideal candidate combines strong project management and relationship-management skills with practical judgment and hands-on execution. They are highly organized, comfortable managing multiple priorities and stakeholders, proactive about solving problems, and confident raising concerns when business requests or timelines could compromise research quality.

• Manage a portfolio of 10+ concurrent research and validation studies from proposal and contracting through study completion and close-out.
• Partner closely with Business Development and Scientific Research to develop proposals, study timelines, budgets, cost estimates, service agreements, and Statements of Work (SOWs).
• Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for external sponsors and partners, providing clear updates, managing expectations, and navigating complex or challenging partner relationships professionally.
• Own IRB submission preparation and coordination, including routing reviewer feedback and required documentation to keep studies compliant and moving forward.
• Create and maintain project plans, Gantt charts, timelines, budgets, and deliverable trackers to ensure study activities are initiated and completed on time.
• Coordinate workflow across the science team, proactively communicating new studies, upcoming deadlines, dependencies, and changes so teams can plan workload effectively.
• Track contracted deliverables, including reports, IRB documentation, participant information, and other study requirements, and elevate risks before they affect timelines or commitments.
• Identify process improvements that increase research-team efficiency, consistency, and study throughput while maintaining high standards for research quality.
• Safeguard study integrity by identifying and respectfully raising concerns when proposed business terms, timelines, or partner requests conflict with robust research practices.
• Support study close-out, final reporting, publications, or abstracts as opportunities and team capacity allow.

• Bachelor's degree in research, science, psychology, management, or a related field.
• 3+ years of customer-facing project management experience in a research-oriented, clinical research, health, or similar environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of concurrent projects across cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience drafting, coordinating, or supporting proposals, budgets, agreements, contracts, or Statements of Work in a research or client-services setting.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage overlapping deadlines, shifting priorities, and multiple stakeholders without losing momentum.
• Sound, practical…