SECURE Senior Project Manager

Job Description

The National Science Foundation (NSF) established the SECURE Center to strengthen the integrity and resilience of the U.S. research enterprise by empowering institutions of higher education, non-profit research organizations, and small-to-medium enterprises to address foreign government interference and advance security-informed decision-making. In this leadership role, you will oversee high-impact, multi-stakeholder initiatives that bridge academia, industry, and government. You will provide strategic direction for programs that align institutional efforts with U.S. government priorities, ensuring the SECURE Center operates as a national nexus for collaboration, policy translation, and capacity building in research security.

As an Assistant Director of Program Operations, you will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for complex, multi-institutional projects advancing research security and integrity across the U.S. and globally. Reporting to the SECURE Center Principal Investigator/Faculty Director, you will lead cross-functional teams of faculty and administrative leaders, and ensure accountability for project outcomes. This role will establish and oversee a comprehensive work breakdown structure tied to milestone-based deliverables, ensuring execution aligns with Center goals, sponsor requirements, and timelines.

The Assistant Director of Program Operations will integrate strategic planning with financial management, guiding project teams through technical development, compliance, and budget execution in a dynamic research environment. Responsibilities also include staff supervision, coordination of partner institutions, and leadership of continuous improvement efforts to sustain long-term program impact.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management & Product Coordination

Coordination and Product Delivery

• Develop and maintain integrated roadmaps and timelines for all SECURE Center services, platforms, and products; leverage the roadmap and timeline established by the Co-Creation teams and adjust as needed.

• Identify and manage interdependencies between SECURE Center services and the Secure Virtual Environment (SVE).

• Translate annual objectives into actionable plans across all teams.

• Perform schedule analysis, identify critical paths, and develop mitigation strategies

• Develop strategies and systems to monitor and track progress, lead effective decision-making to ensure that technical details are considered appropriately and decisions facilitate product quality and timely delivery.

• Translate high-level annual objectives (new products, engaging additional stakeholders, updating existing products based on new policies and procedures, etc.) into actionable plans across all teams and ensure annual objectives are met.

• Oversee tech development at UW and externally to ensure timelines and deliverables Document for the Director and Deputy Directors on a monthly basis regarding the status of project deliverables

• Utilize specialized project management expertise to guide the development of appropriate strategic plans and lead implementation efforts to ensure timelines are met.

Cross-Team Leadership

• Work with PI, Deputy Directors, Co-Creation Director, Technical Solutions Director and the Leadership team in setting strategic and tactical directions of SECURE, developing shared objectives and service standards, and responding to unanticipated challenges.

• Lead collaboration between national center and regional centers

• Mentor and coach diverse teams including engineering staff, technical leads, and product owners

• Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and innovation

• Document for the Director and Deputy Directors on a monthly basis regarding the status of project deliverables

• Utilize specialized project management expertise to guide the development of appropriate strategic plans and lead implementation efforts to ensure timelines are met.

• Operations Readiness & Support

• Collaborate with Leadership and product development teams to define customer support models

• Coordinate operational readiness for product releases

• Supervise staff that provide Center operations services and customer support

• Risk Management & Quality Assurance

• Monitor project progress and implement systems to track delivery milestones

• Identify scope creep and delivery delays; escalate risks appropriately

• Ensure alignment between platform development, services, and broader research security goals

• Actively participate in routine conference calls and meetings to apprise project teams of progress and communicate issues, risks, and possible mitigation strategies.

Financial Management & Operations

Budget Development & Management

• Plan and manage annual operating budgets to ensure project resources are allocated to strategic priorities and goals.

• Build and maintain complex financial models to support budget planning and strategic initiatives

• Monitor actual performance against forecasts and explain variances

• Establish reporting policies and procedures for project subawardees and contractors; ensure ongoing reporting requirements are met and roll up accurately into overall project and sponsor reports.

Financial Operations & Reporting

• Oversee subaward invoice intake, administrative review, and budget category alignment

• Conduct scenario and sensitivity analyses to evaluate business risks and opportunities

• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports and dashboards for senior leadership and sponsor

• Identify key performance indicators, communicate platform requirements for tracking and reporting, and provide actionable insights

Vendor & Contract Management

Monitor subcontractor performance and recommend improvements

Support specialized projects including research, analysis, and report writing

Staff Management & Development

Team Leadership

• Assist in hiring and onboarding as well as supervising, finance, administrative, and project management team members

• Conduct performance evaluations and recommend performance management actions when necessary

• Assign and review work, manage leave requests and timesheets

• Grow team member skills through mentorship and coaching

Organizational Development

• Collaborate with leadership on shared objectives and service standards

• Align SECURE processes with center, local, state, and federal requirements

• Ensure program operations align with institutional policies and follow NSF guidance.

• Participate in ad-hoc committees contributing specialized expertise

Continuous Improvement

• Leverage technology and tools for automation and operational insights

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency

• Participate in special projects as assigned

• Support Center goals and values through additional duties as required

Minimum Requirements:

• Masters degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, Fiinance, or relevant field

• Three years experience in advanced project management and business tools (JIRA, CRM, MS Office and BI platforms)

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for minimum education/experience qualifications, except when there are legal licensing requirements to perform minimum job duties on the first day of work.

Technical Skills

• Advanced skills using tools such as Jira, Trello, Asana, or Monday.com to support project management/product development

• Strong financial modeling and analytical abilities

• Experience configuring and using customer relationship management (CRM) systems and financial systems

• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and business intelligence tools

Core Competencies

• Significant experience leading business and technology projects by developing plans and managing execution

• Experience establishing operational readiness plans to ensure that systems, staff, procedures and documentation are in place to support product launches

• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills

• Strong written and verbal communication abilities

• Success working with cross-functional teams as both leader and member

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines

• Experience supervising staff and managing organizational change

• Ability to work as part of a large, distributed team with people from diverse backgrounds and academic levels

• Demonstrated commitment to contributing to an inclusive working environment

Preferred Experience:

• Master's degree in engineering, business administration, economics, or related field

• Experience working with UI designers and software developers in the context of website and web/mobile application development

• Federal grant management experience at an R1 research university or institution

• Background in research security or related compliance areas

Working Environmental Conditions:

• Flexible Work Arrangements

• Hybrid schedule with both remote and on-campus options

• Modern office space in the Engineering Annex (shared office arrangement)

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Other Compensation:

Benefits:

Shift:

Temporary or Regular?

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

Union/Bargaining Unit:

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.  

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu. 

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.