Senior Project Manager - Research and Product Development

Senior Project Manager - Contract Research and Product Development

United States

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NSF is seeking a Senior Project Manager - Contract Research and Product Development leads contracted R&D projects from contract development through execution and delivery. This role serves as the central point of accountability for translating client objectives into compliant, clearly defined project scopes and ensuring high-quality, on-time delivery.

The Project Manager partners closely with clients and internal experts to manage complex research and product development work, develop proposals & statements of work, and uphold regulatory, quality, and operational standards. Success in this role is driven by scientific rigor, strong client relationships, and disciplined project execution.

• Lead the end-to-end execution of research and product development projects, including scope definition, timelines, milestones, resource coordination, and deliverables.
• Serve as the central point of accountability for project performance, ensuring deliverables meet scientific rigor, client expectations are met, and internal operational standards are efficient and adhered to.
• Facilitate communication amongst cross-functional teams of experts, including Research and Product Development Scientists, Analytical scientists, operations personnel, quality managers, and technicians, to ensure alignment of scientific capabilities with project scope.
• Track project progress, resolve issues proactively, and communicate updates to stakeholders and clients.

Support continuous improvement by identifying process bottlenecks, risks, and efficiency opportunities within project workflows.

• Act as the primary point of contact for clients engaging in specialized services, ensuring a seamless, transparent, and high-quality experience throughout project execution.
• Develop a deep understanding of client goals and needs and track project outcomes to inform service optimization.
• Educate and support clients as they interpret scientific data and make recommendations for continued services.

Foster long-term client trust by delivering reliable service, anticipating needs, and providing thoughtful, science-driven insights derived from cross-discipline experts within the company.

• Serve as the author of proposals, SoWs and Contracts, ensuring project scope, methodologies, and deliverables are technically accurate and clearly defined.
• Develop and document scientific research, strategies, justifications, and technical approaches aligned with client objectives.
• Ensure all contracted work adheres to applicable regulatory requirements, quality standards, and internal scientific policies.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to develop contracts for specialized scientific services.
• Align pricing with scientific effort, resource requirements, and operational complexity.
• Ensure contract terms accurately reflect project timelines, responsibilities, and service expectations.

Enable smooth transitions from contract execution to project delivery through clear documentation and cross-functional alignment.

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline (Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biology, or related field).
• 3-7 years of experience in scientific project management, client services, business development, or analytical laboratory operations.
• Experience supporting scientific testing, certification, product development, or regulatory compliance programs.
• Proven ability to translate technical content into clear business value and client recommendations.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to independently manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, writing, and client relationship-building skills.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate scientific information with credibility.
• High adaptability, collaborative working style, and problem-solving orientation.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Willingness to travel to client sites or industry events as needed.

• Scientific…