Senior Project Manager

Position Function:

The Project Manager serves under the direct supervision of the Assistant Director of Operations and Execution and is responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring, and executing strategic initiatives that support Mississippi State University's Advanced Composites Institute (ACI). This position manages multiple concurrent projects and serves as a critical link between government sponsors, industry partners, academic institutions, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful project execution and achievement of organizational objectives.

The Project Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining detailed project timelines, schedules, milestones, and performance metrics while creating and maintaining tracking tools, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to ensure all project tasks, deliverables, and action items are completed on schedule and in accordance with sponsor requirements. The position proactively identifies risks, bottlenecks, and resource constraints, implementing corrective actions as needed to maintain project momentum and ensure successful outcomes.

Through effective coordination and communication, the Project Manager supports ACI's mission of advancing composites manufacturing, strengthening the defense industrial base, developing workforce capabilities, accelerating technology transition, and promoting innovative manufacturing solutions that support national and economic security objectives.

Salary Grade:16

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

The Advanced Composites Institute, or ACI, focuses on pioneering transformational composite technologies in a variety of critical sectors, including aerospace, civil, military, energy, automotive and other emerging markets. It was created at MSU with the donation of a revolutionary stitched composite process and equipment originally developed at NASA by pioneering scientist Marvin

B. Dow.

• Lead the planning, development, and execution of strategic projects and programs that support the mission of Mississippi State University's Advanced Composites Institute (ACI), ensuring alignment with organizational goals, sponsor requirements, and national manufacturing and defense priorities.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project management plans, schedules, work breakdown structures, and implementation strategies that clearly define resources, responsibilities, timelines, and expected outcomes.
• Monitor project timelines, milestones, and deliverables using project management tools, dashboards, and tracking systems to ensure all project activities remain on schedule and meet established deadlines.
• Identify schedule risks, resource constraints, and project dependencies, implementing corrective actions and mitigation strategies to minimize delays and maintain project momentum.
• Track project performance against established goals and key performance indicators, providing regular updates to leadership and stakeholders regarding project status, accomplishments, and areas requiring attention.
• Coordinate and optimize the deployment of personnel, equipment, facilities, and other resources to maximize operational efficiency and project success.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for project stakeholders, fostering strong relationships with federal and state agencies, industry partners, academic institutions, consortium members, and internal teams.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, working groups, technical reviews, and stakeholder engagements to ensure effective communication, collaboration, and coordination across project teams.
• Prepare and deliver executive summaries, project briefings, status reports, presentations, and other communications for leadership, sponsors, and external partners.
• Identify, assess, and proactively manage project risks, issues, and challenges that may affect schedule, budget, scope, or project outcomes.
• Develop contingency plans and risk mitigation strategies to reduce project disruptions and support successful execution of project objectives.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to enhance project management processes, operational effectiveness, and organizational performance.
• Maintain accurate and organized project documentation, including…