Program Manager

Company Description

The University of Notre Dame is more than a workplace! We are a vibrant, mission-driven community where every employee is valued and supported. Rooted in a tradition of excellence and inspired by our Catholic character, Notre Dame is committed to fostering an environment of care that nurtures the whole person-mind, body, and spirit. Here, you will find a deep sense of belonging, a culture that prioritizes well-being, and the opportunity to grow your career while being a force for good in the world. Whether contributing to world-class research, shaping the student experience, or supporting the University's mission in other ways, you will be part of a dedicated team working to make a meaningful impact on campus and beyond. At Notre Dame, your work matters, and so do you!

Job Description

In partnership with Notre Dame's colleges and schools, the Just Transformations to Sustainability (JTS) Initiative advances a distinctive model of sustainability as flourishing, rooted in hope, justice, and community. By pursuing leading-edge research, holistic education, and equitable partnerships, the JTS Initiative seeks to catalyze transformative change towards a just and sustainable future. Our vision is grounded in the best available science and the foundational ideas of integral ecology.

The program manager will work with the JTS leadership team to grow a distinctive university-wide sustainability effort with the goal of making Notre Dame a preeminent locus of sustainability research, education, and action. The Initiative will spearhead collaborative research projects across Notre Dame's Schools, Colleges, Centers, and Institutes, and with external partner institutions and networks. Towards this goal, it will also coordinate the pursuit of large federal, foundational, and corporate research grants.

The program manager will support sustainability research at Notre Dame across the research lifecycle, including program design, proposal development, partnership cultivation, research implementation, and reporting, with an emphasis on academic and technical writing. The program manager will work with Notre Dame faculty to convert emerging research ideas and priorities into concept notes, white papers, and grant proposals. This work will include consistent and robust engagement with JTS networks and faculty-led working groups to advance high-impact research with the potential to scale across sectors and levels. This position will also work closely with Notre Dame's Corporate and Foundation Relations team.

The program manager will support Notre Dame faculty in translating research findings and journal publications into action-oriented deliverables targeting non-academic audiences, such as policymakers, practitioners, and community groups. Finally, the program manager will contribute to JTS strategic planning, supporting the development, refinement, and tracking of Initiative long-term goals and annual workplans. The program manager will report to the JTS Initiative Managing Director, providing strategic and operational support.

Key responsibilities include:

• Proposal Development and Writing: Lead and support proposal development for a range of projects targeting a diverse set of potential funding sources, including federal agencies, corporations, foundations, and private benefactors. Coordinate the development of concept notes, white papers, and full grant proposals, serving as a lead or supporting author on a case by case basis. This includes creating and leading the processes for project co-creation and design with internal and external collaborators.
• Managing JTS networks and recurring convenings intended to spur new research collaborations: Provide administrative and technical support to networks, working groups, and other faculty groups organized by JTS. Design, plan, and implement convenings of these groups that advance emerging research collaborations and translate new ideas into concrete proposals and action plans. This includes leading communications and planning for the Midwest Sustainability Platform for Research and Curricular Innovation and the JTS Initiative's annual Advancing Bold Ideas Workshop.
• Producing audience-specific outputs and deliverables: Work with Notre Dame faculty and their partners to develop action-oriented research products targeting policymakers, practitioners, and community groups. Help faculty engage non-academic partners throughout the research lifecycle, ensuring that research questions and outputs align with the needs and priorities of intended end-users and audiences.
• Supporting JTS Initiative Strategic Planning: Act as a thought partner to create and execute a strategic plan for the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative, supporting the development, refinement, and tracking of Initiative long-term goals and annual workplans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 5+ years experience in project management-related positions or equivalent training beyond the Bachelor's degree
• Demonstrated experience leading proposal development for diverse funding sources
• Exceptional writing skills, with demonstrated ability to produce clear, concise, and high-quality written content efficiently for both technical and non-technical audiences
• Demonstrated project management experience; experience working in a research organization, the non-profit sector, policy/government, or other related fields
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Collaborative work ethic and high degree of independence and initiative
• Trustworthiness and integrity in managing important relationships and confidential information
• Excellent project management skills, communication and coordination with partners, and ability to manage several complex tasks simultaneously

Additional Information

Compensation: Up to $90,000/year, commensurate with experience.

This position will close on April 14, 2026.

A resume and cover letter are required to be considered for this position.

For questions about this position, interested candidates may contact Kevin Fink at kfink2@nd.edu