Project Manager - Jobs in Waterloo, ON

Job Description

Overview:The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for leading and managing projects and/or initiatives in the Provost’s Office under the direction of the Director, Strategic Initiatives. The PM is responsible for partnership development, communication, and collaboration across diverse stakeholders. Projects and initiatives range from any area of the Provost’s Office related to ongoing activity, such as at Deans’ Council to University-wide transformational projects that include multi-stakeholder management. The PM will be a member of the strategic initiatives team where assigned projects/initiatives are determined and changed based on availability, need, and characteristics of a specific project/initiative. The PM is expected to demonstrate diversification within their roles, as they are sometimes asked to assist with administrative functions, change management, research and reporting, continuous improvement, and other activities to ensure success.The PM is ultimately responsible for the success of the project/initiative, and accountable for applying scaled processes and techniques to manage the work required. The project manager is accountable for managing and coordinating multiple initiatives.Responsibilities:Project/initiative management

• Leads and manages projects and initiatives through scaled project initiation, planning, and execution
• Develops, monitors and supports projects and initiatives
• Liaises to establish clear, concise agreed upon project/initiative objectives/goals/vision, benefits, scope and success criteria
• Ensures alignment of outcomes and requirements with University and Unit strategies
• Demonstrates accountability to sponsor for visibility, management, and variances within schedule and scope
• Directs and/or coordinates work to enable appropriate allocation of resources
• Establishes realistic plans that proactively plan for and manage risks, issues, tasks, schedules, communications, quality, benefits, procurement, and delivery of solution(s) throughout the project/initiative life cycle
• Manages project constraints (schedule, scope, resources), dependencies, and priorities
• Demonstrates strong analysis, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills towards diverse issues
• Establishes and follows appropriate change processes to enable informed decision making
• Removes obstacles and escalates to management, when appropriate
• Monitors and reports progress appropriately to interested and impacted stakeholders
• Ensures appropriate decision making occurs according to timelines and milestones
• Maintains project/initiative integrity and coherence
• Understands and adheres to university policies and procedures as they relate to assigned projects/initiatives

Organizational change leadership

• Understands, assesses and manages change and complexity in a dynamic environment to ensure stakeholders are ready and enabled to adopt change
• Leads and evolves appropriate change throughout project/initiative lifecycles
• Represents the Provost’s Office and University’s best interests with objectives and decisions for assigned initiatives
• Collaborates with other members in the Provost’s Office and across relevant teams

Project/initiative management continuous improvement

• Understands and remains current with project management best practices
• Facilitates activities and/or processes for new projects/initiatives
• Understands and incorporates change management techniques to recognize resistance and ensure buy in towards the implementation of new initiatives
• Evolves the understanding and communication of project/initiative roles and responsibilities and how they may relate to other areas of expertise
• Collaborates with relevant stakeholders in support of continuous improvement

Project/initiative consultation

• Creates an environment of shared purpose and collaboration
• Motivates and manages project/initiative stakeholders
• Offers strong, effective communication skills to enable facilitation, negotiation, information flow, buy in, and engagement
• Builds stakeholder relationships based on trust and integrity
• Ensures appropriate representation and/or collaboration on initiatives with other areas of expertise Analyzes existing projects/initiatives and initiates opportunities for improvement to enable success
• Consults and builds persuasive consensus to provide recommended solutions towards complex problems

Project/initiative recovery

• Engages appropriate stakeholders, particularly the Director and Provost, and other senior leadership as applicable
• Analyzes initiatives in trouble through the application of specific analysis and problem-solving skills and expertise to identify issues and offer appropriate recommendations
• Confidently tackle complex issues with senior leadership, and stakeholders
• Oversees management of projects, making appropriate changes to ensure project recovery
• Escalates and facilitates discussions for difficult and often complex decisions to be made to recover the initiative
• Negotiates and collaborates with senior leadership for changes that need to be made
• Resolves complex conflicts that arise

Qualifications:

• A master’s degree, or equivalent post-secondary education and/or related experience required
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is required
• Minimum of 5-7 years’ experience project management and proven ability to align work priorities and realize strategic goals
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in an academic environment
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in supporting senior leadership in complex initiatives in a multi-stakeholder environment
• Experience with project planning, stakeholder engagement, metrics tracking, and outcome analysis. A track record of successful and progressive improvement on metrics
• Experience with developing strong relationships that are sustainable over time
• Outstanding oral and written communication and interpersonal skills, including excellent presentation skills and the ability to be an articulate complex information clearly
• Demonstrated commitment to the core values of respect, equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism
• Ability to manage competing and changing demands with ease
• Ability to work on confidential and sensitive matters with tact and discretion
• Ability to manage challenging conversations with stakeholders
• Ability to work independently or in a team setting, with diverse individuals
• Intermediate Microsoft Office skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Equity Statement:The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.Quick Apply

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