Project Manager – Operations and Standards

The World at Abt

Solving the world’s most pressing issues and improving the quality of life for people worldwide is what we do every day at Abt Global. Creating a more equitable world is no small task, but we are driven by big challenges.

We are a team of 3,000+ people in over 50 countries working in unison and focused on the bigger picture. Only by sharing our commitment, energy, and innovation do we affect change and push the boundaries of what’s possible. We welcome diverse ideas, backgrounds, and viewpoints – joining Abt means access to exceptional thinkers at the top of their game.

To thrive at Abt is to embrace flexibility and collaboration. Our open culture allows you to balance your work and personal life as needed to optimize personal well-being. Creating a more equitable world starts from within – we look after people around the world, and we’ll do the same for you.

Ready to embrace rewarding and meaningful work? Now’s your chance.

The Opportunity 

The Operations and Standards team is seeking a Project Manager (PM) to support project governance and startup. The selected individual will partner with Portfolio Leadership to identify and mitigate project risks through analysis and support of Project Health Reviews and overall Oracle Named Project Director (PD) performance.  The PM will support all project startups in each US Domestic or Global Development portfolio, liaising with the Client Account Lead (CAL) or Delivery Portfolio Lead and providing hands on involvement with project readiness and project startup.  This person will make contact with all assigned Project Managers to ensure access and compliance with the Project Initiation checklist and to drive role and responsibility clarity.  They are also responsible for coaching Oracle named PDs through the project initiation process, helping to troubleshoot startup delays and taking feedback from Oracle named PDs and implementing it back into the process documentation. This position will report to the Senior Manager of Project Management Governance and Training.

Core Responsibilities

Client-Facing Project Management Oversight and Support

• Monitor the Operations mailbox and distribute awards to the appropriate portfolio partner
• For the assigned portfolio(s), follow the project readiness and startup procedure and fulfill the role of Operations business partner, contacting CALs, reviewing project manager capacity, experience and training, providing startup support to the assigned PM in the use of the Initiation checklist and other supporting governance documents.
• As you engage on project readiness and initiation, identify staff that need project management training, work with the PM Training lead to determine the appropriate level and type of training and then work with CALs to set the expectation and timing for training to be completed.
• Through the use of the Project Initiation Checklist and other project management artifacts, collect feedback from Project Manager use of these tools and incorporate into the source documents in the GQMS.

Portfolio Project Management Governance

• Support the assigned Portfolio Lead(s) to review the Project Health Review (PHR) dashboard, identify risks and issues requiring escalation.
• Collaborate with business partners for issues requiring cross-departmental support, driving root cause analysis and long-term corrective actions to resolve and prevent recurrence.
• Participate in MOR preparation meetings to compare and contrast financial data with PHR data, taking steps to then work with CALs and PMs to adjudicate the differences.

Company-Wide Project Management Governance

• Provide administration support of the Project Health Review tool, troubleshooting issues with our IT counterparts and providing 1 on 1 training for Project Managers and Project Finance Analysts as needed.
• Support the Project Excellence team in creating and delivering training content in project management subjects.
• Support the Project Excellence team in updating and maintaining project management assets including policies, procedures, checklists and tools.

What We Value

• Bachelor’s Degree + 5 years of relevant experience, or Master’s Degree + 3 years of relevant experience, or PHD + 0 years of relevant experience
• 2+ years’ experience in project management 
• Project Management certification preferred 
• Very strong