Research Project Manager, School of Labor and Employment Relations

About the role

The School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) is seeking a Research Project Manager to contribute to a globally recognized Penn State program working at the intersection of data, research, and international collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Drive process improvements, including AI-enabled workflows, to enhance operations for CIHRS and CRANET operations
• Coordinate planning for the International Human Resource Management global conference, including program preparation, budget, and logistics
• Manage bi-monthly webinar series from speaker coordination through post-event follow-up
• Oversee financial, procurement, and administrative processes within institutional systems
• Lead communications across newsletters, email, social, and websites; respond to inquiries
• Cranet Network Coordination: Serve as primary contact for CRANET country representatives and research partners across 40+ countries
• Manage communications related to survey launches, timelines, and partner membership status
• Track country participation, data submission status, and data sharing agreements
• Support onboarding of new partners and maintain network records and directories
• Coordinate and participate (virtually and in person) in international research meetings
• Data Collection & Survey Management: Lead U.S. data collection and support global survey implementation, utilizing Qualtrics
• Coordinate survey development, including questionnaire finalization and translations
• Monitor survey progress and response rates
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools to support partner collaboration and tracking
• Data Management & Dataset Coordination: Oversee receipt, review, and validation of international datasets
• Merge, clean, and harmonize the international CRANET dataset across participating countries
• Maintain data documentation and the data management plan; prepare datasets for research use and network distribution
• Assist with other CIHRS research projects
• Train and guide student researchers and graduate assistants in research tools and workflows

Qualifications

• Outstanding organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in data tracking and documentation
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining organized workflows and delivering timely, reliable results
• Excellent interpersonal skills; inclusive and respectful when working with others
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders

Benefits

This position offers a competitive benefits package including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, robust retirement plans, substantial paid time off, and a generous 75% tuition discount for eligible employees, spouses, and children. For more details, visit our Benefits Page.

Pay

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $59,580.00 - $86,400.00. Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure.

Schedule

This position requires a minimum of three days per week of on-site work at the designated work location.