Senior Program Manager

Job Description:

The Senior Program Manager (SPgM) brings together and leads project teams focused on large-scale complex strategic projects/programs improving and maturing how we use technology services to do the work of running the organization. The ideal candidate will have experience leading efforts to improve business processes using various enterprise technologies, will have hands-on experience working with ERP/CRM systems, and will employ creative strategies to help clients understand, manage, and improve complex processes and systems. Reporting to the Director for Project Management and Business Analysis - Enterprise Technology Services, the SPgM will collaborate with business and technology teams as we seek to transform the enterprise systems used by the Institution to support music education in an expanding portfolio of programs offered online and on our campuses in the United States and Europe.
The SPgM is a key member of a team of highly engaged professionals charged with helping to modernize, streamline, and standardize business processes and systems in a creative, entrepreneurial environment.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Program Manager (SPgM) functions as the program manager and/or lead project manager on strategic projects and is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control and completion of projects ensuring consistency with Berklee’s strategy, commitments and goals.

The SPgM may also function as a business analyst, serving as a liaison between Berklee’s client and technical areas to assess and develop requirements for standard end-user, business, and service needs and procedures. The SPgM plans and conducts preliminary studies of potential administrative applications and prepares project charters to reflect resources required to develop services that meet Berklee needs. 

The SPgM provides leadership by participating in the ongoing refinement of internal best practices and developing close partnerships internally and externally to ensure the delivery of high quality services that meet the needs of the Berklee community. The SPgM coaches and mentors PMBA team members and colleagues across the organization in program and project management techniques and works to mature the institution’s program and project management and business process improvement framework in a way that fits within the culture of the organization.

The SPgM adds program and project management expertise, industry knowledge, and informed opinion to strategic Enterprise Technology Services department discussions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate and monitor all project and program activities ensuring all deliverables meet quality and performance objectives

• Facilitate associated advising, steering, and executive committees, leveraging discussions for decision-making, change management, and communications

• Manage and monitor the budget and health of projects and programs and escalate action plans and report findings to Technology Resources and Berklee Leadership to address prioritization and resource issues.

• Serve as a liaison between client and technical areas to assess and develop end user, business and service requirements

• Maintain a high level of communication with internal and external teams; providing clear, tactful, and complete directives, realistic deliverable deadlines and prompt feedback.

• Work side-by-side with project and departmental team members in a hands-on capacity i order to ensure that all deliverables meet client expectations.

• Coach colleagues across the organization in program and project management techniques

• Back up the Director for Project Management and Business Analysis when needed

• Adhere to and promote Berklee’s Vision and Guiding Principles

• Contribute to the refinement of internal best practices to ensure the delivery of high quality services that meet the needs of the Berklee community 

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and relevant project or program management training and experience required.

• 12+ years’ experience (10+ with advanced degree) effectively managing complex projects and/or services in support of business functions.

• Demonstrated cross-functional project leadership experience

• Project Management Professional (PMP), CSM (Certified Scrum Master), or PgMP (Program Management Professional) certification preferred

• Sound project and program management knowledge, skills and abilities with a variety of methodologies (waterfall, lean, agile) and business process tools (e.g. swim lane diagrams), and the flexibility to apply the best method to the needs of each project

• Experience in a higher education environment preferred but not required

• Experience with administrative business applications (e.g. ERP, CRM) required; Workday or Workday Student a plus

Required Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills to understand the broad range of needs and various support requirements for delivering exemplary customer service.

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both verbal and written formats as well as to create and maintain positive, productive working relationships with both technical and non-technical personnel.

• Ability to facilitate and present at all levels of the organization, including with executive stakeholders, vendors, and large cross-functional and diverse groups (both technical and non-technical)

• Ability to operate independently and set priorities amongst multiple task assignments.

• Excellent judgment and strategic skills for ensuring mutually positive outcomes, balancing internal priorities with client objectives.

• Equally comfortable with detailed analysis and research as with 'big-picture' considerations and priorities.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks, assignments, and projects.

• Attention to detail, and ability to achieve results

• Proven ability to work & lead effectively in a highly diverse campus community

• Demonstrated capacity to develop & maintain effective working relationships with individuals & organizations reflecting a broad range of identities, perspectives & experiences.

Remote/hybrid work arrangement possible.

The above information on this position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by individuals within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.  Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. The position will remain open for applications until filled.

