Strategic Research Initiatives Manager – GIE

Salary:

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the internal application process.

Job Category:Academic Staff

Employment Type:Regular

Job Profile:Project Program Manager (B)

Job Summary:

The Grainger Institute for Engineering (GIE), a non-academic unit
in the office of the Associate Dean for Corporate Engagement &
Entrepreneurship (ADCEE), is excited to offer a new project program
manager role. GIE specializes in driving transformational,
cross-disciplinary projects that further the strategic goals of the
College of Engineering. We are seeking a strategic, collaborative
program manager to plan and direct the day-to-day operational,
outreach, and promotional activities of GIE-supported research
programs.

In this role, you will serve as a technical subject matter expert
and primary liaison among faculty, College and university partners,
and external stakeholders, actively promoting research
accomplishments, core capabilities, and new initiatives. You will
develop and implement program plans, milestones, budgets, and
reporting to advance overall program objectives. Additionally, you
will support strategic program development by identifying
connections, gaps, emerging opportunities, and pathways to larger
interdisciplinary initiatives and external funding. Beyond
high-level program management, you will also work directly with
project teams to help them operationalize their specific
initiatives.

If you are excited to lay the foundation for new, connected
engineering initiatives, we encourage you to apply, particularly
individuals with experience working for funding agencies, policy
organizations, or legislative staff!

Additional information:

• It is anticipated this position requires work be performed

in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location

Visa Sponsorship:

• Please be aware that successful applicants are responsible for

ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States
(i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful
permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the
United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or
before the effective date of appointment.

• This position is an ongoing position that will require

continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position
you would have to provide proof of work authorization and
eligibility to work.

• The College of Engineering is not an E-Verify employer and

therefore we cannot accept F-1 OPT STEM Extensions for employment
eligibility.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Monitors federal research trends and funding priorities to

identify connections, gaps, and emerging opportunities, while
supporting the development of research concepts, white papers, and
competitive interdisciplinary grant proposals.

• Sets priorities, allocates tasks, and collaborates with project

staff to meet program targets and milestones. Manages the change
control process and acts as the mid-level decision making
authority

• Plans and directs the day-to-day operational activities of

research programs in alignment with strategic objectives, while
serving as a liaison and subject matter expert across internal and
external stakeholders to promote accomplishments, research
initiatives, and technical capabilities.

• Manages the activities of outside contractors and vendors to

ensure they are integrated into the program and that the
organization receives satisfactory standards of service

• Prepares regular reports to communicate the status of the

program within and beyond the program team, communicates program
goals, risks, and status with program executive level, program
sponsors, and stakeholders, and develops and uses appropriate
dashboards, measures, and reporting tools

• Leads and manages efforts to determine and coordinate the

sharing of resources among component projects to the overall
benefit of the program

• Facilitates the estimation of program costs, resources, and

time required to complete the overall program, monitors activities
and budgets, directs and leads component project manager activities
for consistency and alignment, and works with program leadership to
ensure these targets are met. Follows established change control
processes if targets can no longer be met

• Creates a program plan and structure, monitors progress and

performance against the program plan, and identifies, resolves, or
escalates program risks and issues

Department:

College of Engineering, Grainger Institute for Engineering

Compensation:

The starting salary for the position is $90,000, but is negotiable
based on experience and qualifications.

Required Qualifications:

• Considerable experience managing complex research or technical

programs involving multiple investigators or stakeholders.

• Proven ability to understand, synthesize, and translate complex

engineering and scientific information for both technical and
non-technical audiences.

• Extensive experience building and managing structured program

plans, including defining milestones, tracking deliverables,
establishing metrics, and managing program budgets.

• Excellent organizational, analytical, written, and

interpersonal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands on experience with federal funding agencies or funding

mechanisms

• Demonstrated success in developing, writing, or coordinating

large-scale, multi-investigator, or multi-institutional research
proposals or white papers.

• Experience navigating university research administration,

national labs, federal agencies, or industry R&D
partnerships.

• Proven ability to monitor federal research priorities, identify

emerging funding trends, and map core research capabilities to
strategic interdisciplinary opportunities.

Education: Required:

• Master’s degree in engineering, technology, or related

field.

Preferred:

• PhD in engineering, technology, or related technical

discipline.

How to Apply:

Please go to the “” area and select your current UW Employment
Status. Applicants are required to upload a resume and a cover
letter. Your cover letter and resume should address how your
training and experience align with the Required and Preferred
Qualifications listed above. In your cover letter, pleaser provide
responses to the following questions:

• Please describe a complex research or technical program you

managed involving multiple stakeholders or investigators. How did
you establish a structured program plan (milestones, deliverables,
budgets) and ensure clear communication across both technical and
non-technical audiences?

• How have you navigated federal funding mechanisms, research

administration, or multi-institutional partnerships to secure major
research opportunities or draft large-scale proposals?

Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to
determine which applicants move forward in the process. References
will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be
notified once the search concludes and a candidate is
selected.

Contact Information:

Peggy Sullivan

peggy.sullivan@wisc.edu

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further
information.

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