Project Manager, Strategic Collaborations

Role overview

The National Sleep Foundation is looking for a highly organized, proactive, and detail-focused Project Manager to coordinate strategic collaborations and funded initiatives. In this independent contractor role, you will act as the main day-to-day contact for external partners, helping projects move smoothly, deadlines stay on track, and communication remain clear and professional throughout each project lifecycle.

The organization works to improve health and well-being by advancing sleep research, education, and advocacy. In this position, you will help deliver project outcomes connected to research, education, communications, and thought leadership efforts.

What you will do

You will manage the operational flow of multiple projects, including building timelines, coordinating with stakeholders, monitoring deliverables, organizing meetings, tracking progress, and keeping partners informed. A key part of the role is making sure work is completed on time and meets a high standard of quality.

You will also serve as a trusted relationship manager for senior-level stakeholders and external collaborators, balancing responsiveness, accuracy, and independent problem-solving across several concurrent assignments.

Working arrangement

This is a remote, part-time contract position rather than a permanent employee role. The expected workload is about 15–20 hours per week on average, though hours may vary depending on project demand and performance, with the possibility of additional hours. Contractors are responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and benefits.

Required background and experience

The ideal candidate brings at least 5 years of project management experience, preferably from a communications agency, nonprofit, consulting, or corporate setting. Experience serving as the primary contact for clients, sponsors, or external partners and handling projects with multiple stakeholders, deadlines, and deliverables is important.

Experience with research, communications, education, content development, or thought leadership projects is strongly relevant. Strong writing and speaking skills are needed, along with the ability to prepare partner-facing updates and executive-level communications. Excellent organization, attention to detail, and the ability to manage several projects at once are essential.

Applicants should be comfortable working independently with limited supervision and should have working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Experience with project management tools such as Zoho Projects or Asana is preferred, and familiarity with Zoho CRM and similar business systems is a strong advantage.

Application details

Interested candidates should send a resume, a short cover letter, and their requested hourly rate. The subject line should read: “Project Manager, Strategic Collaborations (Contract)”. Only applicants chosen for interviews will be contacted.

About the organization

The National Sleep Foundation is an independent nonprofit under section 501(c)(3), founded in 1990, with a mission to advance sleep health theory, research, and practice through education and advocacy.

Contractor notes

• Part-time independent contractor arrangement
• Fully remote work setup
• Contractors must handle their own taxes, insurance, and benefits
• Flexible schedule with availability during standard U.S. business hours for meetings and partner communication
• Compensation will be based on experience