Highlights For Children Grandview Heights , OH 45710
Posted 2 months ago
Sr Manager of Project Management, Zaner-Bloser
Department: Product
Reports To: VP of Product
FLSA Status: Exempt
At Zaner-Bloser, we create tools for educators that help elementary students become more joyful, creative learners and communicators. We support teachers' efforts to inspire "aha" moments-moments of discovery, accomplishment, pride, surprise, delight-that reward students and help them realize the power of learning. Our portfolio of PreK-6 resources helps students build the critical foundational skills they need for success in school. Used independently or together, Zaner-Bloser materials help educators build community and confidence in any context, creating the conditions for moments of discovery and understanding to thrive.
Position Summary:
The Sr. Manager of Project Management is responsible for managing a program of product development efforts for Zaner-Bloser, within the Highlights Education division. This will include managing a team of 3 Project Managers, defining program objectives (outcomes), deliverables and resources needed, executing on schedule, communicating status, and defining and establishing contingency plans for issues/risks along the way. This person will partner with internal/external stakeholders to prioritize the most important work to be done, mitigate risks, resolve issues, and identify, develop, and implement mechanisms to improve workflow productivity. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational skills, high EQ, high tolerance for change, an outcomes-driven mindset and ability to drive impact through influence and collaboration.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Manage Project Management team responsible for all product development initiatives
Drive execution and continuous improvement across the product portfolio of activities
Drive prioritization of decisions and alignment in support of the organization's strategic direction
Drive accountability across the team towards completion
Drive alignment and collaboration by ensuring effective communication mechanisms are in place
Implement and drive required changes to ensure teams are high functioning
Deliver timely communications regarding status, issues, and risks
Drive alignment by ensuring documentation is well maintained, detailed and accurate, and project goals, scope, and decisions are well known across teams
Ensure key initiatives have a clear set of requirements, timelines, "definition of done" and well-defined success criteria
Accountable for proactively identifying risks and issues, prioritizing them, and creating plans to resolve in a timely manner.
Develop project plans that identify resource and budgetary needs
Drive Coordination with vendors and suppliers as needed
Nurture a thriving climate in which diverse perspectives are embraced
Ensure customer-centricity is at the core of the work
What you should show up ready to demonstrate on your first day:
Curiosity and ability to ask appropriate probing and diagnostic questions to ensure understanding of the business, value proposition, and strategic objectives
Ability to partner with key stakeholders and work cross-functionally to solve problems
Knowledge and expertise required to identify and close gaps in communication, priorities, and strategic execution
Organizational abilities to synthesize and translate complexity into action
Within your first month, you will:
Learn the strategic goals for the Zaner-Bloser division
Get to know our teams, operations, internal systems, tools, and processes
Build relationships to effectively complete your work
Understand the customer, market personas, and how the value is created by the business
Within your first year, you will:
Define and iterate on the strategic plan to inform annual budget planning
Actualize value through the definition, achievement, and learning associated with our expected outcomes
Be a champion of change by evangelizing continuous improvement, agility, and driving effective change
Work cross-functionally to solve problems, achieve results, enable effective collaboration, and optimize processes and workflows
Maintain a cadence of communications that are timely, clear, and effective for the audience
Nurture healthy team environments
Be well integrated with the organization and a reliable, contributing team member
Identify professional development goals for yourself and your team, and commit to learning for your individual growth
Supervisory Responsibilities: 3 Project Managers
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred
Experience working as program/project manager, implementing complex, cross-functional initiatives
PMI and/or other project management certification is a plus
Knowledge of Agile methodologies is a plus
Lean Six Sigma certification is a plus
Experience in print publishing is ideal
Grading/Leveling guidelines:
Qualifications:
Extraordinary attention to detail, with ability to see big picture
Strong Leadership skills
Superior presentation and communication skills
Ability to make timely and sound decisions
Comfortable driving accountability
Ability to build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships across the organization
Ability to manage and breakdown complex projects
Able to adapt and lead in situations of shifting priorities, changing requirements, and uncertainty
Equally at ease working in the detail or at the strategic high-level
Working knowledge of project management systems/tools, preferably Workfront and/or Monday.com
Occasional travel may be required
Highlights For Children