Research Program Administration Manager, James C. Wyant College of Optical Sciences

About the role

The University of Arizona’s Optical Engineering and Fabrication Facility, housed within the Wyant College of Optical Sciences, seeks a Research Program Administration Manager to lead and coordinate complex, multidisciplinary research initiatives from planning through execution. Based in the state-of-the-art Meinel Building, the Facility supports both University research initiatives and the broader national and international optics community.

Responsibilities

• Manage new and ongoing research projects from inception through completion, often overseeing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Track project resources, schedules, deliverables, and technical milestones.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks (technical and management) through ongoing collaboration with Principal Investigators (PIs) and project stakeholders.
• Manage project budgets, cost controls, forecasts, and generate earned value analyses.
• Review and negotiate change orders, amendments, and scope deviations directly with sponsors and coordinate with internal teams.
• Prepare and present project status updates, including progress reports, budget projections, risk assessments, and resource planning to PIs and research leadership.
• Review technical documentation, drawings, and purchasing requests to ensure project requirements are met.
• Facilitate project milestone reviews with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee compliance with system engineering standards, quality control, configuration management, and document control.
• Ensure research project activities align with sponsor technical requirements, University policies, and regulatory standards.
• Participate in responding to Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and federal solicitations.
• Collaborate with PIs and cognizant engineers to prepare scopes of work, resource estimates, budget plans, facility descriptions, schedules, and work breakdown structures.
• Draft, review, and edit technical and business proposals to ensure clarity, consistency, and sponsor compliance.
• Support business development initiatives aimed at expanding the College’s research funding and project portfolio.
• Manage internal financial tracking, timesheet oversight, billing processes, and budget forecasting throughout project life cycles.
• Oversee asset and inventory management; ensure compliance with audit and University property policies.
• Supervise the activities of Project Coordinators, student workers, and other assigned support staff to ensure alignment with project timelines and goals.
• Support strategic administrative functions to maintain operational compliance with sponsor and University requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Optical Sciences, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Astronomy, Space Sciences, or related technical field.
• At least five (5) years of relevant project management or system engineering experience (three (3) years acceptable with an advanced degree such as MS or PhD), including two (2) years of managerial experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing technical or scientific projects, preferably within aerospace, defense, astronomy, or space sciences.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States (required by research sponsors such as DOD, NASA, DOE, and NSF).
• A valid driver’s license and ability to drive according to the University Fleet Safety Policy.