Project Manager
Project Manager
Job Overview
The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska is seeking applications from qualified individuals for the position of Project Manager to plan, manage, monitor, and report on the Needs Assessment, a project funded by the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five Initiative. This grant, subject to availability of federal funds through April 2023, supports the alignment of Nebraska's early care and education system with a priority on providing equitable access to quality programs for all children and families.
Buffett Early Childhood Institute Profile
Envisioned as a new model for how public higher education is engaged in the first years of life, the Buffett Early Childhood Institute (https://buffettinstitute.nebraska.edu/) is a four-campus, university-wide, multidisciplinary research, education, outreach, and policy institute of the University of Nebraska committed to helping transform early childhood development and education in Nebraska and across the nation. The long-term goal of the Institute is to be a leading center where scholars, practitioners, community members, and policymakers collaborate to advance a unified approach that can improve the lives of young children and families and the systems that support them.
Applicants should note that the goals of the Institute are university-, state-, and nation-wide, but the location of the Institute administration is in Omaha. This position will work primarily out of the Omaha office.
Job Responsibilities
This job description is not to be considered an exhaustive or exclusive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other job-related instructions as requested. This list describes major responsibilities to support the Buffett Institute goals in grant-funded collaboration, evaluation, and research efforts:
• Manage project activities across phases, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, control, and closure.
• Define requirements, resources, and schedule for project implementation to deliver project deliverables and meet project goals and milestones.
• Maintain project documentation, organization, and review processes for deliverables.
• Create, manage, and track project activities, output, and plans, including but not limited to project plans, charters, schedules, cost estimates, risk/issue logs, change management requests, budgets, contracts, and status reports.
• Manage and track project assignments, activities, and resources to ensure deadlines are met and stakeholders are informed of progress.
• Make recommendations to project leads about schedules, prioritization, and resource allocation with input from team members.
• Support community-facing efforts, including participant recruitment efforts, which may include engaging with grant partners, university faculty and staff, and community members.
• Lead meetings, including agenda planning, meeting implementation, and documentation.
• Prepare presentation materials, including creating data visualizations (tables, figures, etc.), PowerPoint slide decks, and handouts. Present to participants, project partners, and stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with project leads (PI and Co-PI) and team members, other project managers, and grant partners to provide timely information and feedback, problem-solve, assign resources, and execute decisions.
• Other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree
• Three years of project management experience
• Demonstrated experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Proficient communication skills and attention to detail
Preferred Qualifications
• Master's degree
• Knowledge of early childhood care and education programs and/or systems
• Project Management Profession certification
• Experience with project management methodologies
• Experience with project management software systems
An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities is acquired may be considered.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to integrate and synthesize information, possess strong organizational skills, initiative, good follow-through, ability to work and solve problems with minimal supervision, strong collaborative skills, and strong meeting planning and facilitation skills and experience.
The University of Nebraska is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status.