Research Project Manager, School of Labor and Employment Relations

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants .This position is funded for 1 year(s); continuation past 1 year(s) will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

POSITION SPECIFICSThe School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) is seeking a Research Project Manager to contribute to a globally recognized Penn State program working at the intersection of data, research, and international collaboration.

The School of LER is home to the Center for International Human Resource Studies (CIHRS), which serves as the coordinating hub for CRANET—a global research collaboration spanning 40+ countries.

Together, CIHRS and CRANET lead one of the most comprehensive international efforts to study and benchmark Human Resource practices worldwide, connecting academic research with real-world application.

The Research Project Manager supports the global reach and operational excellence of CIHRS and CRANET by coordinating international partnerships, events, communications, and large-scale research initiatives.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Administrative & Operational Support Drive process improvements, including AI-enabled workflows, to enhance operations for CIHRS and CRANET operations

Coordinate planning for the International Human Resource Management global conference, including program preparation, budget, and logistics

Manage bi-monthly webinar series from speaker coordination through post-event follow-up Oversee financial, procurement, and administrative processes within institutional systems

Lead communications across newsletters, email, social, and websites; respond to inquiries

CRANET Network Coordination Serve as primary contact for CRANET country representatives and research partners across 40+ countries

Manage communications related to survey launches, timelines, and partner membership status

Track country participation, data submission status, and data sharing agreements

Support onboarding of new partners and maintain network records and directories

Coordinate and participate (virtually and in person) in international research meetings

Data Collection & Survey Management Lead U.S. data collection and support global survey implementation, utilizing Qualtrics Coordinate survey development, including questionnaire finalization and translations

Monitor survey progress and response rates

Develop dashboards and reporting tools to support partner collaboration and tracking

Data Management & Dataset Coordination Oversee receipt, review, and validation of international datasets

Merge, clean, and harmonize the international CRANET dataset across participating countries

Maintain data documentation and the data management plan; prepare datasets for research use and network distribution

The Research Project Manager will also assist with other CIHRS research projects and train and guide student researchers and graduate assistants in research tools and workflows.

Qualifications:

Outstanding organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in data tracking and documentation

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining organized workflows and delivering timely, reliable results

Excellent interpersonal skills; inclusive and respectful when working with others

Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders

MINIMUM…