Programs and Project Manager

TITLE
Programs and Project Manager

REPORTS TO
Associate Partner
 
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TRUST
The Opportunity Trust exists to ensure every child born in St. Louis is prepared to lead a life of choice and dignity as an adult. One of the most urgent barriers to opportunity in St. Louis today is the changing nature of work and our increasingly outdated and ineffective public education system. Our first fund, Reimagining School, aims to catalyze a fundamental transformation of our public education system so that it can prepare children for the jobs of today and tomorrow. Learn more about our work at www.theopportunitytrust.org. 

OUR ASPIRATION
In our first three years, we have built a national model for new school design and forged a diverse coalition for change among partners. Over the next three years, we seek to double the share of children enrolled in quality schools, from 13% to 25%. We’ll do this by investing over $50 million to empower parents to make education choices; launch, scale, and transform schools; and improve the talent, data, and policy ecosystem in the region.  

ABOUT YOUR ROLE
The Programs and Project Manager’s role is to develop and execute all operational and administrative aspects of The Opportunity Trust’s projects and school portfolio in support of strategic priorities. 

The Programs and Project Manager will work in close collaboration with the Grants and Program Manager, Partners and Associate Partners to ensure programs are delivered with operational excellence. To succeed in those efforts, the Programs and Project Manager will work closely with members across the organization as an operations leader on a variety of strategic initiatives. 

The Opportunity Trust culture is a start-up environment, which means that everyone pitches in to help and steps up to support new initiatives as they arise. The Programs and Project Manager must have the ability to attend evening and weekend events to oversee logistics.
 
WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Program Management
  • Understand and manifest vision for each program, its goals, and its impact within the St. Louis ecosystem to drive equitable outcomes
  • Manage the following programs: Innovative Schools Fellowship, Instructional Leadership Fellowship, Bootcamps
  • Event and logistics planning, management and coordination
  • Manage deadlines across multiple cohorts and ensure follow-through
  • Collaborate with communications team to meet recruitment, application, and attendance goals of programming
  • Manage all program application processes, including, but not limited to, internal and external communications and announcements, interview scheduling, selection process logistics and onboarding
  • Manage relationships with all stakeholders related to programs, including program alumni and interested applicants 
• Project Management
  • Develop and execute project plans to support all operational aspects of projects, including but not limited to: scheduling, acquiring, and creating all necessary resources
  • Proactive communication with all stakeholders, internal and external
  • Set-up of all technology and facility needs on day-of projects and events
  • Warehouse resources and organize learning for grantees and program participants
  • Coordinate with Communications Team to support program and portfolio needs
  • Maintain CMS with updated information on program participants and grantees
  • Collaborate with the Operations team to ensure all invoices and grant payments are processed in a timely manner
  • Oversee expense management processes for projects and participant stipends
  • Provide frequent, proactive and regular updates on projects to Associate Partners and Partners and collaborates closely with the Senior Schools Manager 
• Contract Management
  • Create RFPs
  • Evaluate candidates, proposals and contracts 
  • Manage contract platforms and stepbacks with capacity builders, including drafting and coordinating signing of contracts for initiatives and reviewing contracts to ensure compliance
  • Invoicing and budget management
  • Coordinate and participate in progress monitoring and diligence processes for grantees and prospective partners, including but not limited to: scheduling, communications, creating necessary resources, completing data entry, and producing reports for partners
  • Establish and maintain data tracking systems for contracts and reports
  • Collaborate with the Operations team to ensure all invoices and contract payments are processed in a timely manner
• Other duties as assigned

YOUR BACKGROUND
Skills

• Project management experience
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Willingness to be flexible and nimble
• Can work both autonomously with a high level of discipline while also working collaboratively to improve processes and project execution
• Innovative, anticipates error, proactively communicates and takes initiative and leadership
• Learns quickly and extremely open to feedback
• Has a strong sense of ownership of all work products
• Mission-oriented and thoughtful about connection of projects to mission
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Can independently problem-solve and make decisions, but humble enough to ask for help and lean on the expertise of the team when needed
• The ability to create, simplify, systematize and follow-through on processes
• Demonstrated ability to be self-directed, take initiative, and display tenacious follow-through 
• Strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently
• Highly collaborative work style
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Strong analytical skills, including a structured approach to problem-solving
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite, with demonstrable competency with spreadsheets

Prior Experience

• At least 3 years of operations, event planning or project management, or administrative experience (required)
• Proficiency in Google Suite (required) 
• Proficiency in Tableau or a similar program (preferred)
• Proficiency in project management software, e.g., Microsoft Project, Jira, Trello, Asana, etc. (preferred)
• Experience in a social impact organization or as an effective and committed educator (preferred)
• Commitment to serving the community in St. Louis for 2+ years
• Comfort working in a startup environment where there is a frequent need to be flexible 

WHAT WE OFFER

• Starting salary range: $65,000-$84,000
• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible work environment (hybrid)
• Passionate, mission-driven colleagues