Project Manager- Special Initiatives

Matrix Human Services•Detroit, MI

2h•$59,000 - $72,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Manager – Special Initiatives reports to the Senior Director of the Matrix Center and plans, coordinates, implements, and monitors special projects and organizational initiatives that support Matrix Human Services’ strategic priorities. The role manages projects from concept through completion, including developing plans, coordinating internal and external stakeholders, tracking timelines and deliverables, identifying risks, evaluating outcomes, and reporting progress. It also provides agency-wide leadership for volunteer engagement and in-kind donations by recruiting, coordinating, tracking, and recognizing volunteers and donated goods and services, while creating meaningful engagement opportunities for community members and partners. The position requires substantial cross-functional collaboration and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. The Project Manager develops project plans, schedules, budgets, and documentation; facilitates meetings; coordinates work across departments and with external partners; monitors project performance; gathers and analyzes data; prepares reports and presentations; and supports implementation of systems, programs, events, partnerships, and operational improvements. The role also coordinates volunteer recruitment, screening, onboarding, placement, training, support, and recognition; manages relationships and records related to donated goods and services; and helps ensure compliance with organizational, contractual, grant, safety, confidentiality, and record-retention requirements. Work is primarily performed in a normal office environment. Regular travel between Matrix locations and community sites may be required, including travel during inclement weather. Participation in community, volunteer, organizational, or special-project activities may periodically occur outside traditional business hours. The position requires the ability to lift up to 20 pounds and involves the usual pressures of managing multiple projects, competing priorities, and deadlines.

Requirements

Demonstrated experience coordinating or managing multiple projects, programs, events, or organizational initiatives.
Ability to develop project plans, establish priorities, monitor deadlines, and manage projects through successful completion.
Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities simultaneously.
Ability to work across departments and coordinate individuals who may not directly report to the position.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills, including the ability to identify project risks, barriers, and dependencies and develop solutions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong meeting facilitation, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to prepare professional reports, presentations, project plans, spreadsheets, correspondence, and other business documents.
Experience identifying and maximizing volunteer and in-kind resource opportunities.
Strong relationship-management skills and ability to maintain productive relationships with agency staff, leadership, community partners, contractors, donors, volunteers, clients, and Board members.
Ability to provide a positive experience for volunteers, donors, partners, staff, and community stakeholders while meeting organizational needs and expectations.
Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records and documentation.
Ability to collect, organize, analyze, and communicate quantitative and qualitative information.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
Ability to quickly learn new technology and organizational systems.
Ability to work effectively independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Ability to exercise discretion, professionalism, sound judgment, and appropriate confidentiality.
Ability to meet deadlines and produce accurate work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Ability to lift up to 20 pounds.
Ability to travel between Matrix locations and community sites, potentially during inclement weather, and periodically participate in activities outside traditional business hours.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred in Business Administration, Public Administration, Project Management, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Social Services, Philanthropy, Organizational Leadership, or a related field; equivalent combinations of education and professional experience will be evaluated individually.
Experience coordinating volunteers, community partnerships, donations, events, or community engagement activities.
Experience with project management, customer relationship management, volunteer management, donor management, or related software.

Responsibilities

Plan, coordinate, implement, and evaluate special projects and initiatives assigned by the Senior Director of the Matrix Center.
Develop project plans identifying objectives, scope, timelines, milestones, deliverables, responsibilities, resources, and expected outcomes.
Coordinate projects from initiation through completion and ensure deliverables are accurate and completed on time.
Maintain project schedules, work plans, action-item trackers, and other project management tools.
Convene and facilitate project meetings, prepare agendas, document decisions, assign action items, and monitor follow-up.
Coordinate work across departments and programs and with external consultants, vendors, contractors, community partners, and other stakeholders.
Identify project risks, barriers, dependencies, and resource needs; communicate concerns and develop recommendations and solutions.
Monitor project performance against goals, timelines, budgets, and deliverables; collect and analyze data to evaluate outcomes and identify improvements.
Prepare project status reports, summaries, presentations, dashboards, and other materials for leadership and stakeholders.
Maintain organized project documentation, including decisions, deliverables, expenditures, contracts, and outcomes.
Assist with implementation of systems, processes, programs, events, partnerships, operational improvements, and change-management activities.
Conduct research and gather information to support project planning, decision-making, and implementation.
Coordinate special events and agency-wide initiatives as assigned, ensuring consistency with organizational policies, contractual and grant requirements, and priorities.
Develop and implement strategies to recruit a diverse volunteer base aligned with organizational and program needs.
Build and maintain partnerships with corporations, schools, colleges and universities, faith-based organizations, civic organizations, and community groups.
Work with program leadership to identify volunteer opportunities and promote them through outreach, events, electronic communications, social media, and other strategies.
Represent Matrix Human Services at volunteer fairs, community events, corporate service events, and other engagement opportunities.
Develop short-term, long-term, and project-based volunteer opportunities; coordinate volunteer projects connected to agency priorities; and support volunteer recognition and retention.
Coordinate volunteer applications, screening, onboarding, orientation, placement, and training; match volunteers with appropriate service opportunities.
Develop volunteer position descriptions and expectations, maintain accurate volunteer records, communicate with volunteers, and coordinate with program staff responsible for supervision.
Ensure volunteers follow organizational policies, confidentiality requirements, safety procedures, background-screening requirements, and other applicable standards; address concerns with appropriate leadership.
Identify opportunities to secure donated goods and professional services; cultivate relationships with individuals, businesses, corporations, and community partners.
Coordinate solicitation, receipt, distribution, documentation, valuation, and acknowledgment of in-kind contributions in collaboration with Finance, Development, program leadership, and other departments.
Work with programs to identify priority needs and provide donors and partners with timely acknowledgment and a professional engagement experience.
Identify opportunities to develop sustainable partnerships from one-time donations or volunteer activities.
Build working relationships across the organization, coordinate cross-departmental activities, serve as a liaison between the Matrix Center and other departments, and communicate project expectations and changes.
Assist departments in developing strategies, processes, tools, and systems to improve project execution and organizational effectiveness.
Establish measurable objectives and performance indicators when appropriate; track project activities, milestones, participation, outcomes, expenditures, volunteer hours, and in-kind contributions.
Maintain accurate data and supporting documentation for organizational, grant, audit, compliance, and record-retention purposes; assist with grant reporting.
Manage assigned project budgets, supplies, purchasing, and expenditures within approved parameters; assist with vendor coordination, quotes, purchasing, and invoices.
Provide leadership with timely updates on progress, concerns, accomplishments, and upcoming milestones.
Participate in meetings, committees, workgroups, and special assignments; maintain knowledge of organizational programs, services, priorities, and community resources.
Represent Matrix Human Services professionally, maintain confidentiality, use sound judgment, and perform other duties and special projects as assigned by the Senior Director of the Matrix Center.
Use data to evaluate project effectiveness, promote learning, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement, and help identify and address gaps and barriers.
Adhere to professional ethical standards and organizational policies and procedures; comply with applicable Head Start requirements when assigned responsibilities supporting Head Start or Early Head Start programs.
Promote understanding of and commitment to the mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities of Matrix Human Services.