Project Associate Manager

Mission Statement: Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components: patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

About the role

The Project Manager provides comprehensive operational leadership for a multidisciplinary vision research program within the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. This position oversees complex research studies focused on diabetic eye disease and vision science, manages an internationally utilized ocular tissue biorepository, coordinates collaborations with academic institutions, industry partners, eye banks, and investigators, and ensures regulatory compliance throughout the research lifecycle. The successful candidate serves as the central operational liaison among investigators, research staff, external collaborators, and institutional offices while supporting the continued growth of innovative translational research initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of multiple complex research projects from initiation through closeout.
• Coordinate project timelines, milestones, budgets, deliverables, and sponsor reporting requirements.
• Manage operations for a nationally and internationally utilized ocular tissue biorepository.
• Coordinate procurement, processing, tracking, storage, and distribution of human biospecimens.
• Facilitate collaborations with academic institutions, industry partners, eye banks, and external investigators.
• Develop and maintain project documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), study trackers, and operational workflows.
• Monitor compliance with institutional policies, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), HIPAA, and sponsor requirements.
• Coordinate Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), Data Use Agreements (DUAs), research contracts, and collaborator onboarding.
• Prepare scientific progress reports and project updates for investigators, sponsors, and collaborators.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary meetings and communicate project status to investigators and leadership.
• Maintain research databases and ensure high-quality data management practices.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies to maintain project timelines.
• Train and supervise research personnel on project operations and regulatory requirements.
• Support strategic planning and expansion of collaborative research initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Biological Sciences, Health Sciences, or a related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in clinical research, translational research, or research administration.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple complex research projects simultaneously.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing project timelines and coordinating multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and research database management.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with investigators, team-members and external partners.

Qualifications

• Master's degree (MPH, MHA, MS, MBA, or related discipline).
• PMP, CCRP, CCRC, or other professional project management or clinical research certification.
• Experience managing foundation-funded, industry-sponsored, or investigator-initiated research.
• Experience supporting biospecimen repositories or translational research programs.
• Experience with human subjects research regulations and IRB submissions.
• Knowledge of MTAs, DUAs, research contracts, and collaborative research agreements.
• Experience supervising or mentoring research personnel.
• Experience supporting multicenter or international research collaborations.
• Familiarity with ophthalmology, diabetes research, vision science, or biomedical research operations.

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Modes of Work: Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment.