UMass Amherst Hiring for Project Manager – Program Management & Fiscal Operations (Remote Opportunity) at Amherst, MA  Full Time

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth’s flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) Head Start National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations (PMFO) Project Manager is the logistical lead for PMFO’s project activities and the management of the project production tasks.

Essential Functions

• Leads and manages all logistical activity for key project, product, and material planning and implementation. Strategizes with PMFO management team on effective approach and execution.
• Shepherds the implementation of national and regional meetings and events (in-person and virtual formats) to include contract negotiation, event management, production and distribution of resources and materials and analysis and presentation of after-action data.
• Liaises with PMFO partner organizations to include the Office of Head Start (OHS), Zero To Three, FHI 360 and UCLA at a national level coordinating efforts of all entities to ensure high quality deliverables are met on a timely basis and communications and working relations are mutually beneficial.
• Provides training and technical assistance for a wide variety of collaborative software tools, as well as provide technical assistance both in preparation for PMFO events and real-time when event goes live.
• Develops, implements, and monitors internal protocols for providing and maintaining the institutional memory for PMFO in accordance with sponsor requirements established by the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the University.
• Provides leadership, training and quality assurance for fiscal transactions and is responsible for the accurate and timely submission of procurement and supply chain actions, equipment inventory, bank card logs, and expense reports. Ensures that all transactions adhere to all federal, state, and University policies and procedures.
• Manages project-level human resources recruitment activities, including staff orientation and onboarding and interviewing applicants where necessary.
• Supervises the Assistant Project and Accreditation Coordinator and manages tasks of PMFO administrative support team.

Other Functions

• Actively participates in PMFO and UMDI-wide initiatives as requested, including Administrative and Fiscal Team meetings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• More than three (3) years’ project management experience working in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills, customer service skills, and the ability to maintain professional relationships with stakeholders, including staff, federal office, and external partners.
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), Adobe Acrobat, social media web platforms, and collaboration software (such as Smartsheet and Constant Contact).
• Ability to work effectively both independently, virtually and in a team-based environment that is fast-paced and often pressure-filled.
• Strong organizational skills that reflect adaptability and the ability to perform and prioritize multiple logistical tasks seamlessly, with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to remain flexible, proactive, and efficient when balancing multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment and possess strong managerial and logistical skills.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Master’s Degree.
• Academic disciplines may include Organizational Leadership, Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
• Five (5) years’ project management experience working in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.
• Knowledge of federal and state funding streams.
• Knowledge of Head Start resources in program management and fiscal operations nation- wide, and familiarity with Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center.
• Strong facilitation skills and experience with meeting/event planning.
• Experience in project monitoring; automated accounting systems, knowledge of PeopleSoft, Summit and BuyWays.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Will be required to maintain a home office, with a physically safe workspace that is an appropriate location for the telework, with high-speed internet access, sufficiently free of distractions. During remote work time, must be available for on-going contact with supervising manager(s), other team members, and clients.
• Multiple hours in a stationary position while using office equipment and computers. Environment and work demands are fast-paced and dynamic, including multiple interruptions and requests for assistance.
• Occasional travel within the US is required, primarily within Massachusetts. Travel outside Massachusetts may be required 3-4 times/year.
• Ability to transport items weighing up to 20 pounds from one location to another.

Additional Details

• This position is funded by grants and/or contracts and is contingent upon funding.
• This is a a full-time, benefited position.
• Applicants must be work authorized for employment in the U.S. on a full-time basis.
• Any job offer is specifically conditioned upon the potential candidate consenting to and successfully completing a background review.

Work Schedule

• Standard full-time work schedule consisting of five, eight-hour days and 40 hours each week. Work performed in addition to regular hours may be necessary, as may be a change in availability at specific times, to accommodate for variations in work demands.
• This position has the opportunity for a remote work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where the employee’s work location is to work from a site other than the UMass Amherst campus. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 27

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until filled.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.