Research Project Manager

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.

The Public Health Leadership Program is an interdisciplinary program offering a master's degree and two active academic certificates. Our vision is to create public health leaders with the vision and ability to anticipate and solve future health challenges wherever they occur throughout the world. The Public Health Leadership Program offers a customized curriculum to meet the demands of busy practitioners in public health and medical care. We offer courses delivered through a combination of traditional classroom, online and hybrid formats, bolstered by practical, hands-on experience. In doing so, we create leaders who share a command of the latest technology and the most current public health approaches, who are adept at learning from their experiences, and who utilize these skills to create new opportunities for improvement.

This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

Reporting to the Project Director, the Project Manager leads all project efforts and communications, including internal meetings, to ensure seamless coordination and progress. This position leads the strategic management and coordination of research development programs, overseeing the creation and management of research initiatives and large-scale external funding opportunities. Under the direction of the Research Project Director, the Project Manager also aims to develop a roadmap and toolkit for communities to assess and strengthen their capacity to address social and environmental factors contributing to health and wellness for veterans and their families in the Durham Veterans Association region. This position supervises one full-time Project Coordinator and graduate students involved in the project, providing guidance and support as needed. The Project Manager resolves issues that arise during the project lifecycle, ensuring minimal disruption to project progress. The project manager utilizes software such as ATLAS.ti to code and analyze qualitative data from existing project documents. Additionally, this position spearheads the development, testing and implementation of a guide to enhance the verification process for organizations identifying as Veteran serving on North Carolina's online data registries.

As the primary contact for the VA Mapping Project, the Project Manager maintains P-Card certification status and collaborates with the finance department to reconcile project charges. The Project Manager provides detailed plans for policies and procedures related to project execution. The position also monitors completed work, effectiveness in meeting requirements, and the feasibility of recommendations.

Additionally, the Project Manager demonstrates diplomacy in communicating with and influencing a variety of stakeholders to achieve results, resolves complex issues, and exercises sound judgment by considering values, risks, impact, and implications of actions throughout the project. This position sets clear expectations and holds the team accountable for effectively developing, implementing, executing, and concluding the project.

North Carolina is home to approximately 700,000 Veterans making them about 8 percent of the state's adult population. In 2023, four NC cities were listed as the best places in the US for Veterans to live (Lee, H. 2023), but Veterans live in all 100 counties, 80 of which are considered rural (www.rural.gov). NC is a desirable place to live, yet 60% of the state's Veterans are not enrolled in VA healthcare. Veterans in NC are at increased risk of poor health outcomes when they lack access to the Social Determinants of Health ( SDOH) such as housing affordability, economic support, transportation costs and educational expenses (Taheri, et al. 2023).

This position is contingent upon the continuing availability of funds from sources other than continuing State budget funds or permanent trust funds.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

- Proven experience in planning, implementing, or monitoring public health projects. This may include developing detailed project plans, managing budgets, or ensuring projects are completed on time and within scope.
- Demonstrated knowledge of health regulations and laws to ensure all project activities comply with relevant standards.
- Demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, to efficiently manage project documentation, data analysis, presentations, and communication tasks.
- Demonstrated experience working with qualitative software such as ATLAS.ti
- Ability to identify and manage potential risks and issues, and to make data-driven decisions to ensure the success of public health initiatives.

- Degree in Public Health ( BSPH, MPH, MSPH), Health Sciences, or a related field.
- Prior experience with Geographic Information Systems ( GIS) mapping.
- Familiarity with academic research processes.
- Experience managing projects within a university or research institution environment.
- Previous experience in administering grant-funded projects.
- Experience working with or interacting with veteran populations or veteran support organizations.
- Experience using software such as Atlas.ti, Kumu, SciWheel, Dedoose, MaxQDA, or QSR NVivo.

Not Applicable.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu
Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.