Job Details

Technical Program Manager

Position Number: 9806893
Location: Salt Lake City, United States
Position Type: Computing - Management/Director

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 <a href=""https://apptrkr.com/9806893"">https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/208919