AERC Sr. Project Manager

The Applied Environmental Research Center (AERC) at the University of Alaska Anchorage is seeking a full-time, Senior Project Manager to lead a $500,000 annual wetland and coastal dune restoration project at Bellows Air Force Station (BAFS), Hawaii. The successful candidate should bring a solid background of working with the department of Defense/War. This position will work closely with AERC leadership and the Principal Investigator to manage project execution, support proposal development, and help expand UAA's externally funded research portfolio.

Since 2014, AERC has led innovative environmental research and restoration projects across Alaska, Hawaii, the continental United States, and the Pacific region. Qualified candidates with a passion for environmental restoration and project leadership are encouraged to apply.

As the AERC Senior Project Manager, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the successful execution of the Center's externally funded research and technical projects. Working closely with the AERC Director and Principal Investigators, you will oversee all phases of project implementation—from planning and resource coordination through execution, reporting, and closeout—ensuring projects are completed on schedule, within scope, and in compliance with sponsor requirements, University policies, and applicable regulatory and safety standards.

This position serves as the Center's primary operational leader for assigned research projects, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, subcontractors, collaborators, and external partners while providing day-to-day supervision, technical guidance, and professional development to research personnel. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for managing project operations, monitoring performance, coordinating logistics and resources, maintaining project documentation, and supporting budget administration to ensure efficient and effective project delivery.

In addition to project execution, the Senior Project Manager plays a key role in advancing the Center's long-term research mission by supporting strategic planning, sponsor engagement, proposal development, communications, and continuous process improvement. This position advises the AERC Director on operational and communications initiatives, develops standardized project management practices, fosters collaborative partnerships, and contributes to the growth of the Center's research portfolio through exceptional leadership, organizational effectiveness, and technical expertise.

To thrive in this role, the successful candidate will be an experienced, collaborative, and adaptable project management professional with a demonstrated ability to lead complex, externally funded research and technical projects from planning through completion. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional organizational, leadership, and communication skills, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities, solve complex operational challenges, and consistently deliver high-quality results while ensuring compliance with sponsor requirements, University policies, and applicable regulatory standards.

The successful candidate will demonstrate experience leading multidisciplinary teams, coordinating project schedules, budgets, logistics, personnel, and technical resources, and building productive relationships with faculty, researchers, sponsors, government agencies, Tribal organizations, industry partners, subcontractors, and other stakeholders. The candidate will be an effective communicator who can translate complex technical information for both technical and non‑technical audiences and will possess the judgment and initiative to independently manage day‑to‑day project operations while maintaining regular communication with the AERC Director and leadership team located in Alaska.

A strong background in project management, research administration, data analysis, proposal development, sponsor reporting, and continuous process improvement is essential. Experience managing large-scale, multi‑year research or technical projects, particularly those supporting the U.S. Department of Defense/War or other…