Project Manager Technical, PMO

Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more equitable early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!

The Project Manager Technical, PMO will apply industry standard methodologies to the management of technology and digital transformation projects throughout the full project life cycle, from initiating to closing, including work management, resource management, scope and timeline management, quality management, risk management, communication and stakeholder management, etc., across projects as assigned.

The Project Management Office (PMO) delivers excellent project, process and change management support, enabling Start Early to facilitate positive change, operate effectively and deliver on our strategic commitments toward our organizational mission.

Working in the PMO is an opportunity to join a team that strives to provide transparent, equitable access to all PMO supports, ensuring that Start Early staff are confident in their ability to deliver on our commitments and sustain positive change.

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, you will:

· Apply and adapt agile and traditional project management tools and methods to suit organizational culture and context. Maintain a comprehensive view of assigned projects and the status of all project components.

· Facilitate project team meetings and coordination across both technical and functional leads – including program, policy, research and operations experts – to advance project goals and ensure all aspects of the project are delivered on schedule, within budget, and within scope. Collaborate with project teams, including third-party product and service providers to ensure team members have the resources and capabilities needed to meet project objectives.

· Provide business analysis subject matter expertise by working with functional areas to deliver technology and digital transformation solutions. Analyze, plan and develop requirements documents and vendor selection procedures. Research and evaluate new hardware, software and service providers, and support teams in implementing, upgrading and maintaining systems as needed.

·Support project leadership in overall management of projects by scoping strategic priorities into concrete project objectives, anticipating deadlines, establishing change control, routinely reviewing scope, collecting information, writing and distributing status reports. Proactively anticipate and identify challenges to achieving project achievements and initiate actions to facilitate resolution of issues.

· Develop and deliver change management solutions and activities that promote effective change adoption.

· Develop new processes, or improve existing processes, to enable the flow of work and deliver value to internal and external customers (e.g. define and clarify roles and decision sets, gain buy-in, look for and reduce waste, etc.)

· Develop and deliver training and consultation to colleagues to build organizational capacity around effective project, change and process management. Support PMO operations to optimize PMO services for internal stakeholders. Translate learnings from professional learning opportunities into updated practices and templates for the organization.

Qualifications:

· Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree required.

· 3-5 years in agile or technical project management

· Project Management Professional and/or Agile Certifications preferred. Change management, process improvement, or ITIL certifications a plus.

· General understanding of hardware and software technology verticals and terminology

· Experience with requirements management, design, implementation, system integration, verification, test, quality assurance, delivery, operations, and sustainment of technical solutions

· Deep commitment to advancing diversity, racial equity, and inclusion into organizational routines and practice is required.

· Effectively establish and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders and vendors and gain their trust and respect.

· Comfort and experience in handling risk and uncertainty to move work forward.

We recognize that few candidates might meet every single piece of knowledge, experience, or education listed here. Research shows that women and people of color, among many other historically excluded groups, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Start Early is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your qualifications don’t perfectly align with everything in the job description, we still encourage you to apply!

REQUIRED: Please submit a cover letter along with your resume addressing your specific interest/connection to Start Early's mission and your experience/ability to manage both agile/technology projects as well as traditional projects.

Base Annual Salary: $75,000-$82,000

We believe that all employees should be paid fairly and equitably. As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months of paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.