Technical Program Manager
Job Summary
The SCI Institute
The SCI Institute is a world-class research institute located
within the new Warnock Engineering Building on the University of
Utah campus. We are a highly dynamic, driven group of over 170
faculty, staff, and students. The overarching goals of the SCI
Institute's scientific computing research are to create new
techniques, tools, and systems, by which scientists may solve
problems affecting various aspects of human life. We believe that
to advance the state-of-the-art and create meaningful computational
solutions for such complex systems, one needs to advance research
in a number of areas within scientific computing, including:
visualization, simulation, and modeling. The SCI Institute presents
a highly challenging, collaborative work environment that can be
deeply rewarding for the right individual. Further information is
available at
http://www.sci.utah.edu/.
The Technical Program Manager III/IV provides leadership and
strategic oversight for large-scale, complex technical initiatives
supporting advanced research computing, artificial intelligence,
data science, cyberinfrastructure, and digital transformation
efforts. This position is responsible for managing the full
lifecycle of technical programs from concept development through
deployment and ongoing operations, ensuring successful delivery of
program objectives, stakeholder outcomes, and organizational
priorities.
The incumbent serves as a key liaison between technical teams,
researchers, university leadership, government agencies, industry
collaborators, and external partners, translating strategic
objectives into actionable plans and measurable outcomes. The
position oversees multiple concurrent projects involving software
development, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence,
advanced computing, privacy-enhancing technologies, and research
data platforms. Key programs include the NSF-funded SAFE-AI
(Sandbox for Accelerated Feedback and Experimentation for AI
Innovation), National Data Platform (NDP), and PARAPET (Prototype
Architecture for Research Advances using Privacy Enhancing
Technologies) initiatives.
The Technical Program Manager III operates with a high degree of
independence, leading complex projects, coordinating
multidisciplinary teams, managing program risks, and driving
successful execution across organizational boundaries. The
Technical Program Manager IV serves as a recognized subject matter
expert and senior strategic leader responsible for directing highly
complex, multi-institutional programs, influencing organizational
priorities, and guiding the successful delivery of mission-critical
initiatives with national impact.
Learn more about the great benefits of working for
University of Utah: benefits.utah.edu
The department may choose to hire at any of the below job
levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and
budget.
Responsibilities
Program Leadership and Strategic Execution
- Lead and oversee the planning, execution, delivery, and
operational transition of multiple complex technical programs and
projects.
Develop program strategies, roadmaps, milestones, and
performance metrics that align with the projects, sponsor, and
stakeholder objectives.
Ensure successful execution of large-scale initiatives
supporting artificial intelligence, advanced cyberinfrastructure,
research computing, cloud platforms, data ecosystems, and emerging
technologies.
Coordinate program activities across multiple institutions,
departments, technical teams, and external partners.
Drive strategic alignment between technical deliverables,
research goals, funding requirements, and organizational
priorities.
Monitor program performance and implement corrective actions to
ensure project success.
Project and Portfolio Management
- Manage project portfolios consisting of interconnected
technical initiatives with significant organizational and external
stakeholder impact.
- Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, resource
plans, dependencies, and risk management strategies.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate technical, operational,
financial, and organizational risks.
- Manage project escalations and facilitate timely
decision-making among stakeholders.
- Track progress against milestones and deliverables while
ensuring adherence to program objectives and sponsor
requirements.
- Establish governance processes and reporting mechanisms for
complex initiatives.
Technical Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
- Facilitate communication and collaboration between technical
and non-technical stakeholders.
- Translate complex technical concepts into actionable
information for executives, sponsors, researchers, and program
participants.
- Lead technical planning, requirements gathering, architecture
discussions, and solution development activities.
- Coordinate efforts among software engineers, cloud architects,
data scientists, cybersecurity specialists, researchers, and
operational teams.
- Build and maintain relationships with funding agencies,
industry partners, academic collaborators, and institutional
leadership.
- Represent programs in meetings, workshops, conferences, and
sponsor engagements.
Oversight of Strategic Research Initiatives
- Provide program oversight for SAFE-AI, ensuring alignment of AI
innovation, governance, regulatory compliance, industry
partnerships, and cloud-based experimentation environments.
- Coordinate implementation activities for the NDP, supporting
federated data ecosystems, AI-enabled scientific workflows,
distributed computing resources, and data integration
services.
- Direct program management activities for PARAPET, supporting
deployment and evaluation of privacy-enhancing technologies
including federated learning, differential privacy, and homomorphic
encryption.
- Ensure successful coordination across participating
institutions, federal sponsors, private-sector collaborators, and
technical working groups.
