Project Manager – Human-Centered Transportation (HCT@CU)

Position Details

University of Colorado | Denver

Faculty Level/Title: Professional Research Assistant

Working Title: Project Manager – Human-Centered Transportation (HCT@CU)

FTE: Full-time

Salary Range: $48,410.00 - $65,250.00

Position #00846540 – Requisition #39606

About the University of Colorado Denver

Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We're the state's premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state's largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $665 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.

Job Description

The Professional Research Assistant (PRA) serves as the project manager for the Human-Centered Transportation at CU Denver (HCT@CU) initiative. This position provides research coordination, project management, and operational support for a portfolio of interdisciplinary, externally engaged research projects. The PRA collaborates with the Principal Investigator (PI), Co-PIs, and senior personnel to manage multiple concurrent projects involving municipal, regional, and national partners. Responsibilities include coordinating project activities, overseeing data acquisition, IRB applications, and other regulatory compliance, supervising student researchers, and supporting research development and external funding efforts.

Project Manager – Human-Centered Transportation (HCT@CU)

What you will do:

Project Management and Coordination – 35%

• Manage multiple concurrent research projects, including timelines, deliverables, and coordination across faculty, staff, student employees, and external partners.
• Serve as primary point of contact for partner-driven research requests.
• Coordinate meetings, track progress, and ensure timely completion of project deliverables.

Research Support and Execution – 20%

• Contribute to research activities including study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Support preparation of reports, publications, and presentations.

Data Management, Reporting, and Communications – 20%

• Develop and maintain project datasets, documentation, and reporting systems.
• Prepare and coordinate project reports, briefs, and other deliverables for sponsors and partners.
• Ensure data quality, consistency, and compliance with sponsor requirements.
• Support dissemination of research findings through written materials, HCT@CU website and social media content, and other communication channels.

Supervision of Student Researchers – 10%

• Supervise and coordinate the work of a Graduate Research Assistant and undergraduate student researcher.
• Provide guidance on project tasks and professional development.

External Engagement and Partnerships – 10%

• Support collaboration with external partners, including participation in meetings and coordination of joint activities.
• Assist in maintaining and expanding research partnerships.

Grant Development and Strategic Support – 5%

• Assist with preparation of proposals and supporting materials for external funding.
• Contribute to development of preliminary results and research materials for future submissions.

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

• Doctoral degree (PhD) in Civil Engineering, Urban Planning, Transportation, Public Health, Data Science, or a closely related field.
• Experience managing research projects or complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Experience coordinating work across interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience working with external partners such as public agencies or community organizations.
• Experience with data management, analysis, or visualization.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience with externally funded research (e.g., NSF, USDOT, NIH, or similar).
• Experience contributing to grant or proposal development.
• Familiarity with transportation data, GIS, Python, R, and related analytical tools.
• Experience supervising or mentoring students or research staff.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Conditions of Employment

• Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends may be required.
• This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. Working from the office is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements

• This position may be performed on site, and will require the ability to sit for extended periods, stand and walk occasionally, reach with hands and arms, use hands to manipulate a keyboard and mouse, and have good near vision for computer work; often requiring minimal lifting, but may involve bending or reaching to retrieve items from shelves or drawers.
• This position may be performed in a hybrid environment, requiring the ability to work effectively in a remote setting. This includes maintaining a dedicated workspace free of excessive noise or distractions, reliable internet connectivity, and the ability to participate in virtual meetings for extended periods. Employees must be able to independently manage time, remain stationary for prolonged computer-based work, and transport necessary equipment (such as a laptop and peripherals).