Tech Grove Project Manager

Central Florida Tech Grove: The Central Florida Tech Grove is a nationally recognized hub for defense innovation, connecting the Department of War with industry, academia, and entrepreneurs. Located within Orlando’s world-class modeling and simulation ecosystem, Tech Grove accelerates technology transition through collaboration, challenge-based programs, and startup engagement. It serves as both a physical space and virtual platform for solving mission-critical defense challenges. Tech Grove plays a key role in expanding the defense industrial base and driving applied research with real-world impact. UCF’s leadership of Tech Grove helps advance national security, innovation, and regional economic growth. For more information, visit the Central Florida Tech Grove website . The Opportunity: Join the team behind one of the nation's premier defense innovation hubs. As a Project Manager II with Central Florida Tech Grove, you'll lead high-impact projects that bring together government, industry, academia, and entrepreneurs to solve real-world challenges, accelerate emerging technologies, and strengthen national security. This is a unique opportunity to help transform innovative ideas into mission-driven solutions with national significance. Classification Title: Administrative Project Manager II Responsibilities: Project Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead assigned projects and initiatives involving internal and external stakeholders, including UCF, Tech Grove, government agencies, industry, universities, non-profits, and entrepreneurs.
• Identify, define, and maintain relationships with key project stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Establish and maintain clear, consistent communication channels throughout the project lifecycle.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned projects and facilitate effective coordination among stakeholders.
• Proactively identify stakeholder needs, concerns, dependencies, and potential conflicts and develop strategies to address them.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with government customers, sponsors, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Provide regular project updates, briefings, and recommendations to Tech Grove Management and other senior stakeholders. Project Scope and Objectives Definition
• Lead the development, documentation, and ongoing management of project scope, objectives, milestones, deliverables, and success criteria.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate strategic priorities and customer requirements into actionable project plans.
• Ensure project activities remain aligned with approved objectives, requirements, contracts, and stakeholder expectations.
• Identify and manage scope changes, dependencies, and competing priorities.
• Evaluate proposed changes and coordinate appropriate approvals before implementing adjustments to project scope, schedule, resources, or deliverables.
• Maintain focus on project outcomes while minimizing unnecessary scope variance. Project Planning and Resource Management
• Develop comprehensive project plans identifying required personnel, resources, facilities, technology, vendors, and other requirements.
• Independently coordinate and manage resources necessary to achieve project objectives.
• Monitor resource utilization throughout the project lifecycle and make recommendations to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Identify resource constraints, conflicts, and obstacles and develop solutions within established authority.
• Escalate issues requiring management decisions with appropriate analysis and recommended courses of action.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and ensure resources remain aligned with project priorities.
• Maintain accountability for project execution and keep project teams focused on approved objectives. Project Schedule Development and Management
• Develop, maintain, and manage detailed project schedules that identify tasks, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, and deadlines.
• Establish realistic timelines in coordination with project stakeholders and team members.
• Monitor project progress and proactively identify schedule risks, delays, and dependencies.
• Develop and implement recovery strategies when project milestones are at risk.
• Communicate schedule variances and recommended corrective actions to Tech Grove Management in a timely manner.
• Ensure project teams remain accountable for assigned tasks and deliverables.
• Maintain minimal variance from approved project objectives, milestones, and deadlines. Risk, Issue, and Change Management
• Proactively identify, assess, document, and manage project risks throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop mitigation and contingency strategies for identified risks.
• Maintain visibility of project issues, dependencies, decisions, and action items.
• Facilitate resolution of project issues and escalate significant risks or decisions to Tech Grove Management as appropriate.
• Evaluate the potential impact of proposed changes to project scope, schedule, resources, budget, and deliverables.
• Maintain appropriate documentation of project decisions, approvals, and changes. Social Media and Email Campaign Management
• Develop and maintain social media content for LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and other applicable platforms to promote Tech Grove projects, programs, events, and initiatives.
• Coordinate project-related social media campaigns and ensure consistent messaging and engagement.
• Obtain required Tech Grove Management and Government Public Affairs Office (PAO) approvals for applicable content.
• Develop and execute project-related email campaigns using HubSpot, ensuring timely and relevant communications with customers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Analyze social media and email campaign performance and provide recommendations to improve outreach, engagement, and stakeholder participation.
• Coordinate communications activities with broader project objectives and organizational priorities. Project Team Leadership and Vendor Management
• Lead and coordinate project teams, ensuring team members understand project objectives, responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables.
• Provide direction and coordination to project staff, facilitators, contractors, vendors, and other project resources as assigned.
• Establish accountability mechanisms to monitor completion of assigned responsibilities.
• Coordinate with external vendors, suppliers, subcontractors, and service providers to ensure contractual deliverables and performance expectations are met.
• Monitor vendor performance, schedules, deliverables, and potential issues.
• Identify obstacles to project execution and develop recommendations for strategic solutions.
• Coordinate approved solutions and corrective actions to maintain project progress. Project Documentation, Reporting, and Performance Management
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate project documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop project status reports, executive briefings, dashboards, presentations, and other project communications as required.
• Track project performance against established objectives, milestones, budgets, and key performance indicators.
• Develop and maintain project metrics and performance measures to assess progress and outcomes.
• Prepare information and recommendations for leadership decision-making.
• Ensure project records and documentation are maintained in accordance with applicable UCF, contractual, and government requirements. Project Closure and Continuous Improvement
• Lead project closeout activities and ensure all project objectives, deliverables, contractual requirements, and stakeholder expectations have been addressed.
• Review project outcomes with Tech Grove Management and key stakeholders.
• Complete all required organizational, contractual, financial, and project documentation.
• Conduct post-project reviews and develop lessons learned.
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