| POSITION SUMMARY Leveraging extensive program management knowledge, the CRoPS (CO2 Removal on a Planetary Scale) Project Manager acts as an operational advisor to a cross- functional team, in order to meet Institute and CRoPS program objectives. The Project Manager will organize all aspects of project activities and provide support to the science and team leaders by establishing timelines and budgets, tracking and coordinating efforts across teams, and facilitating effective information flow among stakeholders. Moreover, the Project manager will draft, write and edit reports and other documents to advance the CRoPS program. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Leadership (20%) - Partners closely with CRoPS co-directors and CRoPS Leadership Team to provide leadership, guidance and support within the CRoPS project.
- Independently assesses the needs of the program and makes operational recommendations and decisions to support the requirements for success.
- Proactively ensures senior leadership and stakeholders are aware of all challenges and issues and makes recommendations for resolution.
- Monitors and manages team performance metrics relative to project plans and budgets.
- Ensures compliance with sponsor requirements.
- Identifies issues and facilitates problem solving, contingency planning, and decision-making.
Planning and Tracking (20%) - Coordinates the creation and maintenance of the project plan, budget, timeline, and milestones.
- Partners closely with the Co-directors and the Leadership Team to develop project plans and ensure each team is on track.
- Facilitates achievement of strategic goals for the program.
- Monitors ongoing progress of key deliverables against project goals and budgets, including the identification of potential risks and contingency plans.
- Ensures appropriate approvals are in place for compliance.
Collaborations (20%) - Acts as a key liaison in the interactions between Salk and other collaborative partners.
- Manages the logistics for regular meetings and site visits, including developing agendas, managing budgets, and coordinating travel.
- Responsible for facilitating and driving decision making in support of the strategic objectives of the program.
Communication (20%) - Ensures effective, accurate and timely communication of key issues and progress to/from the co-Directors, Project Leadership Team, other team members, and sponsors.
- Manages project communications and schedules and provides reports, deliverables, and documentation.
- Manage the process to generate major presentations, publications, progress reports, and other deliverables, including provision of drafts, edits and other input.
- Informs key stakeholders of status, issues, problems, and proposed solutions as appropriate.
Fundraising (20%) - Partners with Grants Development and External Relations to identify funding opportunities to support or expand the project.
- Partners with Grants Development and External Relations to draft grant, foundation, and donor proposals as needed.
EXPERIENCE Required: - 5+ years of experience in scientific project/program management in an academic or industry research setting is required
- 3+. years of experience in plant biology
- Proven track record in program management.
- Demonstrated experience managing expectations of and communicating with a funding sponsor.
- Proven experience in a role that requires strong leadership skills and which interfaces directly with a variety of stakeholders.
EDUCATION Required - BA/BS in a biological science, or related discipline is required or combination of equivalent work experience.
Preferred - Advanced degree (M.S., PhD) in plant biology.
- PMP certification.
- Coursework or experience in genetics, plant biology, crop or soil science.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES Required - Strong leadership skills
- Strong presentation and critical thinking skills
- Excellent strategic thinking and advising skills.
- Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to successfully facilitate cross-functional teams
- Ability to effectively interact with all levels internally and externally to build credibility and relationships
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with exceptional organizational and time management skills.
- Proficient in advanced techniques with relevant software: MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc. in addition to experience working within shared work environments.
- Strong understanding of critical path activities
- Ability to anticipate risks and proactively create contingency plans in collaboration with project teams.
Preferred: - Ability to generate analyses of timeline, resource, and budget information that facilitates scenario planning, contingency planning, risk assessment and management, problem solving, and decision-making.
- Ability to coordinate interactions with finance to ensure programs have adequate budget and resources to support approved scope.
- Demonstrated understanding of financial and resource planning systems and processes and ability to coordinate project-level budget/resource estimates and manage actual costs versus planned costs.
- Experience with Smart Sheet or other project management software.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT - Must be willing to work in an animal-related research environment.
- Satisfactory completion of the Institute’s background investigation.
- Must be willing to sign confidentiality agreement
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS This position will require constant adjusting focus, grasping, hearing, keying, seeing, sitting, talking, analyzing, calculating, communicating, reading, reasoning, writing, working in confined areas and inside. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) |
