Program Manager, Center for Renewable Carbon - UTIA

The Program Manager will design, implement, and review strategic projects in line with CBS Alliance leadership priorities. This position serves as a central connector across strategic project coordination, stakeholder engagement, event strategy, operational improvement, and travel/logistics coordination for internal and external stakeholders.

Strategic Project Coordination

• Lead the development and maintenance of comprehensive documentation and communication frameworks that support high-level decision-making across the CBS Alliance.
• Independently design and implement projects that align with strategic goals established by CBS Alliance leadership and proactively identify gaps or misalignments.
• Seek resources to support proposed projects.
• Prepare and present project status updates, reports, and presentations for leadership, synthesizing insights across projects.
• Develop a structured approach for timely project updates, ensuring fluid communication across the team.
• Provide informed recommendations on prioritization and resource allocation to support timely and effective project execution.
• Anticipate risks and implement mitigation strategies to ensure timely delivery of outcomes.
• Provide on-site coordination and execution support to ensure seamless delivery of projects.

Stakeholder Engagement and Event Strategy

• Serve as a primary point of contact for CBS Alliance events and engagements, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and priorities.
• Manage stakeholder communications and lead post-event follow-up to evaluate impact and inform future planning.
• Represent the CBS Alliance at meetings, conferences, and stakeholder engagements, liaising with internal and external professionals to ensure consistent messaging.
• Design and drive the implementation of existing and novel events, including decisions about event structure and engagement objectives.
• Manage an event database that tracks relevant data for event evaluation, longitudinal implementation, and strategy improvement.

Project and Event Management and Operational Improvement

• Implement project management tools and best practices.
• Facilitate accountability across collaborators by tracking progress and surfacing barriers to execution.
• Manage multiple projects and assignments independently or as part of a team.
• Use effective communication methods to foster interaction and collaboration across the University in support of the administrative goals of the CBS Alliance.
• Plan and manage internal and external meetings, both in-person and virtual, including room reservations, catering, parking, and technology setup, with careful handling of high-profile and sensitive engagements.
• Evaluate project and event implementation and develop operational improvements across the CBS Alliance.
• Manage project budgets from initial proposal through implementation and reporting.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal and external traveling stakeholders of the CBS umbrella, managing travel logistics, registrations, reimbursements, and ensuring travelers are successful during all aspects of events.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Biology, Ecology, Chemistry, Science Education, Science Communication, or a related field relevant to project management. An equivalent combination of training and experience may substitute for education where permitted by University policy.
• Experience: 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in program coordination, operations, executive support, project management, higher education, nonprofit administration, or related fields.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
• Knowledge of project management principles and tools, such as Asana, ClickUp, Smartsheet, or Jira
• Skill in organizing and managing multiple concurrent projects with attention to detail
• Ability to analyze project documentation and identify strategic gaps
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional customer service approach
• Strong personal initiative
• Professional writing and proofreading skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Outlook
• Professional integrity with a thorough understanding of confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience:
• 3+ years of progressively responsible program or project management experience implementing project management tools and tracking progress
• Experience supporting executives or senior administrators
• Experience working in an academic environment
• Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) and/or Certified Administrative Project Manager (CAPM) credential preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Experience with software programs and tools used at UT or in other academic institutions, such as IRIS/Oracle, Cayuse/Huron, Concur Travel, 25Live, Taleo, or similar systems.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
• Onsite. This position is not listed as eligible for remote work in the announcement template.
• Shift: First Shift

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR11, Administrative Professional 1
• Anticipated hiring range: Not provided in the position description.
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the attachments noted below.

• Resume
• Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division

This position is housed in the Center for Renewable Carbon and supports the CBS Alliance, which brings together the CRC, Convergent Research Initiative (CRI), BRIDGES NSF Innovation Engine, and the Biomaterial Governor Chair under a unified Circular Bioeconomy Systems umbrella.