Program Manager - Research

The Gensler Research Institute supports research investigations important to our firm, our clients, and to the ongoing learning and development of Gensler professionals. We believe that design grounded in research results in high-performance solutions that enhance the human experience and deliver game-changing innovation.

­­­Your Role

The Gensler Research Institute (GRI) is seeking a Program Manager to manage the day-to-day operations of the Institute’s global grants program—a yearly recurring initiative supporting 50+ research teams working in Gensler offices around the globe—as well as the operations of the Institute’s team of researchers, writers, designers, and subject matter experts.

The Program Manager will work closely with the Director of Research, Director of Communications, and the Institute’s broad leadership team, to manage budgets, schedules, and resources to ensure quality and timely delivery of the Institute’s growing suite of publications and global initiatives.

What You Will Do

Grants Program Coordination

• Manage the annual cycle of the Global Grants Program, including the Call for Proposals process, organizing feedback, synthesizing results, and creating announcement materials.

• Track and maintain key milestones for 50+ active research projects—from initiation through publication and dissemination.

• Serve as the day-to-day point of contact for research team members globally, providing support and clarity around timelines, expectations, and deliverables.

• Lead scheduling, documentation, and follow-up for quarterly research check-in calls.

Project Management & Operations

• Maintain the Institute’s yearly research and publications calendar, collaborating with leadership to ensure alignment across priorities and deliverables.

• Build and manage project timelines, workback schedules, and task lists for major publications and initiatives, ensuring clear communication and accountability across stakeholders.

• Facilitate coordination between internal research teams, designers, writers, and external vendors to keep projects moving forward efficiently.

• Track budget allocations, invoice processing, and vendor agreements to support the delivery of GRI projects.

• Support the development and refinement of project management tools and systems to improve operational consistency.

Marketing & Communications Coordination

• Partner with the Institute’s Director of Communications and firmwide Marketing, PR and executive communications teams to plan and execute integrated campaigns for research publications.

• Help define deliverables, set deadlines, and communicate key milestones across teams to ensure timely launch of publications and related assets.

• Coordinate the flow of content and approvals between research leads, writers, designers, and project stakeholders.

• Track communications campaign progress, flag issues or delays, and help ensure alignment between messaging, timing, and strategic goals.

Library & Knowledge Management

• Manage and maintain the Institute’s SharePoint library, ensuring that all research content—including publications, learning webinars, and proposals—is current, accessible, and well-organized.

• Collaborate with the data team to optimize the structure and usability of both internal and external research libraries, including content on Gensler.com.

Research Project Support

• Provide operational support to global grant teams as needed, including timeline planning, document management, and milestone tracking.

• Assist teams in preparing deliverables and organizing materials for publication or internal review.

Your Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in project management, including the management of budgets, schedules, and people.

• Experience managing editorial teams and workflows, including freelancers and cross-functional contributors.

• Experience with content and project management software, including Sharepoint/Power Apps, Asana, etc.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written

• Passion for design, innovation, and communicating ideas that shape the built environment.

• Ability to work with global colleagues who come from a variety of different disciplines and backgrounds

• Must be collaborative, flexible, and team-oriented

Life at Gensler

As a people-first organization, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

**The compensation range in Washington, DC is estimated between $77k-$87k, plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on experience.

#LI-MR1