Project Manager (Innovation-Focused)

Position Objective: Provide services as an Innovation-Focused Project Manager in support of the overall functions of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Office of Strategic Extramural Programs within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIA is seeking a Project Manager to oversee innovation-focused prize competitions and career development initiatives that enhance national competitiveness. The PM will lead efforts such as the NIA Startup Challenge, which has supported groundbreaking innovations, including AI-enabled solutions aligned with the Genesis mission.

By improving oversight, communication, and strategic alignment, the PM will help maximize the return on investment for these high-impact competitive programs and ensure they continue to advance national innovation goals and talent development.

Duties And Responsibilities

Project Management Documentation

• Prepare project documentation including charters, schedules, resource plans, and budgets.
• Recommend and support routine project management meetings and prepare status reports and dashboards.
• Assist staff in coordinating project management activities and development of reports.
  
  

Progress Monitoring & Reporting

• Develop project materials, PowerPoint presentations, and facilitate stakeholder discussions.
• Coordinate, track, and report on action items to project owners.
• Support internal resources in implementing activities per project priorities and schedule.
• Prepare project dashboards, milestone summaries, and work breakdown structure updates.
• Track project expenditures against approved budgets and report financial risks.
  
  

Analysis & Upper Management Reporting

• Prepare progress reports, summaries, and materials for internal and external stakeholders.
• Develop project status and performance summaries for upper management review.
• Measure project performance using designated systems, tools, and techniques.
• Create and maintain a comprehensive project documentation library.
• Present project updates at recurring staff and management meetings.
  
  

Budget Development & Tracking

• Assist project owners with enterprise resource planning and annual budget formulation.
• Monitor budgets, project future spending, and complete financial accounting documentation.
• Log project expenditures and report balances to project owners.
• Evaluate project cost and performance against metrics and recommend corrective actions.
  
  

Research & Best Practices

• Research new trends in project management software and applications to improve efficiency.
• Coordinate with other project managers to identify and share best practices.
  
  

Subject Matter Expertise & Staff Support

• Review other project management plans and recommend improvements.
• Facilitate project management practice working groups and professional development sessions.
• Provide presentations on appropriate project management practices to non-project management staff.
  
  

Program Standards Development

• Develop project management SOPs based on analysis of all program and project requirements.
• Establish standardized tracking, review processes, meeting formats, and presentation approaches.
• Coordinate with other programs to share best practices and improve project management efficiency.
  
  

Documentation Review & Evaluation

• Evaluate project activities and documentation; implement corrections and improvements.
• Review and improve project tracking, progress reporting, dashboards, and milestone status updates.
• Review expenditure tracking and implement corrective actions to mitigate risks.
• Monitor multiple ongoing projects and provide critical insights to project owners.
  
  

Interagency Liaison

• Coordinate and participate in off-site meetings and discussions relevant to project goals.
• Provide subject matter expertise on special cross-cutting and ad hoc projects.
• Build and support effective communication strategies for the Division and public presentations.
• Maintain coordination among research operations, program management, stakeholders, team members, and subcontractors.
  
  

Deliverables

• Status and summary reports to OSEP staff pertaining to innovation-focused prize competitions (e.g., NIA Startup Challenge), entrepreneurial development, and career development initiatives that enhance national competitiveness - Weekly
• Correspondence with prize competition and career development participants, including all relevant logistics - Weekly
• Continual tracking and project management of prize competitions and career development initiatives, including compiled reports detailing progress, action items, and next steps - Weekly
• Administrative tasks relevant to prize competitions, entrepreneurial development, and career development initiatives - Monthly