Senior Program Manager, CGM in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at University of Pittsburgh

Senior Program Manager, CGM

SPIA-Office of the Dean - Pennsylvania-Pittsburgh - (26003124)

The Senior Program Manager oversees the planning, coordination, and implementation of CGM’s research initiatives, with a primary focus on the Pluralism360@Pitt program, which advances civil discourse, civic leadership, and value pluralism across campus and the broader community. The role is embedded in the academic life of the Center, working alongside faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers. The Senior Program Manager serves as the central programmatic liaison connecting faculty leadership, university units, and a wide network of external partners, and is responsible for ensuring the successful delivery of all program commitments.

This position is 100% funded by non-operating funds.

The Center for Governance and Markets (CGM) at the University of Pittsburgh is a multidisciplinary research center that explores the innovative ways people come together to solve problems. It serves as a global hub for scholars and practitioners studying how institutions — formal and informal — shape governance, civic life, and human flourishing. The Pluralism360@Pitt program is a flagship initiative designed to foster civil discourse, civic leadership, and value pluralism across campus and throughout the Pittsburgh region and beyond.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in political science, philosophy, economics, social sciences, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex grants or project management experience, including direct responsibility for coordinating across multiple external partners, subcontractors, or institutional stakeholders.
• Familiarity with philosophy, politics, and economics frameworks, whether through academic training, professional experience, or sustained independent study.
• Strong relationship-building skills across diverse communities, institutions, and ideological perspectives.
• Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with project management tools and digital documentation systems.
• Comfort working in a viewpoint-diverse, university-based research environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Experience integrating AI-enabled tools into project management, communications, or reporting workflows.
• Substantive familiarity with civil discourse, viewpoint diversity, pluralism, or bridge-building work.
• Experience working with university, nonprofit, or government partners on civic engagement, pluralism, or civil discourse initiatives.
• Familiarity with program evaluation frameworks.

Job Summary

Manages and ensures effective research project completion. Oversees complex and concurring projects and supervises team. Coordinates research operations, answers inquiries, and prepares research reports and materials. Designs and implements an organizational system, quality control procedures, and systems for maximum utilization of project resources. Implements communications plans, obtain applicable regulatory approvals, and ensure adherence to regulations, policies, and procedures.

Essential Functions

Program Leadership & Implementation

• Lead the day-to-day coordination and implementation of the Pluralism360@Pitt program and other CGM research initiatives.
• Maintain continuity and alignment across all project components, proactively monitoring progress against milestones and addressing implementation challenges as they arise.
• Ensure timely delivery of all required outputs and activities in accordance with grant commitments.

Partnership & Community Engagement

• Serve as the primary programmatic liaison among faculty leadership, university units, and external partners — including civic, religious, nonprofit, and community organizations across Pittsburgh and the greater tri-state region, as well as national and global partner organizations.
• Lead community-engaged programming and applied civic leadership initiatives rooted in value pluralism.
• Build and sustain trust-based relationships across ideological, cultural, religious, and institutional divides, ensuring programming authentically reflects the project’s commitment to value pluralism and civil discourse.
• Represent CGM’s mission and approach in conversations with scholars, civic leaders, and community partners across diverse traditions.

Grant Compliance & Reporting

• Coordinate closely with CGM leadership, SPIA Dean's Office, and Pitt’s Office of Sponsored Programs to ensure all grant compliance, reporting, and evaluation requirements are met.
• Track program outputs, participation data, and deliverables.
• Maintain clear and organized documentation to support evaluation, reporting, and replication of program activities.

Project & Information Management

• Manage internal project management systems, digital repositories, and communications workflows.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date records across all program components.

Physical Effort

Primarily sedentary. May occasionally be required to lift or transport materials or supplies and to move between locations on campus for meetings or events.

Assignment Category: Full-time regular

Job Classification: Staff.Supervisor - Research Program Coordinator

Job Family: Research

Job Sub Family: Research Program Support

Campus: Pittsburgh

Minimum Education Level Required: Bachelor's Degree

Minimum Years of Experience Required: 2

Will this position accept substitution in lieu of education or experience: Combination of education and relevant experience will be considered in lieu of education and/ or experience requirement.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Work Arrangement: Hybrid: Combination of On-Campus and Remote work as determined by the department.

Hiring Range: To be determined based on qualifications

Relocation_Offered: No

Visa Sponsorship Provided: No

Background Check: For position finalists, employment with the University will require successful completion of a background check

Child Protection Clearances: Not Applicable

Required Documents: Resume

Optional Documents: Resume, Cover Letter