Project Manager - vacancy

Job title:Project Manager
Location: Iowa City, IA, U
Job ID: 2013-17981
 Positions: 1

Position Type: Regular Full Time
Category: Project Management
Deadline: 15/6/2013

Overview

Pearson has one defining goal: to help people progress in their lives through learning. We champion innovation and we invest in models for education that deliver on our promise for effective, accessible, and personal learning from early literacy, college and career readiness to professional education, through data informed instruction and inventive applications for mobile and digital learning.

Pearson, the world's leading learning company, has global-reach and market leading businesses in education, business, and consumer publishing and is listed on the London and New York stock exchanges (UK: PSON; NYSE: PSO). For more information, visit www.pearson.com.

Pearson is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and a member of E-Verify. All qualified applicants, including minorities, women, veterans, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

If you’re talented enough to do anything, do something that matters.

Have you been told that you are an unparalleled project manager, and do others aspire to be more like you? Has your leadership team noticed your superior ability to cultivate relationships with your stakeholders and deliver positive outcomes for your clients? Would your clients recommend working with you? Leverage your extra-ordinary talents and help Pearson as we shape education in the US.

Pearson is the world leader in education. In the US we lead the industry in state and national assessments. We deliver best in class content, technology, and program management to states, school districts and education partners throughout the US. You will have the privilege of working with some of the most passionate and brightest individuals who recognize that their work is shaping education. You will have the opportunity to support our US education leaders and education innovators to consult, implement, and ensure they optimize their relationship with Pearson and thus optimize student outcomes. We take this job personally, because our clients’ success open doors and change lives for US students.

Summary of Position:
The Project Manager supports the Program Manager in the successful delivery and fulfillment of the PARCC program. The PARCC program refers to contracts with PARCC to fulfill their assessment, implementation and reporting needs. The Project Manager is responsible for a leading and directing multiple projects within the PARCC program, which requires multiple resources and functional integration. The Project Manager is familiar with program objectives as well as, the role and function of each team member to effectively coordinate the activities of the team. They spend the vast majority of their time communicating with the customer and other stakeholders (vendors, cross-functional teams, subcontractors) involved in the delivery of the PARCC program in order to ensure customer satisfaction. The Project Manager will anticipate opportunities and issues proactively as well as manage scope using project management applications and tools. This position reports to the Program Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Customer Relationship Management
- Establish and maintain positive and productive relationships with internal resources and external customers
- Provide outstanding customer service. Be responsive and timely in responding to questions, concerns, and requests
- Serve as a point-of-contact to the customer and cross-functional teams for day-to-day execution
- Interpret and meet customer expectations and requirements to ensure outstanding customer satisfaction

Project Management
- Manage development, and maintain the project management plan, Customer Requirement Allocation Document (CRAD), risk management plan, project schedule, communication plan, staffing plan and other documentation required to effectively manage program deliverables as assigned
- Mentor and collaborate with program team and cross-functional teams, motivating the team, to ensure successful delivery of project and program
- Consult with program team and cross-functional teams to devise and implement solutions to issues in a timely manner; formulate alternative solutions that go beyond the obvious
- Identify opportunities for process and quality improvements which promote cost reduction, quality and implement initiatives, and monitor the effectiveness of changes made
- Measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques in order to monitor the progress of the project, identify and quantify any variances (scope and costs), perform any required corrective actions, and communicate results to all stakeholders
- Assist in change control process including tracking, writing scope documents, and gathering estimates and pricing. Thoroughly evaluate any proposed scope change by involving entire program team; establish and maintain documentation to control scope
- Identify and track risks, including implementing the approved actions and workarounds required to mitigate project risk events in order to minimize the probability of realization
- Execute the tasks as defined in the project plan and schedule in order to meet customer deliverables
- Prepare and present internal and external reports on program status, risks and other program related issues
- Perform other duties as assigned

Business Development
- Support the Program Manager with project and program level new business initiatives including managing and writing statements of work and change requests as needed

Financial Management
- Support Program Manager with financial reviews and documentation necessary to ensure that contract is maintained within budget and margin expectations
- Identify process improvement initiatives in order to reduce cost while maintaining quality

Qualifications

Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required
- Knowledge of online assessment programs and product development preferred
- PMP certification preferred or demonstrate an understanding and application of Project Management Institute (PMI) principles
- Demonstrate ability to manage multiple, conflicting priorities, and work in a fast-paced, ever changing environment
- Significant experience with customer service and project management
- Understand team dynamics and foster a positive team environment
- High sense of urgency and attention to detail required
- Effective verbal/written communication skills, strong listening, negotiation and facilitation skills and the ability to develop and deliver presentations
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Outlook, Excel, MS Project, Visio, and PowerPoint
- Knowledge and/or experience with interoperability and/or K-12 student accessibility preferred
- Some travel required

How to apply: visit; http://jobs.pearson.com/job/Iowa-City-Project-Manager-Job-IA-52240/2626983/?feedId=4&utm_source=Indeed