Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Project Manager I

• Title: Project Manager I
• Class: Management
• FLSA: Exempt
• Grade: J

Job Summary

Under the direction of management, the Project Manager develops, plans, executes, and manages a portfolio of moderately complex initiatives, projects, and program development activities involving multiple external parties and stakeholders across the District. Accountable for advancing initiatives in areas for which incumbent exercises no direct authority.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

1. Leads project planning efforts and manages project execution to ensure adherence to budget, schedules, and scope.
2. Develops and/or updates project plans including information such as project objectives, technologies, systems, information specs, timelines, schedules, funding, and staffing.
3. Confers with project personnel to identify and resolve problems and notifies leadership and stakeholders of issues as appropriate. Reassesses project timelines, resource allocation and deliverables if critical path is at risk or compromised. Escalates issues as appropriate.
4. Participates in District wide committees and task forces as a technical resource.
5. Participates in mid-range and long-range planning and makes recommendations.
6. Monitors or tracks project, program, and/or grant budget(s), milestones, and deliverables and reports on progress to internal and external parties as required.
7. Assesses project risk factors and develops mitigation strategies, communications, change management, and issue management.
8. Develops and maintains project or program management tools and documentation.
9. Directs and/or coordinates resources across multiple departments. Obtains commitments to project requirements from all project stakeholders and manages expectations through the project life cycle.
10. Researches, solicits, retains, schedules, and coordinates outside vendors, contractors, and other external resources.
11. Implements, manages, and monitors assessment, training, and related processes for projects in the implementation stage.
12. Manages ongoing client/customer satisfaction and peer-level relationships.
13. Maintains visibility of project work throughout the District to ensure duplication of effort is avoided.
14. Performs other duties as required.

Position-Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Positions assigned to Learning Design may also be responsible for:

• Developing, managing, monitoring, and assessing the design and implementation of learning experiences for a portfolio of projects. Ensures that all project deliverables meet quality and accessibility standards and utilizes adult learning theory to provide customized learning opportunities.
• Assessing needs and identifying gaps in learning design; partnering with project personnel and stakeholders to identify, design, develop, and  implement successful, innovative, equitable, and inclusive learning experiences.
• Maintaining expertise and knowledge of best practices in project management, instructional design, online educational trends, equitable and inclusive learning experiences, changes and developments, and service strategies.

Positions assigned to the YESS Project may also be responsible for:

• Coordinates comprehensive stakeholder communications related to student success strategic initiatives, which includes: developing comprehensive communication plans; writing copy; creating presentation materials; collaborating with marketing and communications/web team/graphic designers; and delivering targeted information through multiple modalities.
• Coordinates special events and programs, which may include: drafting agendas, identifying venues; determining participants; designing invitations and communications; ordering materials and supplies; sending out event reminders; and/or overseeing logistics and event execution.
• Maintains visibility of strategic initiatives process and progress throughout the District to ensure meaningful collaboration, and comprehensive and effective implementation.
• Collaborates with the Vice Presidents’ Executive Assistants to coordinate resources and perform administrative support functions related to strategic initiatives.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is generally performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and irregularities in the work schedule. No special coordination beyond that used for normal mobility and handling of everyday objects and materials is needed to perform the job satisfactorily.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in administration, management, marketing, communications, project management, or related field. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Four years of progressively responsible, professional experience related to project or program management at the management level.

Position-Specific Minimum Qualifications

Learning Design position requires a Master’s Degree in Education, Instructional Design/Technology, Multimedia Design, Communications, Computer Science, Management or a related field. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis. Two (2) years of full-time professional experience in instructional design managing multiple projects and priorities and assessing and developing training and/or academic courses.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Leadership and managerial principles;
• Cultural proficiency and social justice principles;
• Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) principles and practices;
• Resource allocation;
• Budgeting principles and financial management practices;
• Customer service principles and practices;
• Strategic planning principles;
• Public Relations principles;
• Capabilities and constraints of information technology hardware and software systems;
• Business process mapping and analysis, data modeling, database concepts, and workflow.

Skills in:

• Gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data;
• Conducting needs assessments;
• Working effectively with the diverse academic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of PCC staff and community partners;
• Creating and implementing project management tools such as Gantt Charts;
• Utilizing project management software and tools;
• Utilizing computer technology used for communication, data gathering and reporting;
• Applying innovative thinking to problem solving and strategy;
• Understanding change and sensitive topics;
• Leading and motivating staff who report to other managers.

Ability to:

• Motivate and influence others in a positive manner;
• Forecast issues and consequences or proposed actions and identify alternate solutions;
• Work collaboratively;
• Lead cross-functional and cross-departmental teams;
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously;
• Think critically and strategically;
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing; communicate technical information to a non-technical audience;
• Maintain confidentiality;
• Adapt to change while simultaneously maintaining focus on objectives and envisioning the bigger picture.

New: 2/2020

• Revised: 7/2022