Project Manager, AIRID (Washington D.C. or Tucson, AZ)

The University of Arizona is looking for a Project Manager, AIRID (Research Program Admin Officer IV) to join the Office of International Development (OID) and in collaboration with the Arizona Initiative for International Development (AIRID). This will be a full-time position based either in our office in Tucson (AZ) or Washington D.C. Serve as a Project Manager for multiple international development projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Gates Foundation, and other donors. Assist faculty Principal Investigators (PIs) to manage project work plans, timelines, preparation of deliverables, budget expenditure tracking, and project logistic and operations, including project start up and close down and ongoing financial and technical reporting.

The University of Arizona (UAz) aspires to become a thought leader in confronting global development challenges by building on UAz capacities, to shape strategic programming and policy decisions, and to implement projects and activities overseas. To help the University achieve its goals, the Office of International Development (OID) was established in 2020 to increase the understanding and capacity of faculty and students to work internationally and to build stronger connections to international partners and donors with a strong focus on the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State (DOS), but also other institutional sponsors of international development activities.

Office of International Development is also recruiting for a Project Manager, AIRID (Research Program Admin Officer III) - req13175. Please note the minimum requirements when applying.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; state and optional retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here .

Duties & responsibilities:

• Project Management. Take lead on day-day management of designated projects in collaboration with Project Principal Investigators (PIs). This includes:
  • Manage the project mobilization and start-up processes including leading start up teams to register projects, open bank accounts, project offices, etc.
  • Monitor project implementation and support in-country teams, as necessary. Resolve project management issues independently and escalate issues to PI as necessary.
  • Provide support to review, edit, strengthen, and format project reports before client submission, including: establishing reporting timeframes, reviewing processes and team inputs, collating previous client feedback and ensuring requirements are understood and reflected.
  • Coordinate and chair regular Project Reviews with designated projects including tracking of agreed actions and monitoring of risk register and mitigation actions.
  • Work with UAz financial management staff and systems to establish and maintain robust financial management and tracking systems, including managing designated project budgets, monitoring project expenditures, reviewing invoices and supporting documentation and compiling accurate expenditure forecasts internally and to clients.
  • Manage consortia partners and sub-contractors; track labor, contracts and performance and escalate issues as they are identified as appropriate.
  • Develop job descriptions, post job advertisements, sit on recruitment panels and coordinate with HR to hire project staff, as needed
  • Coordinate the administrative activities of the project including mobilizing and demobilizing staff and international consultants, maintaining project files, requesting purchases for goods and services, ensuring submission of project deliverables and close-down.
• Participate in and contribute to OID and AIRID project meetings and events. Provide project information for AIRID website and other information sources
• Additional duties may be assigned.

Knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Ability to think strategically and synthesize wide-ranging ideas and information
• Ability to take initiative, follow through, and work independently
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot independently
• Ability to multi-task across an array of projects and activities involving different teams
• Exceptional interpersonal, teamwork, and relationship-building skills
• High level of competence in basic office software, and ability and willingness to learn new software and technologies, including project management software
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills
• Willingness and ability to travel overseas
• Commercially astute with demonstrable aptitude in client service and management.
• Good understanding of project management systems and standards.
• Excellent level of written and verbal English.
• Driven and motivated combined with the ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships both internally and externally to deliver against project and business targets.
• Flexibility, versatile and tolerant in a changing work environment with the ability to work effectively under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel to any of UAz’s countries of operation.

• Master's Degree required.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience is required.

• Work experience in a development environment (either in a developing country or with a development consultancy/ organization) on USAID funded projects.
• Project management experience preferably on international development projects.
• Work experience in a development environment (either in a developing country or with a development consultancy/ organization).