- Support proposal development, project expansion opportunities,
and strategic growth initiatives.
Agile Delivery and Process Management
- Lead project execution using Agile, Scrum, hybrid, or
traditional project management methodologies as appropriate.
- Facilitate sprint planning, backlog management, retrospectives,
status reviews, and project governance activities.
- Implement project management best practices that improve
delivery efficiency, transparency, and accountability.
- Establish processes that support effective collaboration across
distributed and multidisciplinary teams.
- Promote continuous improvement and operational excellence
across programs.
Resource and Operational Management
- Coordinate staffing plans, resource allocation, workload
balancing, and contractor or vendor activities.
- Monitor project budgets and ensure effective utilization of
available resources.
- Support workforce development initiatives and mentorship
opportunities for project personnel.
- Develop operational plans supporting transitions from pilot
projects to production environments.
- Ensure compliance with institutional, sponsor, security,
privacy, and regulatory requirements.
Additional Responsibilities for Technical Program Manager
IV
- Provide strategic leadership for highly visible,
multi-million-dollar, multi-institutional research and technology
initiatives.
- Influence organizational strategy, investment priorities, and
long-term technology planning.
- Establish program governance frameworks and organizational
standards for complex technical initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education
can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience
(Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work
experience).
Department may hire employee at one of the
following job levels:
Technical Program Manager, III: Requires a
bachelor's (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master's (or
equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.
Experience
- Experience coordinating software development, cloud
infrastructure, research computing, data platform, or
technology-focused initiatives.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and
delivering complex technical projects.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong knowledge of project and program management principles,
methodologies, and best practices.
- Experience managing large, complex technical projects involving
diverse stakeholders and competing priorities.
- Familiarity with software development lifecycles, cloud
technologies, data platforms, cybersecurity, and modern technology
environments.
- Experience using project management and collaboration tools
such as Jira, Azure DevOps, Microsoft Project, Asana, Smartsheet,
or similar platforms.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving
skills.
- Ability to manage risk, resolve conflicts, and drive consensus
among stakeholders.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to independently manage complex work with minimal
supervision.
- Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams and
coordinating across organizational boundaries.
Technical Program Manager, IV: Requires a
bachelor's (or equivalency) + 8 years or a master's (or
equivalency) + 6 years of directly related work experience.
Experience
- Significant experience leading enterprise, research, cloud,
data, AI, or cyberinfrastructure initiatives involving multiple
organizations and stakeholder groups.
- Demonstrated success overseeing highly complex programs with
substantial budgetary, operational, and strategic impact.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Advanced knowledge of technical program and portfolio
management practices. Demonstrated expertise managing complex
technology programs involving software engineering, cloud
infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data management, or
research computing environments.
- Proven ability to lead large, multi-institutional initiatives
involving federal sponsors, industry partners, and academic
collaborators.
- Exceptional stakeholder management, negotiation, facilitation,
and leadership skills.
- Ability to develop and execute strategic plans that align
technical initiatives with organizational objectives.
- Advanced understanding of risk management, governance,
compliance, and organizational change management.
- Demonstrated ability to influence executive-level decisions and
organizational direction.
- Ability to operate independently with extensive latitude for
judgment and decision-making.
- Recognized expertise in managing highly complex technical
programs and organizational initiatives.
Preferences
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Computer
Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Public Administration,
Project Management, or a related discipline.
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management
Professional (PgMP), Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP),
Certified Scrum Master (CSM), SAFe, or comparable
certification.
- Experience managing NSF, NIH, DOE, DoD, or other federally
funded research programs.
- Experience overseeing artificial intelligence, machine
learning, generative AI, or advanced data science initiatives.
- Experience supporting cloud computing, cyberinfrastructure,
high-performance computing (HPC), or distributed data ecosystem
projects.
- Experience managing technology initiatives involving
privacy-enhancing technologies, cybersecurity, regulated data, or
compliance-driven environments.
- Experience collaborating with academia, government agencies,
national laboratories, and industry partners.
- Experience managing large-scale research collaborations
spanning multiple institutions and disciplines.
- Demonstrated success leading strategic initiatives from concept
through operational deployment.
- Experience developing governance frameworks, strategic
roadmaps, and organizational transformation programs.
Special Instructions
Requisition Number: PRN46145B
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time
Work Schedule Summary: | Monday – Friday 8am-5pm
Department: 00810 - Scient Comp & Imag Instit-Oper
Location: Campus
Pay Rate Range: Tech Program Manager III- $90,000 to
$118,000 Tech Program Manager IV- $105,000 to $128,000
Close Date: 11/05/2026
Open Until Filled:
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9806896"">https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/208919
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