Project Manager I

About the job

The Project Manager is a professional-level position that provides operational, regulatory, and administrative leadership for a federally funded clinical research study under the direction of Principal Investigator (PI) Dr. Theresa Beckie. This soft-funded, five-year position is responsible for coordinating all aspects of study implementation, including participant recruitment and retention, regulatory compliance, protocol execution, staff supervision, data management, quality assurance, and inter-institutional collaboration.

The incumbent independently manages daily study operations, ensures adherence to federal regulations and institutional policies governing human subjects research, coordinates activities across multiple study sites, and serves as the primary operational liaison among investigators, research staff, study participants, collaborating institutions, and funding agencies. The position exercises considerable judgment in managing study activities, maintaining protocol fidelity, resolving operational issues, and ensuring the integrity and quality of research data.

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

This position is grant-funded and time-limited, with up to a 5-year contract.

Responsibilities

Study Management and Regulatory Oversight (40%)

Provides leadership and day-to-day operational management of a five-year federally funded clinical research study. Coordinates and monitors all study activities to ensure compliance with approved protocols, funding agency requirements, Good Clinical Practice standards, and institutional policies.

Plans, coordinates, and oversees participant recruitment, screening, enrollment, randomization, informed consent procedures, study visits, retention activities, and follow-up assessments.

Prepares, submits, and maintains regulatory documentation, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications, amendments, continuing reviews, adverse event reports, protocol deviations, and study correspondence. Serves as the primary contact for regulatory matters and ensures completion of all required regulatory reporting.

Monitors study progress and operational performance, identifies issues affecting study implementation, and develops corrective action plans to maintain compliance, participant safety, and study objectives.

Coordinates study meetings, tracks milestones and deliverables, and assists with budget monitoring and financial documentation to support effective study management.

Protocol Implementation, Data Management, and Quality Assurance (40%)

Directs implementation of study protocols and procedures across participating research sites to ensure standardization and consistency of study activities.

Coordinates procurement, inventory management, and distribution of study supplies, intervention materials, and equipment necessary for study implementation.

Oversees participant assessments, intervention delivery, and data collection activities. Ensures accurate, complete, and timely collection and management of research data in accordance with study protocols and federal requirements.

Maintains quality assurance and quality control procedures to safeguard data integrity and participant safety. Conducts ongoing review of study processes and recommends procedural improvements to enhance study efficiency and data quality.

Provides participant education and training regarding study procedures and the use of digital health technologies, including smartphone- and smartwatch-based applications utilized within the research protocol.

Prepares data safety monitoring reports and other required study documentation. Interprets and applies federal, state, institutional, and sponsor regulations governing human subjects research.

Coordinates study activities with investigators, research staff, and collaborating institutions to ensure successful implementation and achievement of study objectives.

Personnel Leadership and Supervision (15%)

Recruits, trains, supervises, and evaluates study personnel, including research nurses, health coaches, graduate student workers, research assistants, and study volunteers.

Develops and implements training programs to ensure consistent application of study protocols, participant safety procedures, regulatory requirements, and data collection methods across all study personnel and study sites.

Provides ongoing performance oversight and mentorship to study staff. Conducts quality assurance reviews and intervention fidelity assessments to ensure adherence to established protocols and standardized intervention delivery.

Coordinates activities among multiple study sites to ensure consistent implementation of research procedures and data collection practices.

Stakeholder Relations and Collaboration (4%)

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with investigators, collaborating institutions, university departments, community partners, research participants, and federal funding agencies.

Serves as a liaison among research stakeholders to facilitate communication, coordination of activities, and successful completion of project objectives.

Administrative Support (1%)

Performs administrative duties in support of study operations, including document preparation, electronic record maintenance, filing, copying, scanning, and other routine office functions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises research personnel, including:

• Research Nurse
• Health Coach
• Graduate Student Workers
• Research Assistants
• Study Volunteers

Responsibilities include hiring recommendations, onboarding, training, work assignment, performance monitoring, protocol oversight, and ongoing supervision of study-related activities

Qualifications

This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 2 years of project management or coordination experience; Some positions may require project management certification.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree. • Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S. • SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements • A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed: • (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree; • (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree; • (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree; • (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or • (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree • Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment. • Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Nursing, Public Health, Health Sciences, Exercise Science, Psychology, or a related health field.
• Experience coordinating federally funded clinical, behavioral, or translational research studies.
• Knowledge of human subjects research regulations, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and Institutional Review Board processes.
• Experience working with cardiovascular disease populations and women's health research.
• Experience managing research studies from initiation through closeout.
• Professional research certification (ACRP, SOCRA, or equivalent) preferred.
• Experience using electronic health records, REDCap, and electronic data capture systems.
• Demonstrated project management, organizational, leadership, and communication skills.

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.  This job description does not constitute an employment contract.

Additional Information

• Job Identification: 44556
• Job Category: Technology
• Posting Date: 2026-10-15
• Apply Before: 2026-10-29
• Locations: 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL, 33612, US
• Hiring Salary: $65,000-$75,000
• Essential Personnel: No