Senior Project Manager, Science and Technology Strategy

Position Summary

The Senior Project Manager for Science and Technology Strategy is a key individual contributor working closely with the Chancellor’s Executive Director for Science and Technology Strategy (Chancellor’s Executive Director) in advancing Vanderbilt University’s Chancellor’s institutional goals and priorities for science and technology development in areas including but not limited to energy innovation, defense and national security, health sciences and biotechnology, and quantum and AI technologies.

Reporting to the Director of Projects on the Science and Technology Strategy team, the Senior Project Manager manages, plans, and coordinates projects to advance the Chancellor’s science and technology strategy mission and vision in coordination with key stakeholders within the Vanderbilt University community as well as external representatives and partners. The Senior Project Manager performs duties of a highly complex, detailed, and confidential nature, and maintains confidentiality regarding communication and information received and gathered in office on high-priority institutional objectives and activities.

The Science and Technology Strategy team reports to the Chancellor’s Executive Director for Science and Technology Strategy and is charged with advancing Vanderbilt University’s Chancellor’s institutional goals and priorities for science and technology development in areas including but not limited to energy innovation, defense and national security, health sciences and biotechnology, and quantum and AI technologies. In service of this mission, the Chancellor’s Executive Director and the Science and Technology Strategy team work closely and collaboratively with the Chancellor, the Chancellor’s chief‑of‑staff and other key team members in the Chancellor’s office, as well as senior leaders from across the institution including the Vice Chancellors, Provost, Vice Provosts, and deans.

(further work unit details to be added by the Chancellor’s office)

Management of executive projects (80% effort)

• Manages, plans, and coordinates activities of executive level strategic projects to ensure that goals or objectives of projects are accomplished within prescribed time frame and funding parameters.
• Develops or reviews project proposals or plans to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing projects, staffing requirements, and allotment of available resources to various phases of projects.
• Establishes work plan and multi‑disciplinary staffing for each phase of project and arranges for recruitment or assignment of project personnel. Advises the Project Coordinator and other less experienced partners and collaborators from within or outside of the university to ensure human capital needs for institutional projects are met.
• Works closely with the Project Coordinator on monitoring and ensuring appropriate progress on executive projects, including reviewing or preparing data analytics and project performance reports.
• Using extensive knowledge and experience with formal project management and analytics, develops and implements new processes, technologies, and techniques to enhance the value and cost‑effectiveness of projects.
• Identifies and corrects problems as needed. Takes initiative to resolve project or interpersonal issues using own advanced training, knowledge of workflows and project mapping, as well as leveraging the wisdom of senior team members and other university departments as appropriate.
• Communicates effectively and efficiently with parties within and outside the university, including high‑profile collaborators and partners. Demonstrates a consistently collaborative, teamwork‑oriented approach.
• Demonstrates strong technical skills including thorough knowledge of project management software (e.g., Teams, , Asana, etc.) and the ability to quickly learn, utilize, and train others on new technologies as needed with the goal of streamlining and improving team operations.
• Maintains an extensive understanding of the university’s policies and procedures as well as the university’s goals and priorities in science…