Research Manager, Polaris Research Initiative Planning Grant

Title Research Manager Polaris Research Initiative Planning Grant Position Research Manager Polaris Research Initiative Planning Grant Department Continuing Education Polaris Full-time or Part -time FT Exempt One -Year Term Position Hours per week 35 Months per year 12 Salary Range 79000- 85000 commensurate with education experience and professional credentials Work Schedule Remote Hybrid PTS Office Hours Reports to Executive Director Polaris Young Adult Christian Leadership Initiative Submit application to recruit.polaris ptsem.edu Job Purpose The Polaris Young Adult Christian Leadership Initiative at Princeton Theological Seminary cultivates the faith flourishing and leadership formation of young adult Christian leaders across the United States while shaping the intellectual institutional and organizational landscape around young adult Christian faith formation and leadership development . The Research Manager is a one- year grant- funded position that operationalizes the Polaris Research Initiative Planning Grant working closely with the Polaris Senior Research team Research Scholar Polaris Executive Director and Associate Dean of Continuing Education to plan and execute the planning year and research proposal . This position manages invitations and logistics for a national network of scholars researchers and practitioners coordinates a January 2027 convening and design sprint organizes subsequent online sub -groups and coordinates the writing and editorial teams that will shape Polariss next major research initiative proposal. The Manager serves as an integral member of the research design and writing team. Reporting to the Executive Director this role is essential to maintaining momentum and coherence across a n interdisciplinary group of scholars practitioners and institutional stakeholders throughout the one-year planning grant period . Essential Functions Research Convening and Design Sprint Management - 30 of time •Manage invitations and attendance for the January 2027 research convening and design sprint coordinating with the Research Scholar and Polaris senior leadership to reach interdisciplinaryscholars researchers and practitioners across sociology of religion theology and practica ltheology anthropology psychology ethics and complementary fields.•Network and build rapport with research ers across disciplines on behalf of Polaris at Princet onSeminary.•Collaborate with the Events & Hospitality team to organize logistics for the four -day in -personconvening and design sprint in Princeton including travel lodging meeting space materials andon-site hospitality for a large and diverse group of invitees.•Prepare background materials documents and pre- convening resources that equip participants t oengage the convenings core questions.•Plan and host all research gatherings across the planning grant year both online and in -personextending invitations and managing logistics from the January design sprint through t hesubmission of the research grant proposal .•Coordinate the writing retreat and participate fully as a member of the writing team. Collaborat ewith internal and external editorial review teams to solicit and integrate feedback .•Manage deadlines and deliverables.Sub- Group and Research Partner Coordination - 25 of time •Organize and support the online sub -groups that begin during the January convening and continueafter ensuring selected Research Partners are equipped to facilitate their groups.•Ensure preliminary researchers and sub -groups have the resources scheduling support andfollow- up needed to complete their individual and shared tasks.•Support the planning years qualitative studies coordinating with the contracted research vendoron data capture and synthesis from the research convening and design sprint .•Serve as a primary point of contact for Research Partners the External Review Team and Desi gnSprint Convening participants throughout the planning grant.•Strengthen relationships for future collaboration in the Polaris Research Initiative.Writing and Editorial Team Coordination - 20 of time •Coordinate the Writing Team Research Scholar Associate Dean of Continuing EducationExecutive Director and Research Manager plus any additional honorarium -supported writer a sit drafts the full Polaris Research Initiative proposal tracking timelines and deliverables.•Serve as an active member of the Writing Team contributing to the drafting and shaping of t hefull research initiative proposal. Manage contributors and their deadlines.•Coordinate the Internal Editorial Team and liaise with the External Review Team to gather trackand integrate feedback on proposal draft s to ensure timely grant submission in fall 2027.•Support the research vendors synthesis of design sprint learnings into materials usable by t hewriting and editorial teams.Administrative and Grant Support - 15 of time •Track planning grant deliverables timelines and budget in coordination with the ExecutiveDirector and Continuing Education Business Manager.•Maintain accurate and organized records of participant communications convening materials andplanning grant documentation.•Draft planning grant progress updates narrative content and reports for the Executive Directorand funder reporting as requested.Institutional Collaboration - 5 of time •Connect with Princeton Seminary faculty and staff to cultivate buy -in and participation in theresearch design process .•Collaborate with Polaris core leadership to ensure the research initiative planning grant remainsintegrated with and informed by the broader Polaris Young Adult Christian Leadership Initiative.Qualifications and Skills •Masters degree in theology religious studies sociology of religion higher educationadministration or a related field required Doctorate in practical theology or similar preferred .•Minimum 5 years of experience in research administration program coordination projectmanagement or grant administration ideally in the context of theological education.•Demonstrated ability to coordinate complex multi -stakeholder projects involving numerousscholars practitioners and institutional partners on tight timelines.•Familiarity with the landscape of young adult Christian faith leadership formation andtheological education strongly preferred.•Experience supporting qualitative or mixed -methods research processes including work withexternal vendors or consultants.•Excellent organizational skills with superb attention to detail demonstrated ability to managedetailed logistics for numerous concurrent convenings and deadlines.•Excellent written and verbal communication skills including experience preparing backgroundmaterials briefing documents and reports for varied audiences.•Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and project management tools Monday Asana or similar experience with CRM systems Salesforce a plus.•Demonstrated commitment to diversity equity inclusion and belonging with experienceworking effectively across diverse racial ethnic denominational and disciplinary communities.•This position is remote but requires regular travel to for gatherings and writing projects asneeded.Other duties as assigned. Physical Environmental Demands Ability to be mobile with any needed accommodation. Works primarily in a remote office environment lifts up to 20 lbs. Remains in a stationary position approximately 50 of the time wrist and hand movement related to computer work. Position requires occa sional evening availability for online gatherings and travel to Princeton NJ for in -person convenings during the planning grant year. Prepared by Shari Oosting September 2026