The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is inviting applications for a Project Manager, Academic Engagements to join its global team. This is a full-time, fully remote position open to candidates worldwide and offers an opportunity for an experienced professional to work at the intersection of academia, research, technology and the Ethereum ecosystem.
The successful candidate will play an important role in building and expanding the Ethereum Foundation’s relationships with universities, research institutions and academic communities around the world.
The position is particularly suited to professionals with experience managing academic programmes, research partnerships, university-industry collaborations or multi-stakeholder initiatives.
The Ethereum Foundation is a global non-profit organisation focused on supporting the Ethereum ecosystem and helping realise Ethereum’s potential as open, neutral infrastructure for the world.
Rather than operating as a traditional company, the Foundation works by allocating resources to important projects and initiatives within the Ethereum ecosystem, while allowing others to take the lead where appropriate.
The Academic Engagements team plays an important role in connecting the broader Ethereum ecosystem with researchers, universities and academic communities.
About the Role
The Project Manager, Academic Engagements will be responsible for building, scaling and operationalising the Ethereum Foundation’s engagement with academic institutions and researchers globally.
The position will serve as a bridge between academic stakeholders and the wider Ethereum ecosystem. The successful candidate will help translate important ecosystem challenges into structured research and educational opportunities that can be understood and explored by scholars across different academic disciplines.
This means the role goes beyond traditional project management. It requires someone who can understand complex research questions, identify relevant academic expertise and develop partnerships that can generate meaningful outcomes.
The successful candidate will work with universities, research labs, academic consortia, Ethereum researchers and internal Foundation teams to identify opportunities for collaboration.
Key Responsibilities
The Project Manager will take on a broad range of responsibilities related to academic engagement and programme development.
One major responsibility will be translating Ethereum research priorities into questions, research opportunities and academic frameworks that are relevant to scholars working in adjacent fields.
The successful candidate will also identify researchers and academic communities whose existing work intersects with important questions facing Ethereum. They will then develop pathways through which these scholars can engage with the ecosystem.
Another important component of the role will involve establishing and managing strategic partnerships with universities, research laboratories and academic consortia worldwide.
The Project Manager will also design and scale academic programmes such as:
- Workshops
- Curriculum collaborations
- Hackathons
- Lecture series
- Academic events
- Research initiatives
The role will require close collaboration with Ethereum Foundation teams and ecosystem researchers to identify areas where academic expertise could contribute to important open questions.
The successful candidate will then help connect these needs with suitable scholars and institutions.
Research Distribution and Funding
The position also involves helping academic research reach appropriate audiences.
The Project Manager will support the distribution of research through events, publications and different forms of content, ensuring that relevant work reaches researchers, institutions and other stakeholders who can benefit from it.
Another responsibility will be developing and supporting funding pathways for academic research in collaboration with Funding Coordination and other ecosystem stakeholders.
This could involve coordinating research funding initiatives, connecting researchers with relevant opportunities and helping ensure that academic programmes have effective operational structures.
The successful candidate will also track programme impact and prepare clear reports demonstrating outcomes and value to the Ethereum ecosystem.
Professional Experience Required
Applicants should have at least three years of professional experience managing academic programmes, research partnerships or university-industry collaborations.
The Foundation is looking for candidates who can demonstrate successful experience coordinating multi-stakeholder projects and programmes with measurable outcomes.
Experience working with distributed teams across different time zones is also important because the role is global and remote.
While not mandatory, having a PhD and experience conducting academic research is considered highly desirable.
Candidates with a strong understanding of how academic institutions operate may therefore have an advantage.
Academic and Ecosystem Knowledge
The role requires someone who can understand research problems across different disciplines and communicate them effectively to diverse academic audiences.
Candidates should be able to identify connections between Ethereum-specific questions and wider scholarly debates.
A strong understanding of academic research practices is also important. This includes familiarity with research incentives, publication cycles and university administrative processes.
Experience or knowledge related to blockchain research, Ethereum fundamentals or related technologies is highly desirable.
Applicants do not necessarily need to come from a purely technical background, but they should be capable of engaging with technology-related research and communicating effectively with technical and academic stakeholders.
Skills and Attributes
The Ethereum Foundation is seeking a strong relationship builder with excellent cross-cultural communication skills.
Because the role involves working with universities, researchers, ecosystem participants and distributed teams globally, the ability to establish and maintain relationships across cultures and professional backgrounds will be important.
Candidates should also have strong project planning and execution skills, particularly the ability to work effectively in environments where priorities can change and not every process is clearly defined.
The Foundation also expects candidates to be comfortable using modern collaboration and project management tools, including Notion and Google Workspace tools such as Docs and Slides.
Additional Experience That Could Strengthen an Application
Several additional qualifications are considered valuable but are not listed as essential requirements.
Experience with grants coordination or academic funding mechanisms would be an advantage, particularly for candidates who have worked with research funding institutions or academic grant programmes.
A background in research organisations or scholarly publishing could also strengthen an application.
Candidates who have organised academic conferences, workshops or seminars may also bring relevant experience to the position.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
This position offers an opportunity for an experienced academic programme or research partnerships professional to work within one of the world’s most prominent open-source technology ecosystems.
The role combines project management, academic engagement, research coordination, partnership development and emerging technology.
For professionals who enjoy connecting researchers and institutions, developing international programmes and working across disciplines, the position could provide an opportunity to contribute to research and education initiatives with global reach.
The global and remote nature of the position also means the successful candidate will work with stakeholders across different countries and time zones.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should review the requirements carefully and prepare an application demonstrating their experience in academic engagement, research partnerships, project management and stakeholder coordination.
Applicants should highlight measurable outcomes from previous programmes and partnerships, particularly where they have worked with universities, researchers, academic networks or other complex stakeholder groups.
Experience with blockchain, Ethereum or related technologies should also be highlighted where applicable.
Position: Project Manager, Academic Engagements
Organisation: Ethereum Foundation
Employment type: Full-time
Location: Global
Work arrangement: Remote
Department: Institutional – Academic Secretariat
Experience: 3+ years
Application: Open to candidates worldwide
Apply for the Project Manager, Academic Engagements position
Professionals with a background in academic programme management, research partnerships, university collaborations, grants coordination or scholarly engagement are encouraged to explore this opportunity and assess how their experience aligns with the Ethereum Foundation’s academic engagement goals.
