Project Manager, Grants Administration

Department: Kellogg Ctr for Sci & Innov
Salary/Grade: EXS/8

The Center for Science of Science and Innovation (CSSI), based at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, is a leading interdisciplinary research hub that explores the science of science, innovation, computational social science, and network science. CSSI is supported by a diverse portfolio of competitive federal and private grants. It brings together world‑class faculty, postdocs, PhD students, and staff in a fast‑paced, high‑impact environment, and its work regularly appears in top‑tier journals such as Nature, Science, and PNAS.

The Project Manager will oversee federally funded grants at CSSI, with emphasis on the National Science Foundation (NSF) Assessing and Predicting Technology Outcomes (APTO) grant. Under supervision of CSSI's leadership, the Project Manager will provide administrative leadership for grant management, compliance, and reporting. Responsibilities include coordinating the NSF reporting process and maintaining ongoing communication with program officers through monthly check‑ins, annual reports, and site visits.

The project manager will also lead the planning and execution of annual APTO conferences and related convenings and will be responsible to prepare meeting materials and work closely with the team—including co‑PIs and senior investigators at Kellogg and Northwestern's McCormick School of Engineering—on regular updates. The Project Manager must understand the scientific project goals to effectively manage operations and contribute to the success of the research.

This role will also help shape strategies for future grant submissions and long‑term project planning ensuring alignment with CSSI’s broader vision.

Administration

• Directs and leads development of program/project strategic plan, aligning grant goals and resources.
• Oversees & ensures that day‑to‑day operations are appropriately managed, efficient and effective across CSSI grant‑related projects.
• Operationalizes goals & objectives; ensures that resources are created or obtained.
• Manages and creates associated practices & procedures & metrics to measure success.
• Prepares meeting materials, agendas, and reports for PIs, co‑PIs, and project stakeholders.
• Oversees data analysis & recommends & implements changes & improvement to better ensure attainment of mission.
• Oversees documentation of agreements between NU and partner institutions, ensuring that agreements are complete and reviewed by all necessary NU officials.
• Participates in developing IT strategy to meet the security & needs of program/project.
• Ensures necessary hardware, software & network infrastructure technology services are appropriated from central or internal IT.

Budgets & Financial

• Ensures that the program/project meets associated revenue & expense goals.
• Ensures compliance with federal and institutional financial policies.
• Reviews transactions, cost‑sharing, effort reporting; provides regular financial updates to PIs/senior management.
• Provides regular financial updates to PIs and senior management.
• Develops and implements ideas for improving business processes and increasing program/project revenues and margins.
• Plans & manages complex budget(s) which fund strategic mission including financial sustainability & enhancement models.
• Plans & implements annual budget process.
• Oversees all daily, monthly & annual financial activities including transactions, analysis, & reporting.
• Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate.

Communication, Outreach & Recruitment

• Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders to increase program profile, reputation, visibility and support.
• Facilitates effective communication across multi‑unit teams at Northwestern and sub‑awardee institutions.
• Creates plan to drive awareness of program/project in appropriate markets.
• Partners with academia and organizations to continue to innovate & enhance program/project.
• Builds relationships with appropriate communities & organizations that will result in program/project enhancement.
• Collaborates with senior leadership to…