Tech Grove Project Manager

Central Florida Tech Grove:

The Central Florida Tech Grove is a nationally recognized hub for defense innovation, connecting the Department of War with industry, academia, and entrepreneurs. Located within Orlando’s world-class modeling and simulation ecosystem, Tech Grove accelerates technology transition through collaboration, challenge-based programs, and startup engagement. It serves as both a physical space and virtual platform for solving mission-critical defense challenges. Tech Grove plays a key role in expanding the defense industrial base and driving applied research with real-world impact. UCF’s leadership of Tech Grove helps advance national security, innovation, and regional economic growth.

For more information, visit the Central Florida Tech Grove website .

The Opportunity:

Join the team behind one of the nation's premier defense innovation hubs. As a Project Manager II with Central Florida Tech Grove, you'll lead high-impact projects that bring together government, industry, academia, and entrepreneurs to solve real-world challenges, accelerate emerging technologies, and strengthen national security. This is a unique opportunity to help transform innovative ideas into mission-driven solutions with national significance.

Classification Title: Administrative Project Manager II

Responsibilities:

Project Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Lead assigned projects and initiatives involving internal and external stakeholders, including UCF, Tech Grove, government agencies, industry, universities, non-profits, and entrepreneurs.

• Identify, define, and maintain relationships with key project stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Establish and maintain clear, consistent communication channels throughout the project lifecycle.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned projects and facilitate effective coordination among stakeholders.

• Proactively identify stakeholder needs, concerns, dependencies, and potential conflicts and develop strategies to address them.

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with government customers, sponsors, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders.

• Provide regular project updates, briefings, and recommendations to Tech Grove Management and other senior stakeholders.

Project Scope and Objectives Definition

• Lead the development, documentation, and ongoing management of project scope, objectives, milestones, deliverables, and success criteria.

• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate strategic priorities and customer requirements into actionable project plans.

• Ensure project activities remain aligned with approved objectives, requirements, contracts, and stakeholder expectations.

• Identify and manage scope changes, dependencies, and competing priorities.

• Evaluate proposed changes and coordinate appropriate approvals before implementing adjustments to project scope, schedule, resources, or deliverables.

• Maintain focus on project outcomes while minimizing unnecessary scope variance.

Project Planning and Resource Management

• Develop comprehensive project plans identifying required personnel, resources, facilities, technology, vendors, and other requirements.

• Independently coordinate and manage resources necessary to achieve project objectives.

• Monitor resource utilization throughout the project lifecycle and make recommendations to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.

• Identify resource constraints, conflicts, and obstacles and develop solutions within established authority.

• Escalate issues requiring management decisions with appropriate analysis and recommended courses of action.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams and ensure resources remain aligned with project priorities.

• Maintain accountability for project execution and keep project teams focused on approved objectives.

Project Schedule Development and Management

• Develop, maintain, and manage detailed project schedules that identify tasks, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, and deadlines.

• Establish realistic timelines in coordination with project stakeholders and team members.

• Monitor project progress and proactively identify schedule risks, delays, and dependencies.

• Develop and implement recovery strategies when project milestones are at risk.

• Communicate schedule variances and recommended corrective actions to Tech Grove Management in a timely manner.

• Ensure project teams remain accountable for assigned tasks and deliverables.

• Maintain minimal variance from approved project objectives, milestones, and deadlines.

Risk, Issue, and Change Management

• Proactively identify, assess, document, and manage project risks throughout the project lifecycle.

• Develop mitigation and contingency strategies for identified risks.

• Maintain visibility of project issues, dependencies, decisions, and action items.

• Facilitate resolution of project issues and escalate significant risks or decisions to Tech Grove Management as appropriate.

• Evaluate the potential impact of proposed changes to project scope, schedule, resources, budget, and deliverables.

• Maintain appropriate documentation of project decisions, approvals, and changes.

Social Media and Email Campaign Management

• Develop and maintain social media content for LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and other applicable platforms to promote Tech Grove projects, programs, events, and initiatives.

• Coordinate project-related social media campaigns and ensure consistent messaging and engagement.

• Obtain required Tech Grove Management and Government Public Affairs Office (PAO) approvals for applicable content.

• Develop and execute project-related email campaigns using HubSpot, ensuring timely and relevant communications with customers, partners, and stakeholders.

• Analyze social media and email campaign performance and provide recommendations to improve outreach, engagement, and stakeholder participation.

• Coordinate communications activities with broader project objectives and organizational priorities.

Project Team Leadership and Vendor Management

• Lead and coordinate project teams, ensuring team members understand project objectives, responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables.

• Provide direction and coordination to project staff, facilitators, contractors, vendors, and other project resources as assigned.

• Establish accountability mechanisms to monitor completion of assigned responsibilities.

• Coordinate with external vendors, suppliers, subcontractors, and service providers to ensure contractual deliverables and performance expectations are met.

• Monitor vendor performance, schedules, deliverables, and potential issues.

• Identify obstacles to project execution and develop recommendations for strategic solutions.

• Coordinate approved solutions and corrective actions to maintain project progress.

Project Documentation, Reporting, and Performance Management

• Maintain comprehensive and accurate project documentation throughout the project lifecycle.

• Develop project status reports, executive briefings, dashboards, presentations, and other project communications as required.

• Track project performance against established objectives, milestones, budgets, and key performance indicators.

• Develop and maintain project metrics and performance measures to assess progress and outcomes.

• Prepare information and recommendations for leadership decision-making.

• Ensure project records and documentation are maintained in accordance with applicable UCF, contractual, and government requirements.

Project Closure and Continuous Improvement

• Lead project closeout activities and ensure all project objectives, deliverables, contractual requirements, and stakeholder expectations have been addressed.

• Review project outcomes with Tech Grove Management and key stakeholders.

• Complete all required organizational, contractual, financial, and project documentation.

• Conduct post-project rev