Sr Project Manager, Higher Education Design Accelerator

98907BR

Off-Campus: Scottsdale

Project Manager Senior

Job Description

In partnership with the Kern Family Foundation, the University Design Institute (UDI) is advancing a Higher Education Design Accelerator for the United States. Embedded in one state system per year, the Accelerator strengthens capacity for innovation in participating institutions.  Executive teams from participating institutions will work on advancing ideas that support regional stewardship for the universities while collaborating with teams from other institutions in the program.      

UDI is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager (Sr. PM) with a proven track record in managing complex, multi-year, grant-funded projects.  The ideal candidate will expertly bring together the core Accelerator elements in a streamlined, transparent and actionable project plan for deployment.  Core elements include: 

• Management of a multi-month, hybrid delivery program for executive-level audiences. The project manager will work closely with the UDI team (project leaders and experts) to ensure a world class experience for participants.
• Navigating and building relationships with diverse Accelerator stakeholders across participating institutions (executive leaders, project support staff) and educational officials (Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors). 
• Management and financial integrity of a complex grant funds with associated institutional sub awards.  
• Management and navigation of complex policies and processes within ASU and across participating institutions  
• Management and organization of learning materials in a digital repository for executive participants.

Reporting into the UDI Executive Director of Global Operations, the Sr. PM will play a critical role within the Accelerator team and is the ideal opportunity for an operationally-minded individual seeking a unique opportunity to flex their skills and build new capabilities.  

Job Family

Project Management

Department Name

University Design Institute

Full-Time/Part-Time

Full-Time

Grant Funded Position

This is a grant funded position. Continuation is contingent on future grant funding.

Salary Range

$70,000 - $80,000 per year; DOE

Close Date

26-February-2024

Essential Duties

• Works closely and collaboratively with key stakeholders to define project scope, strategy, budget, and outcomes; identifies critical resource expertise and targets appropriate internal and/or external sources to ensure optimal outcome(s).
• Establishes and continually monitors/manages project expectations with team; assigns tasks and identifies issues for resolution to ensure optimal team effectiveness.
• Prepares and maintains all project status reports and schedules; tracks milestones/deliverables, critical paths and dependencies; re-sets expectations as needed in consideration of project progress/outcomes.
• Responds to all inquiries regarding project status; prepares and responds to all regulatory reporting/filings to ensure compliance. 
• Demonstrates a deep understanding of the program budget to continuously monitor expenses and ensure effective budget management.  
• Serves as primary communication point for internal and external constituents regarding status of projects and resource requirements as appropriate. Provides direction to program delivery team in meeting project timeline and deliverables
• Proactively initiates discussions with internal / external constituents to avoid risks, ensure timeliness and accuracy of scheduled deliverables. Resolves day-to-day issues. Takes initiative to alert client team to any potential challenges and risks.
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and eight (8) years related experience; 3 of which include project management, OR, any equivalent combination of experience, and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications

• Project management experience specific to the higher education sector preferred
• Experience working with executive audiences 
• Grant management experience
• Preference for experience in program deployment.  
• Demonstrated ability to plan and prioritize multiple and competing tasks/projects effectively, meet deadlines, and work independently in a fast-paced environment. 
• Experience with Airtable project management, or other project management software, desired. 
• Design mindset: demonstrates an ability to flexibility and bring a prototyping mentality to new and unusual challenges 
• Attention to detail: demonstrates a strong focus on details, documentation, data interpretation, report generation, follow-through and the impact of changes. 
• Business acumen: Demonstrate effective decision-making and problem-solving skills; ability to think tactically and strategically.
• Risk Management: demonstrate understanding of presenting problems with ability to think through implications and impact of proposed solutions; identify and anticipate potential risks, communicating and engaging with stakeholders for mitigation tactics. 
• Technical acumen: Demonstrated proficiency with different platforms and applications and general business applications (e.g. Airtable, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Visio, etc.); ability to quickly learn and leverage new technology.
• Strong knowledge of project management principles, change management practices, and techniques needed for large, complex projects.
• Knowledge of processes for dissemination of results through presentations, reports, and publications.
• Knowledge of management and supervisory principles and practices.
• Knowledge of strategic planning principles and practices.
• Knowledge of the principles, concepts and practices of organizational management.
• Ability to multitask while managing multiple projects.
• Ability to think strategically while acting tactically.
• Ability to design and deploy programs, projects and initiatives.
• Skill in budget planning, preparation, management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Skill in problem solving and decision-making.
• Skill in effective communication, both verbal and written.
• Skill in effectively managing, supervising and evaluating assigned staff.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and establishing and facilitating work teams.

Working Environment

• Activities are primarily performed in a regular, climate-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, standing, walking.
• Visual acuity and manual dexterity associated with daily use of desktop computer; bending, stooping, reaching and lifting up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to clearly communicate verbally in English, read, write, see and hear to perform essential duties.
• Review of completed tasks; provides and reviews assigned work activities to team members for quality and achievement of set goals.

Department Statement

The University Design Institute (UDI) is a catalyst for transformation in higher education. Our vision is for Universities to emerge as powerful engines of social transformation and economic impact. We collaborate with ASU and institutions globally to envision the future, solve problems, and move from ideas to implementation. We transform higher education by advancing innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions.

We are a values-driven organization with a focus on 6 critical values. Our values include:

• Intentional Inclusionists: We create an environment of trust, support, acceptance and safety to foster a sense of belonging and wellbeing.
• Eternal Optimists: Change is an opportunity for progress, so we tirelessly work to co- create solutions to transform higher education
• Avid Learners: We embrace curiosity and an exploratory mindset to promote individual and institutional growth.
• Constructive Challengers: We commit to challenge processes and perspectives in a supportive environment to push towards continuous improvement.
• Collaborative Connectors: Through a culture of collaboration, we weave together a community of problem-solvers to move from ideas to implementation.
• Relentless Innovators: We fail forward, take risks, and move quickly to craft solutions with purpose.

ASU Statement

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

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Employment Verification Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement

ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Instructions to Apply

Application deadline is 3:00PM Arizona time on the date indicated.

Please include all employment information in month/year format (e.g., 6/88 to 8/94), job title, job duties and name of employer for each position.

Resume should clearly illustrate how prior knowledge and experience meets the Minimum and Desired qualifications of this position.

ASU does not pay for travel expenses associated with interviews, unless otherwise indicated.

Only electronic applications are accepted for this position.

IMPORTANT NOTE: What is the meaning of “equivalent combination” in the minimum qualifications? It means one year of higher education or 24 credit hours, is equal to one year of experience. For example, a four year Bachelor’s degree is equal to four years of experience.