What is a Project Manager at University of Kentucky?

The Project Manager at the University of Kentucky serves as a vital bridge between institutional strategy and operational execution. Whether based within the UK HealthCare (UKHC) system, a specific academic college, or a central administrative unit, you are responsible for driving initiatives that directly impact the university’s mission of teaching, research, and service. This role is not merely about tracking timelines; it is about navigating the unique complexities of a major land-grant university to deliver results that improve student outcomes, advance medical research, or optimize clinical operations.

In this position, you will manage high-stakes projects that often involve diverse stakeholder groups, including Deans, faculty researchers, medical professionals, and students. The scale of work ranges from implementing enterprise-level IT systems to managing multi-million dollar research grants. Your ability to translate technical requirements into actionable plans and communicate effectively across hierarchical boundaries is what makes this role both challenging and deeply rewarding.

As a Project Manager, you represent the professional standard of UK. You will be expected to lead with a sense of ownership, ensuring that every project aligns with the university's strategic plan. The complexity of the environment—balancing academic freedom with administrative rigor—requires a professional who is resilient, adaptable, and highly skilled in the art of influence without direct authority.

Common Interview Questions

Interviewers at University of Kentucky focus on behavioral consistency and professional maturity. Expect questions that ask you to draw directly from your past experiences to demonstrate your competency.

Behavioral & Leadership

These questions test your ability to lead teams and manage professional relationships within the UK community.

• Describe a time you had to lead a team through a period of significant change.
• How do you handle a team member who is not meeting their project deliverables?
• Give an example of how you have built a relationship with a difficult stakeholder.
• How do you prioritize your work when you are managing multiple high-priority projects?
• Tell us about a time you had to deliver bad news to a senior leader or Dean.

Technical & Methodology

These questions assess your "toolbox" and how you apply project management principles to real-world tasks.

• Which project management methodology do you prefer, and why is it effective for the types of projects we have at UK?
• How do you define and track project success metrics?
• Describe your experience using tech and tools to maintain project transparency.
• How do you approach the initial discovery and requirement-gathering phase of a new project?
• What is your process for managing project budgets and preventing scope creep?

Research & Healthcare Specifics

If you are interviewing for a role within UKHC or a research-intensive college, expect questions tailored to those environments.

• Describe your experience working with grants and ensuring compliance with funding requirements.
• How do you manage projects in a clinical setting without disrupting patient care?
• What experience do you have working with collaborators from different academic disciplines?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparation for a Project Manager interview at the University of Kentucky requires a dual focus on technical proficiency and institutional awareness. You should approach your preparation by reflecting on your most significant professional challenges and successes, as the interviewers will look for evidence of your ability to navigate the nuances of a large, decentralized organization.

Role-related Knowledge – You must demonstrate a deep understanding of project management methodologies (such as Agile or Waterfall) and their application in a Higher Education or Healthcare setting. Interviewers evaluate your ability to select the right tools and frameworks for specific project types, particularly those involving research grants or IT infrastructure.

Stakeholder Management – At UK, success is built on collaboration. You will be assessed on how you manage relationships with collaborators, stakeholders, and senior leadership. Show that you can build consensus among groups with competing priorities and maintain transparency throughout the project lifecycle.

Problem-Solving and Resilience – The university environment often involves navigating ambiguity and administrative hurdles. Interviewers use scenario-based questions to see how you handle setbacks, resource constraints, or conflicting requirements. Focus on your methodology for resolving issues and your ability to remain productive under pressure.

Cultural Alignment – University of Kentucky values a "community-first" mindset. You should be prepared to discuss how your work style supports a diverse and inclusive environment. Demonstrating a commitment to the university’s core values—integrity, innovation, and excellence—is essential for a successful candidacy.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a Project Manager at the University of Kentucky is designed to be comprehensive and inclusive, reflecting the collaborative nature of the institution. You can expect a multi-phase evaluation that typically begins with a screening phase to assess your background and technical fit, followed by a more intensive series of interviews that may take place on-campus in Lexington.

For senior or specialized roles, such as an IT Project Manager Senior/UKHC, the process is rigorous and may involve meeting with a wide array of future colleagues, including supervisors, Deans, and even students. This "all-day" format is common for roles with high visibility, lasting approximately three to four hours. The university places a high premium on consensus-building, so your ability to engage with different audiences—from technical staff to executive leadership—is under constant observation.

The philosophy behind this process is to ensure not only that you have the skills to manage projects but also that you can thrive within the unique culture of UK. You will encounter a mix of behavioral assessments, technical deep dives into your previous experience with tools and tech, and significant time dedicated to scenario questions.

The visual timeline above outlines the typical progression from the initial application to the final offer. Candidates should use this to pace their preparation, focusing on high-level experience during the early phases and preparing detailed, scenario-based stories for the intensive on-campus or panel rounds.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Stakeholder & Collaborator Management

Managing projects at University of Kentucky requires navigating a complex web of internal and external partners. This area evaluates your ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups, from faculty and researchers to IT staff and healthcare administrators. Strong performance is defined by your ability to manage expectations and resolve conflicts without damaging long-term relationships.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict Resolution – Strategies for handling disagreements between stakeholders with different priorities.
• Communication Plans – How you tailor your messaging for different audiences (e.g., technical vs. executive).
• Influence – Methods for driving project progress when you do not have direct authority over team members.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Describe a time you had to manage a stakeholder who was resistant to a project change."
• "How do you ensure that all collaborators stay informed and engaged in a long-term initiative?"
• "Tell us about a project where you had to balance the needs of students, faculty, and administration."

