Senior Project Manager

Childrens Defense Fund•Washington, DC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) is fully dedicated and accountable for the planning, execution, and management of various Public Affairs projects across public policy, communications, and day-to-day responsibilities for the ECOSYS Southern States Fund through CDF’s role as ECOSYS co-anchor. The SPM exercises independent judgment in managing timelines, systems, partner coordination, and internal workflows, and ensures high-quality, compliant execution across public affairs and ECOSYS activities led by CDF. The SPM works under the direction of—and in close collaboration with—the National Director of Public Affair and provides operational leadership across internal teams and external partners. While the role does not lead ECOSYS governance design, hub management, or initiative‑wide evaluation (which are partner‑led), the SPM is responsible for ensuring CDF’s scope of work is executed effectively, on schedule, and in alignment with organizational priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum of five years of progressively responsible project management, program implementation and/or operations leadership experience.
Experience coordinating multi-site initiatives, partner engagement, or organizing-related projects preferred.
Experience with regranting, grant administration, compliance, or nonprofit reporting is preferred.
Strong project and systems management skills; ability to create and maintain repeatable processes.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong relationship building and partner engagement skills.
Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-state environment.
Commitment to racial equity and CDF’s mission.
Highly organized with strong follow-through and attention to logistical detail.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, manage complexity, and balance multiple stakeholder interests within time‑bound initiatives.

Nice To Haves

PMP or similar project management certification.
Experience supporting convenings, field‑building, or multi-stakeholder collaborative initiatives.
Experience with racial equity, child well‑being, community organizing, or policy-adjacent work.

Responsibilities

Own and manage day‑to‑day project operations, including workplans, timelines, deliverables, internal dependencies, and documentation.
Design, maintain, and improve internal systems used to track commitments, regranting timelines, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
Provide operational leadership to ensure activities are resourced appropriately, risks are identified early, and execution remains aligned with CDF standards and expectations.
Coordinate internally with Grants and Finance, Leadership Development & Organizing, Public Affairs, State Offices, and other CDF teams to ensure consistent implementation.
Maintain consistent communication with Southern States Fund partners, including scheduling, preparation of materials, follow-ups, and ongoing relationship building.
Coordinate and support partner onboarding processes and ensure partners receive timely information, updates, and resources from CDF.
Serve as a primary point of contact for ECOSYS partner logistics, inquiries, and operational needs in collaboration with LDO Director.
Exercise professional judgment in resolving day‑to‑day partner operational issues and escalating strategic or reputational concerns to LDO leadership as appropriate.
Manage CDF’s internal regranting implementation for ECOSYS, including process design, documentation standards, timelines, compliance coordination, and partner communication, in alignment with CDF grant management protocols.
Synthesize partner inputs, progress reports, and qualitative updates to inform internal decision‑making, leadership updates, and regranting cycles.
Ensure regranting activities remain timely, compliant, and well-organized within CDF’s internal framework.
Assist in producing internal summaries or synthesis related to regranting.
Coordinate the internal planning and operational execution of CDF‑aligned Public Affairs convenings—including multiday gatherings at Haley Farm, cross‑state learning sessions, and state partner visits—in support of senior staff external leadership and partner engagement roles.
Support content and logistics for effective convenings: agenda and content development, participant communication, materials preparation, accessibility supports, technology, and onsite/virtual logistics.
Create follow-up summaries, notes, or synthesis documents from convenings for internal and external use, ensuring continuity and follow-through on action items.
Support the coordination of technical assistance by helping match partner needs to TA providers, working closely with internal and external collaborators.
Track TA pacing, scheduling, communication, and follow-up within CDF’s internal systems.
Ensure partners have clear instructions, materials, and timelines related to TA engagements.
Coordinate with CDF Public Affairs and messaging partners to support development of ECOSYS aligned narrative and policy materials.
Manage the flow of content, drafts, and inputs needed for briefs, talking points, convening materials, or other narrative/policy products.
Ensure narrative and policy integration activities are aligned with CDF’s internal guidance and handled in coordination with LDO.