NIAR Project Operations Manager

Department: National Institute for Aviation Research

Campus Location: WSU Main Campus, Wichita, KS

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Commensurate with experience

Export Compliance Requirement: This position requires access to EAR or ITAR controlled technologies. Applicants are required to be eligible for employment under U.S. export control laws and must meet the requirement of being a "U.S. Citizen".

Job Information

NIAR is seeking a detail-driven and highly organized Project Operations Manager to support the successful planning, execution, and financial oversight of laboratory projects and grant-funded initiatives. This role serves as a central operational partner-working closely with project teams, leadership, finance, and contracts-to ensure projects stay on track, align with approved scopes, meet sponsor expectations, and maintain compliance with internal and external requirements. The ideal candidate brings strong project management experience, a commitment to operational excellence, and the ability to navigate complex workflows to support NIAR's mission and research programs.

Job Summary

Performs project management in the laboratory to ensure effective execution, financial stewardship, and operational discipline of programs and projects. This role provides centralized oversight of project management activities, grant-funded work, and associated financial tracking to ensure compliance, timely execution, and accurate billing. Serves as a key operational partner to leadership, project leads, finance, and/or contracts, helping protect the organization from risk while enabling growth, continuous improvement, and successful delivery of customer and sponsor commitments.

Essential Functions

Provides operational oversight for laboratory projects, including grant-funded and contract work. Supports project planning, schedules, milestones, deliverable tracking, monitoring project status, and identifying risks, issues and resource constraints.
Manages laboratory activities related to the projects, including tracking funding, budgets, and allowable expenditures, and monitoring burn rates and funding availability.
Coordinates with project teams to ensure work performed algins with approved scopes of work.
Works closely with internal and/or external partners to ensure accurate and timely invoices. Supports reconciliation of project budgets, expenditures and revenue, and identifies potential financial risks.
Evaluates program effectiveness by collecting and analyzing data in support of key performance metrics
Ensures that activities are in compliance with policies, laws, and regulatory agencies.
Maintains records and documentation; coordinates with and provides reports and updates to internal and external resources and stakeholders.

Required Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent

Seven (7) years of of related project management experience; Every 30 hours of related college coursework can be substituted for one (1) year of experience (maximum of four (4) years).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Project management principles and workflow coordination
Budgeting, financial tracking, and grant/contract requirements
Compliance standards, policies, and sponsor guidelines
Basic data tracking and performance measurement methods
Strong organization and multitasking
Risk identification and problem-solving
Financial monitoring and budget reconciliation
Clear written and verbal communication
Proficiency with project management and tracking tools
Work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
Maintain alignment with scopes of work and sponsor expectations
Ensure compliance while supporting efficient operations
Analyze data to inform decisions and improvements
Manage documentation and produce timely reports

Physical Requirements

Ability to remain in a stationary position.
Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment.
Ability to communicate with others and accurately exchange information.
Ability to interpret effectively, accurately and impartially, both receptively and expressively.