The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) seeks to add a project management specialist to its 29-member staff team. Working closely with multiple directors of projects and programs as well as the communications, conferences, technology, and finance teams, the project management specialist will ensure smooth collaboration and efficient completion of CIC’s wide range of activities. The project management specialist will strengthen the predictability and consistency of processes to maximize room for creativity in content development and member engagement. The position will report to the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff.
ABOUT CIC
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), located in Washington DC, is the major national membership organization for small and mid-sized independent colleges and universities in the United States. Membership includes more than 700 colleges, universities, and higher-education organizations. CIC pursues a threefold mission: supporting and developing campus leaders; advancing the excellence of member institutions; and enhancing public understanding of the contributions independent higher education makes to society. From an office at Dupont Circle in Washington, DC, and remotely, CIC’s diverse, full-time staff team of 29 develops and manages a dynamic set of conferences, networks, projects, and programs; member services, research, and public information initiatives; and a range of other activities to advance all three mission areas. The team is augmented with subject matter experts who contribute to specific projects and programs.
ABOUT THE POSITION
CIC’s first professional project manager will drive the development and implementation of processes and the coordination of mechanisms, timelines, and calendars for CIC’s key external and internal projects. To ensure organization-wide focus, this position will report to the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff. This is a hands-on position: the successful candidate will understand that high-touch, team-centered collaboration produces top-quality member services. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience in utilizing project management tools and in working with teams to implement new tools to boost team-wide efficiency and satisfaction. Effective interpersonal communication and a highly collaborative work style are required. The successful candidate will be proactive and confident, able to set and meet their own goals, and able to work with limited day to day supervision while also responding positively to inputs and direction.
Key Responsibilities
- Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify and implement a suitable office-wide project management application (such as Asana or Smartsheet);
- Collaborate with task, project, and program leaders to manage a roster of projects from planning through implementation through completion;
- Work with project leaders to create timelines and revise them in response to emerging needs in order to assure staff-wide achievement of deliverables by deadline;
- Serve as a coordinator, communicator, and resolver of capacity conflicts among internal stakeholders;
- Build and support cross-functional peer relationships;
- Track workflow and activity timelines and propose effectiveness and efficiency driven adjustments to SOPs;
- Identify and implement solutions to workflow impediments, including opportunities for automation;
- Provide project status reports as needed and present regular executive summaries to the president, senior vice presidents and others; and
- Contribute to shared organizational priorities, including staffing CIC conferences and events (travel is required at least twice a year), as directed by the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff.
Required Experience and Skills
- Bachelor’s degree;
- Experience managing or coordinating projects with a defined project methodology;
- Proactive personality with the ability to collaboratively resolve issues under pressure while maintaining a high degree of professionalism and diplomacy;
- Positive “can do” attitude and the ability to inspire and help drive change;
- Excellent knowledge of project management tools and the ability to implement and train others;
- Demonstrated success in supporting diverse teams;
- Project management certification preferred; and
- 3+ years of relevant work experience preferred.
WORKING AT CIC
CIC is an equal opportunity employer and offers competitive compensation and benefits. The package includes generous contributions to health, vision, and dental insurance; a 2:1 employer match of retirement plan contributions; and provision of short- and long-term disability, life and business travel, and identity theft insurances. Employees and their dependents may be eligible to participate in
CIC’s Tuition-Exchange Program. CIC provides 20 days of annual and 15 days of paid sick leave and recognizes 11 paid holidays per year. Staff members work flexibly between the Dupont Circle office on three designated days and remotely on two designated days per week as well as around designated daily “core hours” (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
The position requires occasional overnight, weekend, and out-of-area travel. Performing the responsibilities of this position requires the ability to see, hear, and speak; work in a normal seated position for extended periods of time; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and be able to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds; manually operate standard office equipment such as keyboards and printers; and move throughout an office or conference space. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. CIC requires that employees be optimally protected against COVID-19 by receiving all recommended vaccinations.
TO APPLY
The position is available immediately and will remain open until the successful candidate is appointed. To apply, submit a resume and a letter of interest that describes past experiences in optimizing an organization’s operations.
Submit letter with resume to CICJobs@cic.edu with the subject line “Project Management Specialist”; for priority consideration, please apply by Friday, February 24.
CIC is an equal opportunity employer and seeks a broad and diverse pool of applicants.