Sr. Program Manager - Education - Chicago (Chicago, IL)

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flag [?] : miscategorized prohibited spam best of Posted: 2013-09-21, 1:04AM CDT

NWEA has an exciting opportunity available for a Senior Program Manager at our Chicago location. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates who have previous Program Management, Project Management and/or Account Management experience within the education field. NWEA offers a competitive base salary with an outstanding benefits package. Candidates should reside in or near the Chicago vicinity or be willing to relocate.

The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) is a growing non-profit organization committed to improving K-12 academic student learning throughout the nation. We offer software solutions that deliver research-based adaptive assessments, detailed reporting of student achievement and growth, and professional training. School teachers and administrators use this information to accurately determine individual student instructional needs, tailor lessons and design school improvement plans.

We are searching for talented individuals who desire to make a difference in education by demonstrating a commitment to our mission:
Partnering to help all kids learn.

Position Summary:
The Senior Program Manager is responsible for the successful delivery of contractual commitments within scope, time, budget and partner expectation. This position is responsible for the management of all phases of large-scale contract delivery including, but not limited to, translating contractual documents into working documents, identifying and communicating roles and responsibilities, establishing schedules and priorities, acting as team leader for representatives of all involved stakeholders, establishing and monitoring program metrics to assure compliance with contractual requirements, monitoring risk and developing mitigation strategies, ensuring quality standards are met, establishing and maintaining effective communication between all parties and interfacing with the contractual partner and third party alliance partner

Responsibilities:
• Manage all aspects of complex, large-scale contracts in a high security environment often with high-stakes attached
• Deliver all contractual commitments within scope, timeline, budget and partner expectation
• Develop master schedule that reflects contractual requirements and participant’s work requirements
• Develop reporting metrics to assure the appropriate tasks are being monitored in support of the successful delivery of contractual requirements within scope, time, budget and partner expectations
• Monitor schedule, cost, deadlines and deliveries to ensure project commitments are executed on time, within scope and within budget
• Ensure adherence to existing policies, processes and procedures. Develop and implement new policies, processes and procedures, where needed.
• Anticipate problems and develop creative methods for solving them
• Work with state, national or major account counterparts to ensure all plans and schedules are viable, that the roles, responsibilities and timelines for each participant are clearly understood and agreed to
• Develop strong, positive, constructive relationships with senior-level partners and multiple stakeholders
• Establish and lead clear lines of communication with all stakeholders in support of the contract requirements. Chair and facilitate high-level partner and sub-contractor meetings with multiple participants, guiding discussions among multiple stakeholders to reach concrete decisions
• Work directly with senior level partners to provide solutions to day-to-day operational issues
• Facilitate change management efforts, enlisting existing processes or creating new processes where required, to meet partner’s requirements.

Ensure scope changes are reflected in contracts, budgets, activities and schedules
• Communicate scope and budget changes to team members with a need to know
• Keep senior and executive management informed of any potential risks, potential missed deadlines, budget over-runs or partner dissatisfaction
• Manage sub-contractors and other third-party relationships that may be required for the successful delivery against the contract
• Manage cross-functional project teams
• Make informed, critical decisions about the program with high stakes attached
 
Skills and Abilities:
• Ability to lead, manage and innovate
• Ability to translate contracts into detailed working documents
• Ability to conceptualize how all the parts of a complex program fit together and what a change in one part will mean for the other parts
• Ability to quickly develop strong, positive, constructive relationships with senior-level partners and multiple stakeholders
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work independently as well as a contributing team member
• Excellent listening and communication skills
• Ability to organize data and write effective communications to inform stakeholders
• Ability to organize time effectively, determine priorities and move work forward
• Ability to assess the effectiveness of processes and procedures and recommend improvements
• Ability to identify potential risk and propose mitigation strategies
• Ability to work effectively in a growing organization
• Ability to use mainstream project management and CRM tools
• Must be available for a high level of business travel Must be comfortable seeking out information and advice
• Ability to respond to and deliver last minute requests with tight deadlines
• Strong ability to manipulate data and use it to make informed decisions about the status of the project
• Ability to develop customized reports based on partner need
• Must be available to travel to schools and other locations throughout Chicago as needed
• Ability to troubleshoot basic technology issues
• Ability to balance the needs of the partner and the organization

Education and experience:
• Bachelor degree required. MBA or MA in relevant field, or the equivalent preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively increasing responsibility managing large, strategic, high-risk projects in a fast-paced environment
• Proven success managing and delivering against large, high-risk contracts and programs
• Successful experience working directly with senior-level stakeholders
• Successful experience managing multi-million dollar budgets
• Experience working with mainstream project management tools and CRM systems
• PMP certification preferred
• Experience in education, preferably with computer adaptive testing is highly preferred
• Experience working with on-line, secure delivery systems a plus
• Advanced level Excel skills with ability to manipulate formulas, create graphs, and pivot tables preferred; experience with Access a plus
• Experience with Google applications and Salesforce preferred
• Familiarity with Chicago Public Schools a plus

Benefits:
NWEA’s generous benefits package includes: 100% employer paid medical, dental and vision insurance for eligible employees; company-paid public transportation, indoor bicycle racks, and free on-site parking; convenient location near public transportation near the Pearl District in downtown Portland; additional monthly compensation in the form of flex pay; and a 15% annual employer contribution toward our 403b retirement plan. In addition, NWEA’s culture promotes work-life balance. Accordingly, we offer 4 weeks’ PTO in the first year, 5 weeks’ PTO after the first year anniversary, and 6 weeks’ PTO after the second year anniversary and in subsequent years. Our employees also enjoy flexible work schedules.

NWEA is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and we do not discriminate against employees or job applicants on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status or consideration protected by local, state and federal laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification applies. Equal opportunity applies to hiring, promotion, training, compensation, and any other organizational action.

NWEA's written Affirmative Action Plan is available to all employees and job applicants upon request by contacting Careers@nwea.org.

To Apply for this position, please CLICK HERE

Location: Chicago, ILCompensation: CompetitivePrincipals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.Posting ID: 4081207909

Posted: 2013-09-21, 1:04AM CDT

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