(Hybrid) Research Project Manager - WVU Cancer Institute

The WVU Cancer Institute at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Research Project Manager in the Deputy Director’s Office.

About the Opportunity

The WVU Cancer Institute (WVUCI) is seeking a highly organized and collaborative Research Project Manager to join its Research Strategy team and support institute-wide initiatives spanning the Cancer Biology, Cancer Control and Population Science, and Experimental Therapeutics research programs, each integral to WVUCI’s goal of becoming a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center.

Working closely with the Senior Research Project Manager, faculty, research leaders, administrators, and staff, this position will plan and coordinate complex initiatives—including interdisciplinary research working groups, grant application development, and active research projects—while monitoring timelines, deliverables, risks, and outcomes.

The successful candidate will build strong cross-functional relationships and help develop the project-management processes and infrastructure needed to advance WVUCI’s evolving research priorities.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including\:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs

What You’ll Do

• Project Planning and Execution
  • Manage cyclical and emerging initiatives that advance the evolving priorities of the WVU Cancer Institute’s research mission, including interdisciplinary research working groups, grant application development, and active research project support.
  • Partner with the Senior Research Project Manager, faculty, administrators, staff, and other stakeholders to plan, coordinate, and deliver complex projects within established timelines.
  • Work with project stakeholders to define goals, scope, deliverables, milestones, timelines, resource needs, and measures of success.
  • Develop and maintain project plans that clearly identify activities, responsibilities, dependencies, and deadlines.
  • Independently prioritize and coordinate multiple concurrent initiatives, adjusting plans as organizational needs and research priorities evolve.
• Cross-Functional Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
  • Coordinate the contributions of multidisciplinary and cross-departmental teams to advance shared research objectives.
  • Build and maintain productive professional relationships with faculty, research leaders, administrators, staff, and institutional partners.
  • Facilitate project meetings and working sessions, ensuring that decisions, responsibilities, and next steps are clearly documented and communicated.
  • Support progress across teams by following up on commitments, addressing coordination needs, and helping stakeholders maintain momentum.
  • Use collaboration, sound judgment, and influence to move initiatives forward in environments where project responsibilities span multiple teams and reporting structures.
• Project Monitoring, Risk Management, and Quality Assurance
  • Monitor progress toward project goals, milestones, and deliverables, identifying potential delays, dependencies, or barriers.
  • Conduct research and analysis to establish meaningful project metrics and evaluate progress, outcomes, and areas requiring additional attention.
  • Identify project risks and recommend practical mitigation strategies, escalating significant concerns when appropriate.
  • Perform quality-control reviews to ensure that project materials and deliverables are accurate, complete, consistent, and aligned with expected standards.
  • Provide regular status updates that clearly communicate progress, accomplishments, risks, outstanding decisions, and next steps.
• Process and Workflow Improvement
  • Evaluate existing project-management processes, procedures, and workflows to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, consistency, and effectiveness.
  • Recommend and implement new tools, templates, procedures, and project-management practices that strengthen the team’s ability to support institute-wide research initiatives.
  • Capture lessons learned and apply them to improve the planning and execution of future projects.
• Communication, Reporting, and Documentation
  • Communicate clearly and professionally with diverse stakeholders through email, telephone, in-person and virtual meetings, written reports, and presentations.
  • Prepare project reports, briefings, presentations, meeting materials, and other resources for faculty, project teams, and institute leadership.
  • Maintain accurate and accessible project records, including plans, timelines, decisions, action items, deliverables, and supporting documentation.
  • Translate complex project information into concise, audience-appropriate communications that support informed decision-making