Senior Project Manager (Internal Only)

Central State University (CSU) is a historically Black university (HBCU) and an 1890 Land-Grant Institution. The Research and Economic Development, the Agricultural Research Development Program (ARDP) and CSU Extension are dedicated to driving innovation in the natural sciences, including agriculture, food safety and natural resources, and fostering economic development throughout Ohio's underserved communities.

Position Summary
The Senior Project Manager provides high-level strategic coordination and operational management for CSU’s multi-million-dollar portfolio of research, economic development, and Extension initiatives. This leadership role acts as the critical bridge between academic researchers (PIs), community stakeholders, corporate partners, and state and federal funding agencies. The ideal candidate will manage complex project lifecycles, oversee multi-partner collaboration, track regulatory compliance, and monitor and document milestones translating into real-world economic and community impact.

Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Project Management & Delivery
•Lead Project Lifecycles: Oversee the execution of high-impact research grants, economic development programs, and community Extension initiatives from initiation to closeout.
• Milestone Tracking: Establish and maintain comprehensive project plans, key performance indicators (KPIs), and milestones.
• Risk Management: Identify operational, logistical, and financial bottlenecks early; design and execute proactive risk-mitigation strategies.
2. Multi-Stakeholder Coordination & Collaboration
•Bridging Teams: Foster synergy between CSU Extension educators, scientific researchers, municipal economic development boards, and local community groups.
• External Relations: Act as a liaison with federal grant managers (e.g., USDA-NIFA), state agencies, corporate partners, and collaborating academic institutions.
•Meeting Facilitation: Design and lead regular project progress meetings, advisory board assemblies, and program design workshops.
3. Grant & Budgetary Administration
• Financial Oversight: Assist in reviewing and managing large, complex project budgets in coordination with the Sponsored Programs Office, ensuring strict compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.
• Reporting: Compile and draft comprehensive technical and financial progress reports for external funding bodies and executive university leadership.
• Procurement Support: Facilitate vendor selection, equipment procurement, and contract execution required for research and economic development projects.
4. Community & Economic Impact
• Economic Metrics: Devise tracking mechanisms to measure the local and regional economic impact of CSU’s innovation, translational research, and Extension programming.
• Capacity Building: Assist in identifying future funding opportunities (grants, public-private partnerships) to ensure the long-term sustainability of program initiatives.