Project Manager for Strategic Initiatives

UO HR Website•Eugene, OR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of the Provost (OtP) is responsible for carrying out the academic mission of the University of Oregon (UO). The office works collaboratively with faculty and staff to enhance academic excellence, student success, and the UO’s overall academic profile. Led by the provost and senior vice president, the OtP is a dynamic, caring community of colleagues committed to the core values of integrity, trust, equity, collaboration, and excellence. The OtP leads, in coordination with other leaders on campus, the university's strategic planning efforts, called Oregon Rising. Also, it supports and coordinates matters that pertain to faculty success, including hiring, retention, promotion, and tenure processes. We promote the highest standards in teaching, research and service, working closely with the schools and colleges and other critical academic units to promote institutional and personal flourishing. We are responsible for academic financial allocations and the alignment of resources with strategic academic priorities. In service to the public mission of the UO, the OtP cultivates reciprocal relationships of engagement and outreach with communities at the local, regional, and national levels and across the globe. The project manager for strategic initiatives provides highly visible project management support for high-impact, strategic projects and initiatives that advance the university’s strategic plan, Oregon Rising and strategic initiatives within the President’s and Provost’s office. Reporting to the associate Vice President for academic administration and chief of staff, the project manager serves as a strategic partner to all levels of leadership, including executive leaders, advising, coordinating, and directing cross-functional initiatives across the Office of the Provost. This position is responsible for designing and implementing the processes, and structures that support institutional strategic planning: leading complex, multi-stakeholder efforts while ensuring alignment across units to support and execute on the institutions strategic plan, Oregon Rising. They will manage confidential and sensitive projects, and represents the Office of the Provost in strategic forums across the university. Additionally, the project manager leads and oversees multi-stakeholder endeavors and projects to guide strategy and action toward implementing Oregon Rising. They will work closely and collaboratively with other units reporting to the provost. This could include support for any project or programs that are priorities of the OtP. The project manager is responsible for assisting with the successful delivery of assigned projects with the Office of the Provost and stakeholders and ensures the use of standardized project management methodologies, processes, and tools. This position provides oversight and coordination with other project resources and supports personnel as appropriate. This fixed-term position is expected to last for three years, and has the possibility of renewal.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Four years of experience in leading high impact projects within a complex organization.
Effective and professional communication abilities.
Ability to identify project outcomes, design processes, and facilitate meetings to meet project goals.
Works with discretion and is sensitive to and navigates successfully multiple competing interests.
Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret complex information and to effectively present information to various university stakeholders including senior leadership, faculty, students, and staff.
Ability to solve problems and respond to a variety of options in complex situations.
Expertise in working effectively and collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Proven ability to be effective in an interdisciplinary team environment.
Proven project management, time management, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage details of multiple and complex projects within firm schedules.
Demonstrated ability to move complex projects forward in a timely manner and keep groups focused on maintaining project momentum.
Ability to manage stressful situations professionally, and to use sound judgment and initiative, particularly as it relates to handling sensitive and/or confidential information.
Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn project management tools such as Smartsheet.

Nice To Haves

Project management experience in a higher education environment.
Facilitation experience.

Responsibilities

Provides highly visible project management support for high-impact, strategic projects and initiatives that advance the university’s strategic plan, Oregon Rising and strategic initiatives within the President’s and Provost’s office.
Serves as a strategic partner to all levels of leadership, including executive leaders, advising, coordinating, and directing cross-functional initiatives across the Office of the Provost.
Designs and implements the processes and structures that support institutional strategic planning.
Leads complex, multi-stakeholder efforts while ensuring alignment across units to support and execute on the institutions strategic plan, Oregon Rising.
Manages confidential and sensitive projects.
Represents the Office of the Provost in strategic forums across the university.
Leads and oversees multi-stakeholder endeavors and projects to guide strategy and action toward implementing Oregon Rising.
Works closely and collaboratively with other units reporting to the provost.
Assists with the successful delivery of assigned projects with the Office of the Provost and stakeholders.
Ensures the use of standardized project management methodologies, processes, and tools.
Provides oversight and coordination with other project resources and supports personnel as appropriate.