Project Manager - NCTI

National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI):
The National Commercialization and Translation Institute (NCTI) is a national initiative dedicated to helping innovative technology companies transform breakthrough ideas into commercial success. Supported through a National Science Foundation (NSF) initiative and led by the University of Central Florida, NCTI serves as a national hub connecting entrepreneurs, investors, industry leaders, government partners, and commercialization experts to accelerate innovation, business growth, and economic impact.

NCTI is designed to help promising deep-technology companies navigate the journey from scientific discovery and technological advancement to sustainable market success. As a new institute, NCTI offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of technology commercialization on a national scale. Through strategic partnerships, individualized commercialization support, and a collaborative innovation ecosystem, the institute is advancing solutions that help high-potential companies overcome commercialization barriers and bring transformative technologies to market.

NCTI combines the agility and entrepreneurial spirit of a startup with the resources and credibility of a leading research university, creating an environment where innovation, partnership, and impact drive meaningful results.

Join the founding team of the National Commercialization and Translation Institute, a national pilot funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. The Project Manager will coordinate project plans, timelines, reporting activities, governance processes, compliance requirements, and stakeholder engagement efforts that support the successful delivery of institute objectives. Working closely with institute leadership, university partners, and external stakeholders, this role will help establish and maintain the operational infrastructure necessary to launch and sustain a first-of-its-kind national program.

Successful candidates will bring demonstrated experience managing complex projects in federally funded, research, higher education, government, or similarly regulated environments. Strong organizational skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities are essential. Experience with NSF-funded projects is particularly valuable, although experience supporting NIH or other federal agency awards is also highly relevant. This position presents a unique opportunity to contribute to a national pilot initiative whose findings may influence future NSF commercialization efforts and innovation programs nationwide.

This is a Contracts & Grants (C&G) funded position. Employment is subject to availability of funding and may cease at the time funding for this employment is depleted. This position is approved for the first 18 months of the 24-month grant period.

• Administer the national competition (S1 to S3): support design and deployment of the solicitation and published review criteria; manage the application period, applicant communications, and intake; screen applications administratively; and run Selection Board logistics, including scheduling, materials, scoring-record capture, structured finalist interviews, and NDA/conflict-of-interest documentation.
• Perform operational data collection supporting the research and evaluation program (M3): administer founder and stakeholder surveys on the fixed cadence; maintain participation, expenditure, and milestone records; capture operational records feeding the national longitudinal registry; provide organized, auditable data to the external evaluator (RTI International); and support the evaluator's data collection, including implementation-fidelity documentation, records assembly for case narratives, and scheduling and logistics for RTI's structured interviews - while evaluation design and interpretation remain with RTI.
• Prepare and coordinate reporting: assemble inputs for NSF annual reports and learning sessions; maintain institute dashboards and records for the PI/PD, Executive Director,…