Project Manager

CENIC; La Mirada (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

PTO and holidays

Retirement plan (403b)

Pet insurance discount

Job summary

CENIC is seeking a Project Manager to lead multiple concurrent projects, ensuring on-time delivery and budget adherence. You will coordinate internal teams and external vendors, balance priorities, and communicate status to stakeholders.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) with 4–6 years of project management experience and may hold a PM certification. The role requires strong collaboration across departments and a focus on process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred and 4-6 years of relevant work experience.
• Project management certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple complex projects from initiation to close.
• Manage multiple competing projects and shifting priorities.
• Coordinate internal and external resources to meet deadlines and budgets.
• Communicate project status clearly to stakeholders.
• Develop metrics, risks, and mitigation plans; escalate as needed.
• Foster strong relationships with customers and partners.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

Interpersonal skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Written communication

Security awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Project management certification

Job description

About CENIC Join the team that connects California to the world — advancing education and research statewide by providing the world-class computing network essential for innovation, collaboration, and economic growth. Our organization operates the California Research and Education Network (CalREN), a high-capacity computer network with more than 8,000 miles of optical fiber. The network serves over 20 million users across California, including the vast majority of K-20 students, together with educators, researchers, and individuals at other vital public-serving institutions.

Position Summary Reporting to the Manager of the Program Management Office, the Project Manager plans and sets direction for multiple concurrent projects of varying size, including both small and large-scale projects. This position is responsible for the quality and delivery of CENIC’s service commitments on schedule and within budget, using internal and external resources and following CENIC standard policies and procedures. The Project Manager must lead all phases of the project, from beginning to end, must manage the activities of all internal and external resources on projects and/or service deliverables. In handling this work, the Project Manager may be accountable for coordinating simultaneously with one or more providers of services and/or goods, as well as multiple internal teams.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None.

Essential Functions The following section details the primary responsibilities and duties of the role and is not a comprehensive list. The Project Manager is expected to perform these duties in the normal course of work. Non-essential responsibilities, those considered peripheral, incidental, or a minimal part of the job, are not specified in this section.

• Manage and lead multiple complex projects ranging in size from small to large, through project initiation to close.
• Effectively manage multiple competing projects and shifting priorities.
• Accountable for day-to-day project support for multiple small to large-sized project plans and teams working on the various work areas identified.
• Effectively communicate project status to, and manage expectations of, team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion.
• Review project team deliverables to ensure quality and adherence to internal standards.
• Develop strong relationships with customers to understand their needs, to anticipate obstacles to success, and to advocate internally on their behalf.
• Regularly track projects, manage project risks and the impact of changes, provide mitigation plans, and proactively manage escalation of issues to appropriate stakeholders.
• Run ad hoc reports and develop standard reports in order to establish metrics for teams and to ensure performance against metrics is tracked, measured, and socialized on a regular basis.
• Analyze trends and consolidate data/information for review with primary stakeholders to drive data-based decisions.
• Work collaboratively with all teams to ensure workload is appropriately assigned, and resource constraints are identified.
• Develop, refine, and maintain cross-departmental workflows, leveraging automation to eliminate operational bottlenecks and drive measurable efficiencies across the organization.
• Provide feedback and make recommendations to management on process improvements, technology, training requirements, etc.
• Develop and maintain a productive relationship with CENIC associates, providers of goods and services, and industry partners.
• Work closely with the CENIC Security Team to identify, discuss, and implement software tools and solutions in support of CENIC’s networks, network security designs, and implementations of network security policies, procedures, and technologies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Key Success Factors

• Experience with project management principles
• Experience with vendor management
• Excellent interpersonal and team-building skills, with a strong ability to influence others.
• Ability to work cross-functionally for deliverables across multiple workgroups.
• Demonstrably solid analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use data effectively to drive recommendations.
• Strong presentation skills and excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to consider, understand, and prioritize security (and privacy, where applicable) principles, practices, and procedures in all aspects of your role with CENIC.

Required Education And/Or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred and 4 - 6 years of; relevant work experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Project management certification preferred.

Preferred Education And/Or Experience

• Proven experience managing multiple projects through their entire life cycle.
• Experience in a high-tech environment and/or managing technical projects.
• Telecommunications industry experience preferred.
• Experience in a university/research environment.
• Professional Services Implementation experience preferred.

Work Hours The regular workweek is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ability to work evenings and weekends for problem resolutions, upgrades, etc., based on CENIC’s business demands.

Work Authorization Documented Proof of identity and legal eligibility to work in the United States. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time. CENIC does not offer STEM OPT training opportunities and cannot complete Form I-983.

WHY WORK AT CENIC?

• Company Culture: Small teams and a collaborative environment provide the opportunity to make a large impact in a small organization.
• Community Engagement: We work with research and education institutions in the largest state economy in the United States. Your work has meaning.
• Generous Health Benefit Package : We value our employees\' wellness. We offer a variety of medical, dental, and vision benefits. We have you covered with life, short-term, and long-term insurance. We also offer pet insurance at a discount.
• Paid Time Off: We offer liberal vacation, sick leave, and 15 paid holidays.
• Investment in Your Future: CENIC contributes to your 403(b) even if you don\'t. We also offer matching contributions. Pre-tax and Roth options are also available.

Direct applicants only. No recruiters.

CENIC is an equal opportunity employer – Vets/disabled