Research and Grant Operations

For many Project Manager roles at UK, particularly those in academic departments, understanding the lifecycle of grants and research projects is critical. You will be evaluated on your familiarity with the administrative and regulatory requirements of funded research.

Be ready to go over:

• Grant Lifecycle – From proposal support to post-award management and reporting.
• Compliance – Ensuring projects meet university, state, and federal guidelines.
• Resource Allocation – Managing budgets and personnel within the constraints of specific funding sources.

Advanced concepts (less common):

• Federal Uniform Guidance for grants.
• IRB (Institutional Review Board) coordination.
• Intellectual property considerations in research projects.

Scenario-Based Problem Solving

The University of Kentucky heavily utilizes scenario-based interviewing to test your "real-world" judgment. You will be presented with hypothetical or past-tense challenges and asked to detail your response. Interviewers look for a structured approach: identifying the root cause, evaluating options, taking action, and reflecting on the outcome.

Be ready to go over:

• Issue Resolution – Your specific steps when a project goes off-track.
• Risk Mitigation – How you identify potential roadblocks before they become critical failures.
• Decision Making – The data or logic you use to make tough calls under pressure.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk us through a project that failed or faced a major setback. How did you handle it?"
• "What would you do if a key project resource was suddenly reassigned to another priority?"
• "Describe a situation where you had to make a quick decision with incomplete information."

Key Responsibilities

As a Project Manager, your primary responsibility is the successful delivery of projects within scope, on time, and within budget. At the University of Kentucky, this involves leading project teams through all phases of the project life cycle. You will act as the central point of contact, ensuring that project goals remain aligned with the university's broader strategic objectives.

You will spend a significant portion of your day facilitating meetings, drafting project documentation, and monitoring progress through various tech and tools. Collaboration is constant; you will work closely with IT engineers, clinical staff, or academic researchers to remove blockers and ensure that technical requirements are met. You are also responsible for financial oversight, which may include tracking expenditures against grant budgets or departmental allocations.

Beyond the administrative tasks, you are expected to be a strategic partner. This means identifying opportunities for process improvement and advocating for best practices in project management across the organization. Whether you are working on a new UKHC clinical application or a campus-wide infrastructure upgrade, your role is to ensure that the project delivers tangible value to the University of Kentucky community.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

To be competitive for a Project Manager position at UK, you must possess a blend of formal project management training and practical experience in complex environments.

• Technical skills – Proficiency in project management software (such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or Jira) is required. Familiarity with enterprise systems like SAP or healthcare-specific tools like Epic is often highly valued depending on the department.
• Experience level – Most roles require at least 3–5 years of professional project management experience. For Senior roles, 7+ years with a proven track record of managing large-scale, high-budget initiatives is expected.
• Soft skills – Exceptional verbal and written communication skills are non-negotiable. You must demonstrate high emotional intelligence and the ability to lead through persuasion and collaboration.

Must-have skills:

• Demonstrated experience in stakeholder management within a large organization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple, concurrent projects.

Nice-to-have skills:

• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
• Previous experience in Higher Education or a Level 1 Trauma Center/Academic Medical Center.
• Experience with grant-funded project environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the Project Manager interview at UK? The difficulty is generally rated as average to difficult, depending on the seniority of the role. The challenge lies in the volume of scenario questions and the need to appeal to diverse stakeholders during the panel interviews.

Q: What is the typical timeline from the first interview to an offer? The university process can be slower than the private sector due to committee-based hiring. It often takes several weeks to a few months from the initial screen to a final decision.

Q: What makes a candidate stand out at the University of Kentucky? Candidates who show a genuine passion for the university's mission and can demonstrate a history of resolving complex issues with a positive, collaborative attitude are most successful.

Q: Is there a specific format I should use for behavioral questions? Yes, it is highly recommended to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Ensure your "Action" section is detailed and your "Result" section includes quantifiable outcomes or lessons learned.

Other General Tips

• Prepare your stories: Before the interview, write down five or six "hero stories" of projects you led. Ensure these cover both positive outcomes and how you handled negative situations or failures.
• Research the specific department: University of Kentucky is a vast institution. A Project Manager in the College of Agriculture will have different daily realities than one in IT/UKHC. Tailor your questions to their specific environment.
• Understand the mission: Familiarize yourself with the UK Strategic Plan. Referencing how your project management style supports institutional goals like "Student Success" or "Research Impact" will resonate well with search committees.

• Focus on resolution: When discussing past issues or negative experiences, always conclude with how you resolved the problem and what you implemented to prevent it from happening again.
• Ask insightful questions: Prepare questions that show you are thinking about the long-term success of the role, such as "What does success look like for this position after one year?" or "How does this team handle cross-departmental bottlenecks?"

Summary & Next Steps

The Project Manager role at the University of Kentucky is a prestigious and impactful position that requires a unique blend of technical discipline and interpersonal savvy. By successfully navigating the interview process, you demonstrate that you have the resilience and strategic thinking necessary to advance the university's most critical initiatives. Whether you are streamlining UKHC operations or supporting groundbreaking research, your work will leave a lasting mark on the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

As you finalize your preparation, focus on refining your narrative around stakeholder collaboration and problem-solving. Review the specific requirements of the job posting and ensure your examples align with the technical and soft skills highlighted there. For more specific insights into the types of questions asked and to see how other candidates have fared, you can explore additional resources and data points on Dataford.

The salary range for a Senior IT Project Manager at UKHC typically spans from $71,323 to$131,685. This range reflects the high level of responsibility and expertise required for senior roles within the healthcare IT sector. When considering an offer, remember to account for the university's comprehensive benefits package, which is a significant component of the total compensation at University of Kentucky.