How to Apply
A cover letter and resume are important submissions for the hiring team to get a sense of your experience. In the cover letter, in two pages or less, please let us know how this role aligns with your career aspirations and skill set. Submit both a cover letter and resume as one file (because of system limitations).
What You'll Do
The Center for Academic Innovation at the University of Michigan seeks a Research and Analytics Portfolio Manager to support the work of a diverse portfolio of research and data projects that advance our mission of educational innovation. Our research team partners with CAI colleagues across domains who design 10 educational technology products and hundreds of online learning experiences used by learners in Ann Arbor and around the world. You will collaborate with educational researchers, user experience and learning experience designers, software developers and program managers, marketing and operational professionals, faculty, students, and other partners. In this pivotal role, you will help to ensure alignment between project execution and organizational objectives by managing cross-disciplinary collaborations and fostering partnerships with both internal teams and external stakeholders.
Ideal candidates are experienced contributors to research projects who excel in both flexible project management and service-oriented partner management. The Research and Analytics Portfolio Manager will report to the Director of Research and Analytics and serve as a key liaison between academic and operational teams to ensure the success of our initiatives.
Who We Are
About the Center for Academic Innovation
Through curricular innovation, tools for student success and equity, and educational research and analytics, the University of Michigan Center for Academic Innovation is building the future of education. Our vision is a future in which education connects and empowers learners everywhere to reach their full potential throughout their lives. To realize our vision, we make it our mission to collaborate across campus and around the world to create equitable, lifelong educational opportunities for learners everywhere.
About the Research and Analytics Team
The Research & Analytics team at the Center for Academic Innovation is responsible for designing and executing research initiatives to advance educational innovation. The team supports the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of programs and technologies that enhance learning outcomes at U-M and around the world. Collaborating with faculty, researchers, and external partners, the team engages in interdisciplinary research to address emerging challenges in education. Through rigorous analysis, strategic planning, and the dissemination of impactful findings, the Research & Analytics team plays a pivotal role in shaping the Center's approach to educational innovation and transformation.
For more information, please visit our website: Academic Innovation.
Responsibilities*
Strategic Portfolio Management:
- Maintain a comprehensive overview of the research and analytics project pipeline.
- Serve as a primary contact for project updates, reporting, and stakeholder communications.
- Consult with current and potential partners to identify project interests and needs
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnership Building:
- Act as a relationship manager for cross-institutional partners, fostering long-term collaborations.
- Consult with stakeholders to identify and define project needs and goals.
- Represent the Research & Analytics team in cross-functional meetings with internal teams, including marketing, online learning, and educational technology.
Project Coordination & Support:
- Facilitate project proposal reviews, assessments, and recommendations.
- Facilitate project kick-offs, establishing clear timelines, deliverables, and expectations with teams.
- Help to identify and pursue grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and secure funding from diverse sources, including government agencies, foundations, and industry partners.
- Develop and maintain resources, guidelines, and best practices for faculty and researchers partnering with us to conduct educational studies.
- Coordinate complex scheduling between multiple stakeholders, including high-level executives, internal teams, and external partners
Operational Leadership:
- Oversee budget management processes for the Research & Analytics team.
- Identify and address operational challenges, proposing solutions to optimize project outcomes - recent examples include determining how to approach a large-scale Google Drive migration, how to adopt a new project tracking and management system, and coordinating 30+ staff taking steps to renew their data access documentation
- Be an advocate helping connect feedback from stakeholders to process and product improvements across the portfolio.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience managing complex research or data projects, preferably in a higher education setting.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously.
- Experience working collaboratively in interdisciplinary or cross-functional teams.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
- Experience with educational research environments.
- Knowledge of educational research methodologies and data-driven decision-making practices.
- Previous experience in managing stakeholder relationships
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
Salary Information
The general salary range for this position is $78,000 - $86,000. Candidates can expect to be paid a competitive and equitable salary. Factors used to determine salary include education level, experience, knowledge and skills for the position and internal equity within the unit. All candidates are encouraged to discuss salary questions to honor alignment and transparency throughout the recruiting process.
Please Note: This is a 5-year term-limited position with the possibility of renewal depending on funding.
Must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
The mode of work for this position is Hybrid. The work requirements for this position allow both onsite and offsite work and you will have an expected regular and recurring onsite presence. On occasion, you may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by our center's policy and domain leadership or by your job requirements.
Excellent benefits are available, for details, see http://benefits.umich.edu/
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Center for Academic Innovation (CAI) is committed to inclusion in our organizational work, culture, climate, and the products we create. We strive to recruit, develop, and retain a diverse team as a reflection of our commitment to our work designing equitable and inclusive learning and work environments that are necessary for the university community to make progress on solving societal challenges. CAI draws on each of our team member's unique backgrounds and experiences to guide our everyday work in the center, and our team collaborates with students, staff, and faculty on projects that center our commitment to DEIJ work. All interested applicants, including those from groups historically marginalized by educational privilege, are encouraged to apply.
Organizational Statement on Harassment
We believe all individuals deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and have the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes mutual respect and a safe space for collaboration. Any concerns shared with Individuals with Reporting Obligations in the Center for Academic Innovation will be reported to the Equity, Civil Rights, & Title IX Office to be reviewed and addressed, and the Center for Academic Innovation encourages reporting of any forms of harassment including sexual and gender-based harassment.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
Decision Making Process
Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.