Project Assistant

Job Description

Support VTTI’s research programs by providing project coordination and research assistance on multiple projects spanning a range of complexities and performance period durations. Working under the supervision of project managers, this position supports day-to-day coordination, communication, documentation, scheduling, budgeting, data gathering, data reduction and analysis, and follow-up activities. The position will primarily provide project coordination and administrative support, with a secondary focus on research, information gathering, and basic analysis.

The ideal candidate has good communication skills and is organized, detail-oriented, curious, and comfortable managing multiple priorities. The Project Assistant will have opportunities to develop foundational project management skills while contributing to research, analysis, and preparation of materials that support project planning and decision-making. You will be working on the latest vehicle technologies and other areas of transportation policy and technology to improve convenience and safety for drivers around the world.

Must have a driver's license check and a criminal conviction check. Must be willing to work some nights and weekends. Must be willing to travel sporadically. The average schedule will be 30 hours per week, with flexibility to increase up to 40 hours during high-volume periods. Hours will be adjusted accordingly during slower periods to maintain an average of 30 hours per week.

Tasks will include:

• Assist project managers and project teams with the coordination and execution of assigned projects and initiatives.
• Assist in tracking and maintaining project schedules, task lists, action items, and status updates.
• Monitor project expenditures, resources, timeline, and contractual obligations to assist leadership with delivering projects on time and on budget.
• Complete day-to-day fiscal activities such as personnel labor allocations, procurement activities, and monthly expenditure reviews.
• Organize and attend project meetings, prepare meeting notes and action-item summaries.
• Support multimodal communication and coordination among project team members and stakeholders.
• Document, organize, and disseminate project records, communications, and milestones.
• Assist with preparing reports, presentations, spreadsheets, proposals, and other project materials.
• Identify routine issues, missing information, or potential delays and bring them to the attention of the project manager or appropriate staff member.
• Interact with research faculty as it relates to project execution tasks, such as data collection, data reduction, and data analysis.
• Assist with research tasks as needed, including human subjects' coordination, preparing experimental settings, supporting data collection, maintaining records, supporting data quality assurance, and contributing to data reduction/analysis.
• At all times, adhere to applicable data security, confidentiality, and research compliance requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated project coordination experience in conducting projects in an academic or research environment
• Demonstrated experience with MS Office Software, including Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint
• Demonstrated ability to identify and apply practical solutions to routine challenges, communicate effectively, and work both independently and collaboratively

Demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple tasks and administrative duties

• Demonstrated evidence of effective documentation habits

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Business Management or related field.
• Internship, coursework, volunteer experience, or previous employment involving project coordination, research, program support, business operations, or administration.
• Experience with business-oriented software applications including Power BI, Power Apps, and Teams.
• Experience preparing professional reports, presentations, meeting materials, or summaries.
• Experience using spreadsheets to organize or analyze information.

Overtime Status

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

$22/hr - $26/hr; commensurate with experience

Hours per week

30

Review Date

11/16/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Natalie Jett at njett@vtti.vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.