The Project Management Office’s (PMO) mission is to support the university’s scholars in successfully planning, executing, and managing sponsored funding.
Project Planning
PMO staff will provide full development and planning support for large, complex, translational projects in preparation for submission. We work closely with the project team, departmental staff, and other ORED offices with the goal of submitting the most competitive proposal possible. This allows the PMO to enhance the impact of the project proposal in accordance with proposal guidelines and sponsor goals by:
- Putting together the budget projections for justifying the resources that are needed to undertake the project.
- Preparing project execution/management plans by conducting scope, schedule, communication, and risk analysis.
- Planning best practices for procurement methods.
- Facilitating proposal timelines by managing logistics including liaising with ORED offices, the project team, stakeholders, and sponsors.
Project Management
Once a project is awarded, the PMO can hire, train, and develop project managers who are funded as direct costs on these projects. PMO project managers are continuously trained and developed in project management industry best practice standards. PMO oversight delivers project managers who will:
- Facilitate procurement contracts and agreements through proper university channels.
- Coordinate project reporting activities and communication with the sponsor and applicable ORED offices.
- Execute the communication plan, ensuring all stakeholders are constantly updated on the project status.
- Continuously monitor the project’s overall health and status through monthly detailed financial and schedule analysis.
- Ensure compliance with federal regulations and university, state, and sponsor policies.
- Disseminate project results in a highly impactful manner befitting the project scope. This can include coordinating outreach programs, online and digital media, and event planning.
- Assist in the final stages of closing the project and transitioning into sustainability.
Tools, Training, and Consultations
Promoting best practice standards, quality, and methodologies in project management and research administration by:
- Providing a repository of project management templates, tools, and sponsor guides.
- Developing project management competencies through training, workshops, and seminars.
- Support strategically identified active projects that request project management assistance to identify organizational gaps and impediments and putting them back on track through assessment, conceptualization of solutions, and implementation.
How to Get Started
To maximize the availability and level of services, reach out as early as possible. Contact the PMO directly at researchpmo@unl.edu. Please include any proposal or sponsor documentation, guidelines, or requirements as well as the submission deadline (if applicable) with your request.
