Project Manager

Department
 

SSA Network For College Success

About the Department
 

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (SSA) has shaped the field through a combination of research, teaching, and practice. Since the School’s founding more than 100 years ago, SSA faculty, students, and alumni have addressed such complex social problems as poverty, violence, educational inequality, child welfare, homelessness, health, and environmental disparities. Included within SSA is the Urban Education Institute (UEI), a model for how to engage in the systemic improvement of pre-K-12th grade schooling. Through four integrated units, UEI conducts rigorous research (UChicago Consortium), trains educators (UChicago UTEP), operates school campuses (UChicago Charter), and provides research-based learning tools (UChicago Impact). Other SSA centers, including the Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention, the Center for Health Administration Studies, the Smart Decarceration Project, the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet), and the Network for College Success, work in partnership with community residents, businesses, and stakeholders to achieve the greatest breakthroughs. Today, our work has never been more important. More than 8,000 SSA graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, and at governmental agencies – committed to create a more just and more humane society through principles of inclusion, equity, and diversity. More information may be found here. The Project Manager will be responsible for developing and monitoring project plans that ensure that the organization achieves its desired impact through successful implementation of the strategic plan. The Project Manager will oversee the quality and completion of all aspects of the plan, ensuring consistency and coherence with the Network for College Success’ vision, mission, guiding principles, strategies, and goals.

Job Summary
 

The job manages a team of professional staff responsible for scientific research projects and research facilities. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates. Manages the production of articles, reports, and manuscripts, and presents research findings at meetings and/ or conferences.

Responsibilities

• Manage employees.
• Set deadlines.
• Monitor and manage the project schedule.
• Ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget, adjusting if necessary.
• Work cooperatively with the Directors and all stakeholders to create sustainable infrastructures and practices that are embedded in practice and institutionalized at every level of the organization.
• Develop and codify a system for teams to submit project plans.
• Work with team leads to create plans for projects.
• Make effective decisions when presented with multiple options for how to progress with the project.
• Serve as a point of contact for teams when multiple units are assigned to the same project to ensure team actions remain in synergy.
• Identify, report, and resolve project issues/risks and liabilities.
• Proactively disseminate project information to all stakeholders.
• Provide expertise in best practices related to project management, resource allocation, problem solving, human resource and process development.
• Plan and facilitate Senior Leadership Team meetings.
• Motivating people involved in the project to complete tasks on time.
• Manages research professionals and support staff involved with planning, monitoring, and compliance aspects of research projects. Advises other researchers on long-range plans for research projects.
• Develops goals and operating procedures, practices, and guidelines for research activity based on department strategy.
• Performs other related work as needed. ​

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

​Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Experience with strategic planning processes.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification or equivalent.

Preferred Competencies

• Understanding of the Project Management Institute (PMI) framework.
• Knowledge of various project management methodologies (e.g., agile/scrum).
• Proven leadership skills.
• Ability to create agendas, facilitate meetings, and design processes that guide groups toward identified objectives and meaningful outcomes.
• Demonstrated commitment to outcome-based accountability and data-based decision making.
• Ability to coach others through the processes of project and strategic planning.
• Ability to build sustainable project management systems.
• Ability to make important decisions under pressure.
• Ability to delegate effectively.
• Outstanding organizational and management skills.
• Strong service and support orientation toward schools and school communities.
• Excellent data-gathering, problem-solving, and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to work productively and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to integrate technology and effectively utilize technology for personal/professional productivity.
• A relentless commitment to public education, social justice, and equitable outcomes for all students.
• A commitment to self-reflection, examination of identity and role in systems of oppression and to challenging inequities.
• Capable of exercising sound judgment, tact, courteousness, reliability and employing sound and ethical decision-making skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of change management theories and practices.

Application Documents

• Cover Letter (Required)
• Resume (Required)
• References (Required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Resume/CV of the application.

Job Family
 

Research

Role Impact
 

People Manager

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity /Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form .

