Job Description:Job Title: Sr. Strategic Project Manager
Office/Location: Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development/System Administration
Job Summary: The Office of Research is modernizing its technical infrastructure through the launch of NYS-funded research infrastructure including the SUNY AI Platform, SUNY Research Connect, and a Research Data Repository. Each of these research infrastructure elements are direct recommendations from the SUNY STRIVE Task Forces. Specifically, the SUNY AI Platform is designed to advance research, discovery, and innovation through the building of a safe, secure, SUNY-managed technology stack. The SUNY AI Platform expands beyond HPC access to include managed services and tools that democratize access to AI fulfilling SUNY's mission to advance AI for the public good.
The SUNY Research Foundation is seeking a highly driven and strategic Senior Project Manager to join the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development (ORIED) Data Strategy Unit and help direct the SUNY systemwide expansion of the SUNY AI Platform and other research infrastructure. Currently in its second year of development, the Patform is rapidly scaling from an initial 250+ users across 9 campuses to a comprehensive systemwide enterprise solution. The Senior Strategic Project Manager will serve as the primary operational leader for this initiative, responsible for driving the strategic growth of our AI infrastructure, ensuring robust financial and operational governance, and maximizing the value delivered to researchers across the SUNY system.
This position will complement our team of a Director, Associate Director, and Senior Data Strategist and will play a key role in supporting and building upon this transformative foundation. The Senior Strategic Research Project Manager may also collaborate with an AI Solutions Architect.
Job Duties: Strategic Leadership & Platform Expansion (35%):- Partner with the Director of Research Data Strategy to establish long-term roadmaps and prioritize technical deployments for the SUNY AI Platform and other research infrastructure.
- Direct the rollout of new, complex AI agentic workflows designed to automate administrative tasks and modernize research operations across the system.
- Serve as the primary liaison for cross-campus collaborations, managing high-profile, multi-campus research cohorts and designing shared technical environments.
Technical Leadership (25%):- Lead the technical design lifecycle via matrix management, translating complex academic and stakeholder use-cases into actionable deployment plans.
- Inform the work of the technical teams to shepherd projects from ideation to launch, proactively mitigating technical, operational, and financial risks.
- Manage relationships with technology vendors to direct service improvements, plan enterprise deployments, and ensure SUNY research infrastructure remains at the cutting edge of industry best practices.
Operational & Financial Governance (15%):- Oversee the comprehensive operational integrity of the platform. Provide solutions to operational or process issues
- Manage cloud computing budgets by closely monitoring Google Cloud Platform (GCP) consumption.
- Develop and present executive-level financial visibility reports and "Showback" dashboards to SUNY Central leadership and Campus CIOs, proactively identifying cost-saving measures and resource allocation strategies.
- Plan for and expand Showback to Chargeback models with appropriate system and campus partners.
Stakeholder Enablement & Impact Evaluation (25%):- Design and oversee comprehensive training and onboarding frameworks for a rapidly growing, diverse body of system-wide researchers.
- Develop and implement rigorous metrics for impact evaluation and Return on Investment (ROI) reporting.
- Gather, record, and share complex researcher use-cases into compelling marketing and communication materials for executive leadership and external stakeholders to drive platform adoption and showcase real-world impact.
- Work in a high-paced team environment with the ability to multitask when required based on project plan and business priorities
Requirements:Required Education/Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (social science, information science, computer science or related field)
- At least 5-7 years proven experience in project management, preferably in technology, grant administration, or research-focused environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Demonstrated experience managing projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities in a higher education setting
- Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with technical and non-technical teams to achieve project goals
Preferred Education/Qualifications:- Master's degree in a relevant field (public policy, information science, social science, computer science or related field)
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile (CSM), or equivalent professional certification
- Experience in higher education institutional and/or academic research environments
- 7+ years of senior-level project management experience crossing multiple organizations ideally, within a complex higher education, state, or academic research environment.
- Familiarity with AI, machine learning concepts, and cloud computing platforms (experience with administration work related to cloud computing, specifically Google Cloud Platform).
Compensation-$90,00 to $95,000 Additional Information:Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Application Instructions:Applicants interested in applying MUST submit the following documents:
1. Resume/Cv
2. Cover Letter
After submitting your resume/CV, the subsequent pages enable you to upload your cover letter and additional documents.
Returning Applicants - Login to your RF SUNY Careers Account to review your application.
