Research Manager Jobs in Tennessee
Research Manager jobs in Tennessee are in steady demand, with hiring concentrated in healthcare and life sciences, academic research, and public policy sectors across a range of seniority levels from research coordinator to senior research manager. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville account for the largest share of openings, where employers like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA Healthcare, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory consistently hire research managers. The most in-demand specialties are clinical research operations, health services research, and program evaluation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Build trust daily. Strengthen community partnerships. Encourage lasting change.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville—College of Social Work, through the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS)—is hiring a Coordinator for the Tennessee Child Support Employment & Parenting Program (TCSEPP).
TCSEPP Coordinators are based throughout Tennessee and serve their assigned counties. You’ll cultivate trust and communication between participants and the systems they interact with, and when appropriate support engagement with custodial parents and children.
This is hands-on, relationship-based work. You’ll build trust with participants, coach and encourage them, and help them communicate more effectively with the systems they’re navigating. When it’s appropriate, you may also support healthy communication with children and custodial parents.
Based in FAYETTE, HARDEMAN, and MCNAIRY COUNTIES, TN , you’ll also connect participants to a strong mix of community resources—both formal services and informal supports—and you’ll do outreach and education to help more parents (and community partners) understand and engage with the program.
This is a grant-funded position and is contingent upon the continued funding of the grant.
The TCSEPP Coordinator responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
Determine participant eligibility and properly assess participants' barriers and make appropriate referrals for identified barriers
- Develop individual action plans for participants and provide one-on-one case management to participants to assist them with job readiness activities and emotional support and encouragement
- Maintain accurate records of all participant interactions in appropriate places, i.e. TCSES, Apricot, Excel spreadsheet, etc.
- Monitor participants’ child support eligibility & payments; program involvement & compliance as well as employment.
- Develop and maintain partnerships with local agencies to assist participants with barriers to employment
- Attend community interagency meetings to learn about and share available resources and information
- Participate in partner meetings
- Provide regular updates to Child Support staff and attorneys on participant progress
- Maintain a court presence to foster a positive relationship with the Child Support legal system and to recruit and/or enroll potential participants
- Participate in job/resource fairs
Fiscal tasks including but not limited to One Card reconciliation and uploading & documenting receipts, monthly gift card reconciliation, and travel reports
Required Qualifications
- Experience: Two years of customer/client (case management) experience. In lieu of a degree candidates with two additional years of experience will be considered.
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree
- Must have valid driver’s license, automobile at their disposal, and a current automobile liability policy with continuous coverage.
- Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Ability to assess participant needs.
- Ability to develop positive & trusting relationships with participants and offer emotional support.
- Ability to positively interact with partners including child support, court, attorneys, etc.
- Ability to promote the program to potential participants, partners, and employers.
- Ability to advocate for participants.
- Ability to work independently and within a team setting.
- Ability to travel to multiple counties to serve participants.
- Ability to be flexible with respect to changing needs of the project.
- Excellent oral communication skills.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work independently and in team settings. Experience with data management systems.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience: Experience working with non-custodial parents and/or Employment programs; Experience collaborating with community groups and/or social service organizations.
Work Location:
- This position is hybrid and requires travel throughout Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy Counties, TN (and occasional travel outside this area on a limited basis). Applicants must live within one hour of Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy Counties, TN .
Compensation and Benefits:
UT market range: 07 -
Starting salary: $50,000
UT has a full benefits package including comprehensive heath insurances, strong retirements options including employer matching, generous time off including the week between Christmas and New Years, tuition waivers and hundreds of additional discounts and benefits.
Application Instructions:
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments:
Resume
Cover Letter
About The College/Department/Division
Since 1975, the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) has served as the community outreach arm of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's College of Social Work — partnering with public, private, and nonprofit organizations across Tennessee and beyond. Our mission is to build partnerships that leverage applied research, technology, and human connection to improve lives, guided by a vision of thriving communities with improved outcomes for all.
Now celebrating 50 years of impact, SWORPS continues to be guided by five core values: Innovation, Access, Understanding, Collaboration, and Integrity. Joining SWORPS means becoming part of a mission-driven team that bridges communities and transforms lives — not just through our work with partner agencies, but through hands-on community engagement across the state.
Our team — proudly known as "SWORPees" — is organized into divisions focused on Applied Research & Evaluation, Field-Based Services, and Technology & Development, all supported by a dedicated business office that keeps our operations running smoothly.
Learn more about SWORPS and some of our programs and resources by visiting our webpage: https://www.sworps.tennessee.edu/
See All 15 Research Manager Jobs in Tennessee
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Find Research Manager JobsResearch Manager Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Research Manager Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research manager jobs across Tennessee.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant scientific, social science, or public health field
- Three or more years of experience managing research projects or study teams
- Proficiency with research design, data analysis software, and IRB submission processes
- Strong track of meeting regulatory compliance standards in clinical or academic research environments
- Experience overseeing budgets, timelines, and staff across multi-phase research programs
- Familiarity with federal grant mechanisms such as NIH, NSF, or AHRQ funding structures
Research Manager Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a research manager in Tennessee?
Most research manager roles in Tennessee require at least a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, with a master's degree preferred for clinical or academic positions. Tennessee does not issue a state license specific to research managers, but those working in clinical research often pursue certification through the Society of Clinical Research Associates or the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. Employers at institutions like Vanderbilt or UT Health typically expect candidates to have hands-on project or team leadership experience before moving into a management role.
How much do research managers make in Tennessee?
Research managers in Tennessee earn a median of about $124,530 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $66,280 for the lowest 10% to over $223,370 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire research managers in Tennessee?
Employers hiring research managers in Tennessee right now include University of Tennessee, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and AutoZone, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Tennessee's concentration of academic medical centers, federal research facilities, and health system headquarters makes it a consistently active market for this role.
Which Tennessee cities have the most research manager jobs?
Memphis, Knoxville, and Tennessee have the most research manager openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads because of its dense cluster of hospital systems and health technology companies, while Knoxville draws openings through the University of Tennessee and the proximity of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Memphis benefits from its academic medical institutions and nonprofit research organizations.
Are there remote research manager jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, and more than many comparable roles, since research management involves significant coordination, grant writing, and reporting work that can be done off-site. About 83% of research manager openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting how much of the role centers on project oversight rather than lab presence. The functions most commonly offered remotely include data management, regulatory documentation, and stakeholder communications.
How can I get hired as a research manager in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is to start as a research coordinator or research associate at a Tennessee academic medical center or university, then build toward management from there. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the University of Tennessee system, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis all run entry-level and new-graduate research programs that provide structured exposure to study operations. Earning a clinical research coordinator certification early signals readiness for advancement and gives candidates an edge when applying to supervisory roles.
Where can I find and apply to research manager jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to research manager jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and location, and apply directly to each position.
See All 15 Research Manager Jobs in Tennessee
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