Manager, Project Management

Easterseals Southern California; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 93,000 - 114,000; Full time

Job summary

Easterseals Southern California seeks an experienced PMO Manager to lead day-to-day project delivery and supervise project managers, coordinators, and analysts. The role reinforces PMO standards, manages schedules and budgets, and ensures alignment with organizational goals and mission-driven outcomes.

You will coordinate cross-functional teams, monitor risks, and support leadership with status updates and actionable insights while maintaining a high-quality, person-centered service environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required.
• Master's Degree in a related field preferred.
• Project Management Certification (PMP, PGMP, PfMP, CSM) is required.
• LEAN Six Sigma certification or experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directly supervise project managers and coordinators to ensure PMO methodology adherence.
• Develop and maintain project schedules and coordinate resources.
• Monitor budgets and assist in tracking expenditures against approved parameters.
• Support portfolio tracking and reporting to leadership and stakeholders.
• Provide operational guidance to ensure business requirements and documentation are aligned.
• Support testing activities and ensure quality project implementation.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to review progress, risks, and priorities.
• Reinforce PMO standards and best practices through coaching and onboarding.

Skills

Team leadership

PMO supervision

Budget management

Stakeholder communication

Risk management

Scheduling

Resource planning

Cross-functional coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree preferred

PMP/PGMP/PfMP/CSM certification

LEAN Six Sigma experience

Tools

MS Office

Project

Visio

Smartsheet

JIRA

Job description

Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence—delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities.

Starting pay:$103,500+ DOE

Overview Of Position

Manages day-to-day project delivery activities within the Project Management Office and provides direct supervision, coaching, and operational guidance to project managers, project coordinators, solution consultants, and test analysts in support of departmental goals and Director oversight. Supports execution of assigned projects and programs by reinforcing PMO standards, monitoring timelines, coordinating resources, facilitating issue resolution, and ensuring work is completed in alignment with project objectives, departmental priorities, and ESSC's strategic plan. In all responsibilities, the position demonstrates a strong commitment to ESSC’s mission and values by supporting a high-quality, person-centered service environment.

Essential Functions

• Directly supervises project managers, project coordinators, solution consultants, business analysts, and test analysts and monitors day-to-day project execution to ensure adherence to established PMO methodology, operational priorities, and departmental goals.
• Develops and maintains project schedules for assigned initiatives, gathers input from project leads and stakeholders, identifies resource or system conflicts, and escalates or coordinates resolution with appropriate partners.
• Monitors project budgets and spending for assigned projects and supports the Director in tracking expenditures, identifying variances, and maintaining alignment with approved budget parameters.
• Supports project portfolio tracking and reporting by providing updates on assigned projects, team workload, risks, and project status to internal stakeholders and department leadership.
• Provides operational oversight and guidance to solution consultants and business analysts to ensure business requirements, documentation, and project deliverables are completed accurately and in coordination with business SMEs, IT, and project teams.
• Monitors testing activities and supports test analysts in executing test plans, documenting results, and coordinating issue resolutions to promote quality project implementation and minimizing post-production issues.
• Supports departmental budget administration by providing project-related budget input, tracking assigned expenditures, and escalating budget concerns to leadership as needed.
• Builds collaborative relationships with project stakeholders and facilitates recurring meetings to review project progress, resource needs, risks, and operational priorities for assigned projects and teams.
• Reinforces PMO standards, tools, and best practices through team coaching, onboarding support, and ongoing guidance to promote consistent project execution.
• Monitors assigned projects to help ensure milestones, budgets, and quality expectations are met and elevate barriers or risks that may impact delivery.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required.
• Master's Degree in a related field Preferred.
• Project Management Certification (PMP, PGMP, PfMP, CSM) is required.
• Process improvement experience and certification like LEAN Six Sigma, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt is preferred.

Experience

• 6-8 years of portfolio, program, and project management and solution consulting experience is required.
• 8 years of supervisory experience is required.
• Experience supporting project intake, prioritization, or resource planning in a formal PMO environment, with working knowledge of project management principles and operational planning, is preferred.

EXEPECTED NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS: 3-6

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong operational leadership and team management skills with the ability to supervise staff, coach performance, support development, foster teamwork, and reinforce accountability for day-to-day project execution.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, take initiative, prioritize competing demands, and apply sound judgment, time management, problem-solving, and organizational skills in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to understand and support documentation of business requirements, facilitate project discussions, and help translate operational needs into actionable project tasks.
• Ability to coordinate and influence cross-functional partners to support timely completion of project milestones, deliverables, and operational follow-through.
• Ability to manage and oversee multiple technical and non-technical projects of moderate to high complexity while maintaining quality, timelines, and operational consistency.
• Experience preparing and delivering project updates, status reports, and operational presentations for leadership and staff, with the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to varied audiences.
• Working knowledge of applicable regulations, privacy standards, and operational requirements relevant to assigned projects, or the ability to acquire this knowledge.
• Ability to interpret and apply organizational and departmental policies, procedures, and practices in support of project operations and team management.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, support team members through operational changes, and learn department-specific technology and systems.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio, Outlook), Smartsheet, JIRA, and other project management and collaboration tools; familiarity with business and operational systems is preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively, through oral and written skills, with all levels of staff and the general public; and maintain customer service orientation and professionalism in all interactions.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain a high level of confidentiality with sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation, per Easterseals Southern California and/or program requirements.
• Ability to travel locally; maintain driving record in compliance with Transportation Safety Standards; maintain auto insurance and vehicle registration.
• Ability to work after hours and weekends as needed.
• Must pass all drug testing required by ESSC and a post-offer physical evaluation.

Physical Requirements In Accordance With Ada

• Carrying/Lifting: Occasional / 0-10 lbs.
• Standing: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.
• Sitting: Constant / Up to 8 hours per day.
• Walking: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.
• Travel: Occasional, as work requires.
• Repetitive Motion/Activity: Keyboard activity, telephone use, writing.
• Visual Acuity: Ability to view computer monitor and read newsprint.
• Environmental Exposure: None.