Senior Project Manager

Position Function: The Project Manager serves under the direct supervision of the Assistant Director of Operations and Execution and is responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring, and executing strategic initiatives that support Mississippi State University's Advanced Composites Institute (ACI). This position manages multiple concurrent projects and serves as a critical link between government sponsors, industry partners, academic institutions, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful project execution and achievement of organizational objectives. The Project Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining detailed project timelines, schedules, milestones, and performance metrics while creating and maintaining tracking tools, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to ensure all project tasks, deliverables, and action items are completed on schedule and in accordance with sponsor requirements. The position proactively identifies risks, bottlenecks, and resource constraints, implementing corrective actions as needed to maintain project momentum and ensure successful outcomes. Through effective coordination and communication, the Project Manager supports ACI's mission of advancing composites manufacturing, strengthening the defense industrial base, developing workforce capabilities, accelerating technology transition, and promoting innovative manufacturing solutions that support national and economic security objectives. Salary Grade Salary Grade:16 Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are \"Unclassified\" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department. Department Profile: The Advanced Composites Institute, or ACI, focuses on pioneering transformational composite technologies in a variety of critical sectors, including aerospace, civil, military, energy, automotive and other emerging markets. It was created at MSU with the donation of a revolutionary stitched composite process and equipment originally developed at NASA by pioneering scientist Marvin B. Dow. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Lead the planning, development, and execution of strategic projects and programs that support the mission of Mississippi State University's Advanced Composites Institute (ACI), ensuring alignment with organizational goals, sponsor requirements, and national manufacturing and defense priorities. Develop and maintain comprehensive project management plans, schedules, work breakdown structures, and implementation strategies that clearly define resources, responsibilities, timelines, and expected outcomes. Monitor project timelines, milestones, and deliverables using project management tools, dashboards, and tracking systems to ensure all project activities remain on schedule and meet established deadlines. Identify schedule risks, resource constraints, and project dependencies, implementing corrective actions and mitigation strategies to minimize delays and maintain project momentum. Track project performance against established goals and key performance indicators, providing regular updates to leadership and stakeholders regarding project status, accomplishments, and areas requiring attention. Coordinate and optimize the deployment of personnel, equipment, facilities, and other resources to maximize operational efficiency and project success. Serve as a primary point of contact for project stakeholders, fostering strong relationships with federal and state agencies, industry partners, academic institutions, consortium members, and internal teams. Facilitate meetings, workshops, working groups, technical reviews, and stakeholder engagements to ensure effective communication, collaboration, and coordination across project teams. Prepare and deliver executive summaries, project briefings, status reports, presentations, and other communications for leadership, sponsors, and external partners. Identify, assess, and proactively manage project risks, issues, and challenges that may affect schedule, budget, scope, or project outcomes. Develop contingency plans and risk mitigation strategies to reduce project disruptions and support successful execution of project objectives. Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities to enhance project management processes, operational effectiveness, and organizational performance. Maintain accurate and organized project documentation, including schedules, action-item trackers, meeting minutes, technical reports, contracts, agreements, correspondence, and project records. Ensure all project documentation is maintained in accordance with university standards, sponsor requirements, and record-keeping practices. Minimum Qualifications: Education Bachelor’s degree Experience 5 years Directly related to the job duties and responsibilities specified Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree or higher Workforce development experience Advance manufacturing experience Project Management Professional Certification Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Strong knowledge of project management principles, methodologies, and best practices, including project planning, scheduling, budgeting, risk management, performance tracking, and project execution. Knowledge of advanced manufacturing environments, defense industrial base initiatives, workforce development programs, technology transition efforts, and/or research and development projects is preferred. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining alignment with organizational objectives, sponsor requirements, budgets, and established timelines. Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively across broad teams and engage with government agencies, industry partners, academic institutions, researchers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders. Proven ability to coordinate and lead cross-functional teams, facilitate collaboration, and motivate team members to achieve project goals and deliver high-quality results. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare executive summaries, technical reports, project documentation, briefing materials, presentations, and sponsor updates. Ability to develop and maintain project schedules, work plans, milestone trackers, dashboards, and performance metrics that support project visibility, accountability, and successful execution. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify project risks, evaluate alternatives, develop mitigation strategies, and implement effective solutions. Ability to monitor project performance and evaluate progress against established objectives, key performance indicators, contractual requirements, and organizational goals. Strong organizational and time-management skills with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder expectations. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal departments, external partners, contractors, vendors, and funding organizations. Working knowledge of program evaluation methods, including tracking participation, outcomes, and performance metrics. Experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook. Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic, deadline-driven environment. Working Conditions and Physical Effort: Frequent interruptions based on changing priorities; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressures from persons other than immediate supervisor. Job occasionally requires standing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling, and lifting to 50 pounds. Vision requirements: ability to see information in print and/or electronically. Restricted Clause: Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, View phone number on click.appcast.io. What do I do if I need an accommodation? In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. 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