Research Program Manager for Marine Science and Technology

About the Job

Title:

Research Program Manager – Marine & Large‑Lake Systems Science and Technology
Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD)

Reports to:

Director of Minnesota Sea Grant and Director of the Large Lakes Observatory

The University of Minnesota Duluth seeks a Research Program Manager to lead program development, coordination, and implementation of a diverse portfolio focused on marine and large‑lake systems science, marine engineering, underwater acoustics, underwater technology innovation, and sustainable maritime operations. This role supports the planning phase for a new Institute for Marine Science and Technology (IMaST) by coordinating activities between university researchers, industry, and federal agencies.

• Identify, develop, and pursue funding opportunities from industry and federal agencies such as NOAA, NSF, ONR, DOE, EPA, DoD, DARPA, and DHS.
• Lead the development of competitive proposals, from concept notes and white papers to full submissions, ensuring compliance and timely delivery.
• Build interdisciplinary teams across the UMN system and external partners (universities, labs, agencies, and industry).
• Establish proposal pipelines and success metrics; coordinate with federal relations and communications for sponsor engagement.
• Strengthen IMaST's visibility through strategic briefings, proposals, and stakeholder presentations.
• Serve as PI or co‑PI on selected programs involving marine engineering, underwater acoustics, autonomous maritime technologies, or data sciences / machine learning.
• Define project milestones, deliverables, and budgets; manage execution and reporting to meet sponsor expectations.
• Mentor students and staff in proposal writing, project management, and interdisciplinary teamwork.
• Disseminate research outcomes through publications, technical reports, and presentations.
• Serve as the primary liaison with industry, federal, and state sponsors, including ARO, AFOSR, ONR, DARPA, DoD, DHS, NASA, and other agencies.
• Coordinate sponsor meetings, reviews, and technology demonstrations; represent IMaST in national and regional research initiatives.
• Support sponsor engagement with workforce and education programs to connect research activities with student training opportunities.
• Translate sponsor feedback into actionable research and program strategies.
• Manage award and contract administration, including scopes of work, budgets, and modifications.
• Ensure compliance with University and sponsor regulations (including FAR/DFARS and OTA frameworks).
• Maintain integrated project schedules, risk registers, and performance metrics.
• Prepare and submit sponsor reports (technical, progress, and financial) and oversee subawards and MOUs.
• Supervise professional and technical staff supporting IMaST programs.
• Coordinate workforce training and experiential programs aligned with IMaST's research and education goals.
• Measure and report program outcomes (training participation, professional placement, diversity metrics).
• Ensure adherence to University and federal compliance policies (research ethics, data security, export control, environmental safety).
• Contribute to institute‑level performance reporting and impact metrics.
• Participate in continuous improvement of IMaST's project management practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• BA or BS degree in a relevant field (marine science, engineering, acoustics, physics, or limnology) with at least ten years of relevant experience, or a Ph.D. degree with at least eight years of relevant experience.
• At least six years of progressively responsible research program management experience.
• Demonstrated success in grant and proposal development with federal, state, or industry sponsors.
• Experience leading complex, interdisciplinary research or technology programs.
• Strong understanding of federal research funding mechanisms (e.g., ARO, AFOSR, ONR, DOE, DoD, DARPA, DHS).
• Proven ability to manage budgets, contracts, compliance, and post‑award reporting.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain collaborations across academia, government, and…