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

Department
 

SSA Network For College Success

About the Department
 

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration (SSA) has shaped the field through a combination of research, teaching, and practice. Since the School’s founding more than 100 years ago, SSA faculty, students, and alumni have addressed such complex social problems as poverty, violence, educational inequality, child welfare, homelessness, health, and environmental disparities. Included within SSA is the Urban Education Institute (UEI), a model for how to engage in the systemic improvement of pre-K-12th grade schooling. Through four integrated units, UEI conducts rigorous research (UChicago Consortium), trains educators (UChicago UTEP), operates school campuses (UChicago Charter), and provides research-based learning tools (UChicago Impact). Other SSA centers, including the Chicago Center for Youth Violence Prevention, the Center for Health Administration Studies, the Smart Decarceration Project, the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet), and the Network for College Success, work in partnership with community residents, businesses, and stakeholders to achieve the greatest breakthroughs. Today, our work has never been more important. More than 8,000 SSA graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, and at governmental agencies – committed to create a more just and more humane society through principles of inclusion, equity, and diversity. More information may be found here. The Project Manager will be responsible for developing and monitoring project plans that ensure that the organization achieves its desired impact through successful implementation of the strategic plan. The Project Manager will oversee the quality and completion of all aspects of the plan, ensuring consistency and coherence with the Network for College Success’ vision, mission, guiding principles, strategies, and goals.

Job Summary
 

The job manages a team of professional staff responsible for scientific research projects and research facilities. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates. Manages the production of articles, reports, and manuscripts, and presents research findings at meetings and/ or conferences.

Responsibilities

• Manage employees.
• Set deadlines.
• Monitor and manage the project schedule.
• Ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget, adjusting if necessary.
• Work cooperatively with the Directors and all stakeholders to create sustainable infrastructures and practices that are embedded in practice and institutionalized at every level of the organization.
• Develop and codify a system for teams to submit project plans.
• Work with team leads to create plans for projects.
• Make effective decisions when presented with multiple options for how to progress with the project.
• Serve as a point of contact for teams when multiple units are assigned to the same project to ensure team actions remain in synergy.
• Identify, report, and resolve project issues/risks and liabilities.
• Proactively disseminate project information to all stakeholders.
• Provide expertise in best practices related to project management, resource allocation, problem solving, human resource and process development.
• Plan and facilitate Senior Leadership Team meetings.
• Motivating people involved in the project to complete tasks on time.
• Manages research professionals and support staff involved with planning, monitoring, and compliance aspects of research projects. Advises other researchers on long-range plans for research projects.
• Develops goals and operating procedures, practices, and guidelines for research activity based on department strategy.
• Performs other related work as needed. ​

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

​Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree.

Experience:

• Experience with strategic planning processes.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification or equivalent.

Preferred Competencies

• Understanding of the Project Management Institute (PMI) framework.
• Knowledge of various project management methodologies (e.g., agile/scrum).
• Proven leadership skills.
• Ability to create agendas, facilitate meetings, and design processes that guide groups toward identified objectives and meaningful outcomes.
• Demonstrated commitment to outcome-based accountability and data-based decision making.
• Ability to coach others through the processes of project and strategic planning.
• Ability to build sustainable project management systems.
• Ability to make important decisions under pressure.
• Ability to delegate effectively.
• Outstanding organizational and management skills.
• Strong service and support orientation toward schools and school communities.
• Excellent data-gathering, problem-solving, and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to work productively and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to integrate technology and effectively utilize technology for personal/professional productivity.
• A relentless commitment to public education, social justice, and equitable outcomes for all students.
• A commitment to self-reflection, examination of identity and role in systems of oppression and to challenging inequities.
• Capable of exercising sound judgment, tact, courteousness, reliability and employing sound and ethical decision-making skills.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
• Knowledge of change management theories and practices.

Application Documents

• Cover Letter (Required)
• Resume (Required)
• References (Required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Resume/CV of the application.

Job Family
 

Research

Role Impact
 

People Manager

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity /Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form .

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.