Energy & Facilities (E&F) operates and manages Harvard?s energy supplies, district energy plants, and utility infrastructures on the Cambridge/Allston campuses, as well as a 24/7 facilities-related call, alarm monitoring, and dispatch center. E&F also provides a broad portfolio of labor-based services, including primary building maintenance, landscape, fire safety, custodial, and event support services to a large portion of the University, as well as engineering and technical services. All services are provided in strict accordance with regulatory requirements and customer-determined scopes, with cost recovery almost exclusively through a fee-for-service model. E&F provides services through two operating departments, Engineering & Utilities (E&U) and Facilities Maintenance Operations (FMO). The Strategic Initiatives Project Manager supports E&F?s Senior Leadership Team and, working directly with the Managing Director, is responsible for managing a portfolio of strategic projects/initiatives that advance operational excellence and the effectiveness of E&F in providing services to internal customers and stewardship of university assets.
Position Description
Responsible for managing strategic projects and initiatives for the Managing Director that advance operational excellence and the effectiveness of E&F in providing services to internal customers and stewardship of university assets.
Support Managing Director to help establish clear and achievable goals that align with E&F?s strategic direction.
Works closely with E&F leadership to align strategic initiatives with E&F?s strategic direction.
Directly manages and oversees all aspects of multiple concurrent strategic projects/initiatives from inception to completion, ensuring projects are delivered on time and achieve desired business outcomes/benefits realization.
Able to work on multiple concurrent projects, balancing competing priorities and demands on resources across groups.
Conducts stakeholder interviews to understand and refine business needs and to define project scopes, objectives, and benefits to be realized.
Partners with Business Operations Analyst to understand supporting data, analysis, and reporting needs associated with initiatives/projects. Engages support from Business Operations Analyst and includes them on all project teams as appropriate.
Develops comprehensive project plans including timelines, budgets, resource requirements, milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and risk assessments.
Establishes governance structure that defines roles, responsibilities, and processes for decision making and accountability.
Coordinates and integrates activities across multiple projects to ensure cohesive progress and synergy.
Facilitates regular status meetings to track progress, identify roadblocks, and resolve issues promptly.
Communicates program/project performance regularly with executive sponsors and stakeholders through written updates and presentations to manage expectations, address concerns, and gain ongoing support.
Monitors risks, issues, budget, and schedule on an ongoing basis. Ensures projects are delivered on schedule and within budget, proactively managing changes to scope, timeline, and budget as needed. Continuously monitors program performance against objectives and KPI?s and evaluates outcomes to ensure goals are met.
Conducts post-implementation reviews on all projects to validate outcomes, capture lessons learned, identify areas for process improvement, and integrate learnings into future projects.
Maintains project documentation in centralized systems and prepares comprehensive project closing reports.
Drives change management, adoption, and benefits tracking across all program workstreams.
Manages relationships with supplemental project managers (e.g.: an external PM resource) as needed/ if assigned.
Demonstrates, promotes, and is guided by the mission, vision, and values of the organization; advancing the University?s mission of teaching and research by partnering to provide stewardship, strategies, and services that create exceptional community experiences. Always acts in the University?s best interest.
Performs other tasks as assigned.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management or related field required or equivalent relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
7 years of experience leading complex strategic initiatives and process improvement projects from start to finish.
Expertise developing program charters, roadmaps, benefit management and change enablement. Strong analytical, organizational and time management skills with attention to detail; experience developing budgets, resource plans, status reports and managing project portfolios; expertise with all phases of the project life cycle including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring/controlling, and closeout; experienced in change management practices to drive organizational adoption and benefits realization.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
Additional Skills and Qualifications:
Must be flexible, initiative-taking, possess excellent organizational and presentation skills; be able to multitask in a fast-paced environment with ability to adapt; and be able to think and work well independently without supervision and as a member of a team.
Must be an effective leader and able to work in a collaborative environment; must have advanced strategic thinking and project management skills.
Must be an effective problem-solver with the ability to quickly understand complex business needs. Skilled at being detailed and communicating effectively and articulately in both spoken and written Ability to develop strong relationships with operational teams and be an influencer within the organization, advocating for accomplishment of goals and operational efficiencies.
Demonstrated abilities in management, planning, and creative problem solving; advanced written and oral communications skills required; this position requires close involvement in the operations of the department and a high degree of initiative and ability to work in a complex organizational structure. Experience in collaborative approaches in a matrix-managed environment, and across multiple and diverse groups; practical problem solving and strategic thinking skills; critical thinking and excellent analytical and organizational skills ensuring attention to detail and accuracy are required.
Demonstrated advanced skills in communication, collaboration, and executive presence.
Demonstrated ability to work both collaboratively and independently. Proven ability to influence outcomes without direct authority.
Strong leadership, analytical and strategic thinking skills; experience managing portfolios, reporting program KPIs and optimizing resource allocation. Proven ability to oversee teams, budgets and schedules across interdependent workstreams. Advanced ability to present findings and insights concisely, objectively, and accurately.
PMP or similar project management certification preferred.
Technology Skills Required:
Expert user of Microsoft Office (including MS Project), SharePoint, and other project management and collaboration software (e.g.: Smartsheet).
Experienced with dashboards and business intelligence tools for reporting/analysis/data driven decision making.
The ability to learn and quickly become highly proficient with new systems and software is essential.
Physical Requirements
Ability to perform repetitive tasks such as data entry along with strong visual acuity required.
Must be able to walk up and down stairs repeatedly and routinely walk between campus buildings and across campus areas.
Working Conditions
Work Format: This is a hybrid position, with a minimum of three days per week worked on-campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Up to two days per week may be able to be performed remotely, however business needs at the time will determine this. Work location is responsive and subject to change based on business needs.
Additional Information
Emergency Status Designation: Critical Operations Personnel (required to provide on-site support during emergency situations as determined by management).
Benefits
We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:
Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.
Work Format
Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.
EEO Statement We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. The University, which is based in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, has an enrollment of over 20,000 degree candidates, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Harvard has more than 360,000 alumni around the world. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, offering a truly global education. Established in 1636, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States.