Position Summary 

This position exists to lead Project RAISE, a 5-year, $12-million federally funded initiative in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education to advance school-based mental health across Tennessee. This role manages all project phases, ensuring alignment with university, state, and federal goals, timely delivery, and budget compliance. The Senior Project Manager will work with faculty, staff, TDOE, and external partners to drive project outcomes, reporting directly to the Center’s leadership. This position exists to oversee, manage and accept full responsibility of the project to design and execute Project RAISE, to increase mental health outcomes in rural districts in Tennessee. This position will have strong skills in project management coupled with a background in large scale academic projects. Additionally, this position will step in as needed to fill in for the Associate Director. This position manages the project staff at the Center for Literacy, Education and Employment. This contract makes up a sizable part of the Center's funding. This position directly manages staff to carry out work of the contract and ensures that work is completed with highest quality. The position is responsible for hiring, providing guidance and direction for staff, evaluations and any necessary corrective action. On behalf of the Center for Literacy, Education and Employment, this position partners with entities external to the University to develop and facilitates the execution of this project including critical training and professional development for mental health mentors and supervisors. The position identifies possible work and funders, develops relationships, creates proposals, obtains contracts, and manages the work that supports or partially supports up to 5 employees plus temporary workers and others. This position represents the Center to external funders, Universities, and partners.