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 reviews and develop lessons learned.
• •Identif