 

Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions

Employee Type:
Staff

Job Description:

The Senior Program Manager (SPgM) brings together and leads project teams focused on large-scale complex strategic projects/programs improving and maturing how we use technology services to do the work of running the organization. The ideal candidate will have experience leading efforts to improve business processes using various enterprise technologies, will have hands-on experience working with ERP/CRM systems, and will employ creative strategies to help clients understand, manage, and improve complex processes and systems. Reporting to the Director for Project Management and Business Analysis - Enterprise Technology Services, the SPgM will collaborate with business and technology teams as we seek to transform the enterprise systems used by the Institution to support music education in an expanding portfolio of programs offered online and on our campuses in the United States and Europe.
The SPgM is a key member of a team of highly engaged professionals charged with helping to modernize, streamline, and standardize business processes and systems in a creative, entrepreneurial environment.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Program Manager (SPgM) functions as the program manager and/or lead project manager on strategic projects and is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control and completion of projects ensuring consistency with Berklee’s strategy, commitments and goals.

The SPgM may also function as a business analyst, serving as a liaison between Berklee’s client and technical areas to assess and develop requirements for standard end-user, business, and service needs and procedures. The SPgM plans and conducts preliminary studies of potential administrative applications and prepares project charters to reflect resources required to develop services that meet Berklee needs. 

The SPgM provides leadership by participating in the ongoing refinement of internal best practices and developing close partnerships internally and externally to ensure the delivery of high quality services that meet the needs of the Berklee community. The SPgM coaches and mentors PMBA team members and colleagues across the organization in program and project management techniques and works to mature the institution’s program and project management and business process improvement framework in a way that fits within the culture of the organization.

The SPgM adds program and project management expertise, industry knowledge, and informed opinion to strategic Enterprise Technology Services department discussions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate and monitor all project and program activities ensuring all deliverables meet quality and performance objectives

• Facilitate associated advising, steering, and executive committees, leveraging discussions for decision-making, change management, and communications

• Manage and monitor the budget and health of projects and programs and escalate action plans and report findings to Technology Resources and Berklee Leadership to address prioritization and resource issues.

• Serve as a liaison between client and technical areas to assess and develop end user, business and service requirements

• Maintain a high level of communication with internal and external teams; providing clear, tactful, and complete directives, realistic deliverable deadlines and prompt feedback.

• Work side-by-side with project and departmental team members in a hands-on capacity i order to ensure that all deliverables meet client expectations.

• Coach colleagues across the organization in program and project management techniques

• Back up the Director for Project Management and Business Analysis when needed

• Adhere to and promote Berklee’s Vision and Guiding Principles

• Contribute to the refinement of internal best practices to ensure the delivery of high quality services that meet the needs of the Berklee community 

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and relevant project or program management training and experience required.

• 12+ years’ experience (10+ with advanced degree) effectively managing complex projects and/or services in support of business functions.

• Demonstrated cross-functional project leadership experience

• Project Management Professional (PMP), CSM (Certified Scrum Master), or PgMP (Program Management Professional) certification preferred

• Sound project and program management knowledge, skills and abilities with a variety of methodologies (waterfall, lean, agile) and business process tools (e.g. swim lane diagrams), and the flexibility to apply the best method to the needs of each project

• Experience in a higher education environment preferred but not required

• Experience with administrative business applications (e.g. ERP, CRM) required; Workday or Workday Student a plus

Required Skills:

• Strong interpersonal skills to understand the broad range of needs and various support requirements for delivering exemplary customer service.

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both verbal and written formats as well as to create and maintain positive, productive working relationships with both technical and non-technical personnel.

• Ability to facilitate and present at all levels of the organization, including with executive stakeholders, vendors, and large cross-functional and diverse groups (both technical and non-technical)

• Ability to operate independently and set priorities amongst multiple task assignments.

• Excellent judgment and strategic skills for ensuring mutually positive outcomes, balancing internal priorities with client objectives.

• Equally comfortable with detailed analysis and research as with 'big-picture' considerations and priorities.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks, assignments, and projects.

• Attention to detail, and ability to achieve results

• Proven ability to work & lead effectively in a highly diverse campus community

• Demonstrated capacity to develop & maintain effective working relationships with individuals & organizations reflecting a broad range of identities, perspectives & experiences.

Remote/hybrid work arrangement possible.

The above information on this position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by individuals within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.  Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. The position will remain open for applications until filled.

 

Berklee is committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions

Employee Type:
Staff