Location: Onsite at the USF Tampa Campus
Salary Range: $82,000 to $92,000
Primary Purpose: The Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce (FCBHW) was commissioned by the Florida Legislature through Senate Bill 330 (2024) "to support an adequate, highly skilled, resilient, and innovative workforce that meets the current and future human resources needs of the state’s behavioral health system in order to provide high-quality care, services, and supports to Floridians with, or at risk of developing, behavioral health conditions through original research, policy analysis, evaluation, and development and dissemination of best practices." FCBHW is proudly housed at the University of South Florida in the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences.
The Research Project Manager (RPM) is responsible for the overall management of FCBHW’s research and program evaluation portfolio, overseeing the entire lifecycle of multiple projects, from program initiation, including study design and IRB submission, to completion, including dissemination of project findings. This role ensures the successful execution of projects by coordinating project personnel, establishing and maintaining project timelines, and monitoring key activities, milestones, and deliverables. The RPM is accountable for managing schedules, tasks, and resources to ensure timely and high-quality completion of all assigned work, while maintaining compliance with project requirements, operational needs, reporting obligations, and contractual deliverables.
Nature of Work: This position reports to the FCBHW Director of Research and Dissemination. While not serving as the direct supervisor of assigned staff, the RPM provides functional oversight and direction for project team members whose time is allocated to specific initiatives. The RPM is responsible for developing and managing project plans, coordinating resources, and ensuring alignment with defined goals and objectives. Additionally, the RPM is expected to adhere to established timelines, reporting requirements, and deliverable schedules. This role works collaboratively with Center staff, faculty affiliates, academic institutions, community partners, and funding agencies to develop, implement, and disseminate research and evaluation deliverables. The RPM also supports coordination across projects to ensure consistency, efficiency, and alignment with FCBHW priorities.
The RPM is expected to interpret project documentation to develop and implement operational procedures, monitor and report on project status and resource utilization, and establish quality assurance standards. The role also supports the development of project-related policies and processes and serves as a primary liaison with regulatory entities, funding agencies, and key stakeholders. This role differs from a Clinical Research Administrator by its primary focus on project and resource management, as well as its responsibility for defining project-related policies, establishing project-related operational standards, and maintaining accountability for overall project performance and deliverables.
Primary Job Duties:
• Review grants and contracts to develop comprehensive project plans outlining resources, timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables.
• Support the development and refinement of research and evaluation designs and manage project schedules to ensure alignment with project aims, methodological rigor, and the timely completion of objectives and deliverables.
• Coordinate project teams in collaboration with the FCBHW Director of Research and Dissemination and Principal Investigator(s), aligning tasks with staff expertise, effort allocation, and project needs.
• Develop and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including academic, community, and funding partners, to support project success.
• Establish and maintain clear communication strategies to align leadership and stakeholders on project plans, monitor progress, and proactively identify and communicate risks, barriers, and resource needs.
• Apply project management tools and tracking systems to track project performance, timelines, and deliverables.
• Monitor project progress and adjust resources, priorities, and workflows to maintain momentum and meet deadlines.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks, and implement quality improvement strategies to enhance project efficiency and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, including IRB submissions, amendments, and human subjects’ protections, and maintain adherence to institutional and federal guidelines.
• Oversee data collection, management, and quality assurance processes, and coordinate with project teams to support rigorous qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Design and support implementation of integrated project solutions, including tools, reports, data collection systems, and related infrastructure.
• Analyze client and project needs to contribute to the development of operational policies, procedures, and training materials, including the documentation of best practices and standards.
• Establish and maintain operational standards, policies, and procedures to ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility of project information and outputs.
Required Education & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in an administrative, research, or related field.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of project management experience, including oversight of multiple concurrent research projects or programs.
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 Education & Experience:
• Master’s degree in research administration, Public Administration, or related field.
• Background in social science, behavioral health, and/or public health.
Working Conditions:
• Environment – Typical indoor environment/office setting.
• Physical Requirements – climbing, standing, stooping, and/or typing; Ability to lift up to 20lbs as needed.
• Travel – Ability to travel to other USF campuses and/or other locations as requested.
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.
