Project Senior Manager

University of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous time off

Two-for-one retirement matching with 0

Comprehensive health insurance

Life insurance

Long-term disability coverage

Flexible spending accounts for health

Job summary

The University of Michigan’s Office of Planning and Strategic Initiatives (OPSI) seeks an experienced project manager to support capital projects and enterprise planning initiatives in Ann Arbor. You will develop project plans, lead implementations, track timelines, and report status while resolving issues in a collaborative environment.

At the Intermediate level, you will gain exposure to OPSI's full portfolio and interact with executive leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent education and experience.
• Several years of project management experience in a complex organization.
• Experience handling diplomacy, confidentiality, and discretion.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency with MS Office and Google collaboration tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects including planning, executing, evaluating and transitioning to operations.
• Translate leadership needs to actionable projects and manage to completion.
• Build relationships across the enterprise with executives and subject-matter experts to collaboratively accomplish project goals.
• Identify risks and emerging needs, and handle or advise accordingly.
• Lead project meetings and manage stakeholder input and agendas.
• Manage all project deliverables including documentation, risks, issues logs, scope changes, budgets and status reports.
• Forecast project timelines and keep the team informed on status using a variety of delivery mediums.
• Document all phases of ongoing, multi-faceted projects using project management software tools.
• Assess process improvements and provide recommendations to colleagues for future work.
• Draft reports and recommendations from disparate information sources.

Skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Diplomacy and discretion

MS Office

Google collaboration tools

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Job Summary

The Office of Planning and Strategic Initiatives (OPSI) is seeking an experienced project manager to support a variety of projects focusing on capital projects and large-scale enterprise planning initiatives. At the core, you will develop project plans, lead project implementation, track timelines, report on status and work to resolve issues using a collaborative approach. This is an exciting opportunity to tackle critical initiatives autonomously and proactively. At the Intermediate level, the role will provide broader coordination support across OPSI, offering exposure to the office's full portfolio of enterprise initiatives and executive operations. You will be in direct contact with executive-level leaders who shape our mission and strategic goals and handle confidential matters, requiring broad and comprehensive experience, skill, and knowledge.

You will report to the Director of Strategic Project Management in the Office of Planning and Strategic Initiatives and work onsite in Ann Arbor, Michigan 4-5 days a week. Due to the nature of operations, the job responsibilities may require some work on evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects of varying sizes including planning, executing, evaluating and transitioning to operations teams.
• Translate leadership needs to actionable projects and manage those through to project completion.
• Build relationships across the enterprise with executives and subject-matter experts to collaboratively accomplish project goals.
• Use your creative problem-solving skills to ask the right questions, identify risks and emerging needs, and handle or advise accordingly.
• Lead project meetings including managing input from a broad range of stakeholders, navigating competing interests and creating/maintaining agendas.
• Manage all project deliverables including project documentation, risks, issues logs, scope changes, budgets and status reports.
• Forecast project timelines and keep the team informed on status using a variety of delivery mediums, including written communications.
• Document all phases of ongoing, multi-faceted projects using project management software tools.
• Assess process improvements and provide recommendations to colleagues for future work.
• Draft reports and recommendations from disparate information sources.

If filled at the Intermediate level, the position will include coordination responsibilities that support OPSI's broader operations and provide exposure to the full scope of the office's work.

• Provide cross-functional coordination support to maintain continuity of OPSI operations, including backup coverage for the office's Executive Assistant during planned absences and other periods of limited coverage.
• Coordinate meeting logistics and scheduling for OPSI leadership and project teams as needed, including complex calendaring, participant coordination, meeting materials, and related follow-up.
• Support additional office and project coordination needs that facilitate effective execution of OPSI priorities and provide broader exposure to the office's enterprise initiatives and executive-level work.

Required Qualifications

Senior Level

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent amount of education and experience.
• Six-plus years of demonstrated experience applying project management best practices in a complex organization.
• Previous experience working in an environment with a focus on diplomacy, confidentiality and discretion.
• Expert proficiency deploying analytical skills to assess and analyze solutions in the context of multi-faceted, large-scale projects.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Office and Google collaboration tools plus.
• Interest in working in a dynamic and decentralized organization.

Intermediate Level

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent amount of education and experience.
• Three plus years of demonstrated experience applying project management best practices in a complex organization.
• Previous experience working in an environment with a focus on diplomacy, confidentiality and discretion.
• Proficiency in deploying analytical skills to assess and analyze solutions in the context of multi-faceted, large-scale projects.
• Proficiency with MS Office and Google collaboration tools plus.
• Interest in working in a dynamic and decentralized organization.

Why Work at Michigan?

Benefits

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.