Project Specialist

American Institutes for Research•Sacramento, CA

2h•Remote

About The Position

AIR’s Employment & Economic Opportunity Program is seeking a Project Specialist to work on projects that broaden workforce opportunities for youth and adults seeking better pathways to good jobs by strengthening economic mobility programs and improving talent pipelines for employers. Our projects focus on areas of transformational change, such as systems alignment and the future of work, especially in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Topics range across the career readiness to the lifelong learning landscape, such as work-based learning strategies (WBL), adult education, career pathways, and industry sector strategies. The Project Specialist will manage large, multi-year, complex federal projects and work directly with our clients and project team (including subcontractors) to conduct strategic planning, implement change management strategies, and identify proof points and strong models that lead to sustainability and scaling of registered apprenticeship programs and other WBL and employer engagement efforts. The Project Specialist must have experience related to registered apprenticeship. This position has the flexibility to work remotely within the United States (U.S.) or from one of AIR’s U.S. office locations. This does not include U.S. territories. About AIR: Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to address some of the most pressing challenges in the United States and globally. We generate evidence and apply data-driven solutions that expand opportunities and improve lives for all.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of experience or Master's degree (MBA/MPA) and 4+ years of experience in a field related to public policy, economics, education, psychology, political science, or communications
4+ years of experience in project management, data analysis, and staffing processes ideally.
Experience with Registered Apprenticeship systems, programs, and large-scale expansion.
Effective communication skills with the ability to collaborate efficiently in a virtual work environment.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Demonstrated ability to work well independently, and collaborate as a member of the team, while prioritizing multiple objectives and projects to consistently meet established timelines.
Effective communication skills.
Positive “can-do” approach and ability to work in a rapidly-changing environment.
Detail oriented, persistent, and organized team player.
Commitment to providing excellent customer-service to clients.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis.
Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for this position.
Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

Nice To Haves

PMP Certification a plus.

Responsibilities

Work with the Project Director and Task Leaders to develop a detailed workplan and execute changes and/or updates to the project tasks.
Develop and maintain standard templates, processes, and workflows, all elements of which shall be consistent with AIR’s best practices and contract requirements.
Provide support in project planning and implementation by managing, monitoring, and tracking project tasks using standard processes and workflows.
Delegate work to staff and ensure tasks are completed on time.
Provide administrative support related to the overall project management.
Fully manage all reporting requirements internally and client facing, and work with the PD to ensure timely submission.
Forecast and analyze project management related data and synthesize those data into reports and spreadsheets based on program needs or program deliverables.
Track project benchmarks and make recommendations for change.