Sr. Strategic Project Manager, Grants & Research Administration

Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University is seeking a Sr. Strategic Project Manager to lead high-priority initiatives within the Finance & Administration division. The role requires extensive project management experience, strong leadership skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. The successful candidate will ensure that projects meet institutional goals and deliver impactful results, while also overseeing grant administration processes and collaborating with university stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required; Graduate's Degree preferred.
• 8 years of relevant project management experience.
• PMP certification recommended within the first year.

Responsibilities

• Manage project deliverables including plans, budgets, and timelines.
• Oversee grant administration processes and maintain tracking databases.
• Interface with university leaders to define project priorities.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Analytical Skills

Leadership

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate's Degree in a related field

Tools

Project Management Software

Job description

We are seeking a Sr. Strategic Project Manager, Grants & Research Administrationto lead, manage, and execute high-priority university initiatives from concept to implementation with a high level of independence. Working across the University's central Finance & Administration (F&A) function to all University leaders, the SSPM oversees a portfolio of key strategic projects, ensuring that all assigned projects successfully meet institutional goals, deliver impactful results, and drive excellence.

The SSPM is responsible for ensuring the successful completion of their portfolio of projects within the approved schedule, scope, and budget, and escalating major risks and issues to University leaders as appropriate. In partnership with other project stakeholders, the SSPM leads the design and implementation of individual projects by:

• Managing the scope of these projects, including goals, timelines, budgets, and objectives.
• Developing and executing project plans, budgets, timelines, and risk mitigation strategies, monitoring and reporting on progress and outcomes.
• Completing individual activities required to complete the projects, including analysis, benchmarking, data collection, and deliverable development.
• Identifying and resolving any conflicts, challenges, or barriers that may arise during the project lifecycle, and escalate them as appropriate.
• Flexing into various project roles as necessary to fill gaps and ensure projects proceed as needed.
• Overseeing project teams and resources, including project managers and staff from other offices.

The SSPM manages and prioritizes their portfolio of projects, which includes a broad array of high-priority and high-impact projects, autonomously and with limited oversight from leaders within the University and the central F&A office. The SSPM ensures standard project management processes and methodologies are leveraged for their portfolio and develops strong relationships with colleagues across the university in support of their projects. The SSPM also independently and objectively advances projects in their portfolio by analyzing complex and ambiguous situations and applying a systematic, disciplined approach to resolve project risks and issues.

As a member of the F&A division and citizen of Johns Hopkins University, the SSPM supports the advancement of the University's mission, values, and goals.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibility #1 (40%) - Manage Individual Projects

• Develop and manage key project deliverables, including project plans, budgets, timelines, status reports, presentation materials, reports, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Manage the risk, issue, and change resolution process, and work with other leaders to take corrective action as needed.
• Provide leadership with the information needed to make decisions for the projects.
• Interface with key leaders to define project priorities and communicate project risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Monitor KPIs for special projects, reporting progress and status to senior leaders.
• Oversee project teams and resources, including project managers and staff from other offices.

Responsibility #2 (30%) - Complete Project Tasks and Deliverables

• Perform individual activities required to complete the projects, including analysis, benchmarking, data collection, and materials development.
• Develop high-quality project deliverables, including written reports, presentations, spreadsheets, and data visualizations.
• Make presentations to and communicate with senior university leaders in support of their projects.
• Collaborate with staff across the university enterprise to implement best practices to positively impact the institution and support the strategic initiatives.
• Aid senior F&A leaders with the design, business case development, and authorization of strategic projects and initiatives.

Responsibility #3 (30%) - Manage Grant Administration Processes

• Manage grant-related tracking processes across multiple university offices and divisional leadership.
• Maintain and update tracking databases for grant data, communications, and other relevant information.
• Develop and maintain reports for university leadership, trustees, and external stakeholders.
• Disseminate information on new grant-related data, communications, policies, and practices to university and divisional leadership.
• Project and analyze long-term trends in grant awards, budgets, and possible changes.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Eight (8) years of relevant experience in project management with proven ability to work independently on projects
• Thorough knowledge of external Federal guidelines/procedures for grants and contracts

• Experience in contracts and grants administration, sponsor policy, and an understanding of compliance issues related to sponsored research
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate's Degree in a related field
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Experience working in higher education, non-profit, or social sector organizations
• Experience in finance, accounting, human resources, information technology, and/or general administration
• Willingness to travel domestically to support the Office, as needed
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple, high priority initiatives concurrently, balancing multiple priorities, and meeting deadlines
• Strong experience with project and change management methodologies, techniques, and processes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills across multiple levels of stakeholders
• Ability to take complex concepts and translate them into a digestible format as needed based on the audience
• Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, build and manage datasets, and creatively identify data sources
• Ability to quickly adapt to a dynamic environment and changes in priorities
• Ability to build consensus among diverse senior leaders, manage sensitive situations, and influence without authority
• Significant experience with project management software tools and general administrative tools
• Outstanding interpersonal, customer service and organizational skills
• Ability to handle sensitive information with tact, professionalism, and confidentiality
• Ability to learn quickly on the job, including new digital platforms and systems
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a team
• Ability to perform within severe time constraints with the highest degree of accuracy, effectiveness, and diplomacy
• Excellent attention to detail
• Commitment to the values of Johns Hopkins University, particularly our goals and values related to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Flexibility to work in the evenings and weekends as needed

Technical qualifications or specialized certifications

• PMP certification recommended, but not required, within the first year of employment

Classified Title: Sr. Strategic Project Manager
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PF
Starting Salary Range: $85,500 - $149,800 Annually (Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm
FLSA Status:Exempt
Location:Homewood Campus
Department name: EVP for Finance and Admin Off of
Personnel area: University Administration

Total Rewards
The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University's salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Education and Experience Equivalency
Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies
Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks
The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEOis the Law
https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Accommodation Information
If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at [e-mail]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.

Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry.This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.
The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.