Sr. Strategic Project Manager, Grants & Research Administration
We are seeking a Sr. Strategic Project Manager, Grants & Research Administration to 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