Project Operations Management Function (POM) Senior Project Manager

Job Description

The POM Senior Project Manager (SPM) oversees the POM function for a technical team(s) and plays a leadership role in the development, improvement, and growth of project management at EnCompass

The position is based at EnCompass’ Rockville, MD headquarters. Expected to be remote until Jan 2022. Must be legally authorized to work in the US for any employer without sponsorship. As a covered Federal contractor, EnCompass must comply with the President’s Executive Order 14042 and the follow-on guidance issued by Safer Federal Workforce Task Force on COVID-19 Workplace Safety. Therefore, all US-based EnCompass employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan 18, 2022, to include staff working from home.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

Essential functions include:

• Manages the Project Operations Management function at EnCompass for one or two technical teams, and coordinates closely with technical team Vice Presidents and Directors to ensure a healthy financial state of the portfolio of relevant projects
• Resolves escalated issues arising from project activities and requiring coordination with other teams
• Proactively identifies risks, monitors issues, and provides mitigation/contingency recommendations and plans throughout project lifecycle
• Provides briefings and status reports to executives and leaders on a regular basis concerning project implementation related to financial management and contractual compliance,
• Effectively manages change and guides the team to adopt best practices/process improvements
• Ensures proper project setup and closure by advising Project Managers (PMs) and Project Manager IIs (PM IIs), as needed, and conducts retrospectives/lessons learned
• Establishes and maintains relationships with project leads and operations teams to identify efficiencies and synergies
• Leads or contributes to the development of management and cost budget sections of large and complex proposals, as appropriate and based off templates and lessons learned
• Supervises and supports project managers, identifying opportunities for their growth and advancement to the next level.
• Plays a leadership role in improvement and growth of project management at EnCompass:
  • Keeps current with latest developments and technical resources available on other teams and in the industry to support project management
  • Actively supports the Senior Program Support and Development Manager by playing a leadership role in the Project Management Team, contributing new ideas, sharing best practices based on learnings, both past and present, and identifying opportunities for continual professional growth for all project team members
  • Actively supports the Associate Director of Operations on all company-wide operational initiatives
  • Recommends and champions PM efficiencies and software to improve effectiveness of PM function at the company
  • Serves as project mentor and trainer for new PMs/PM IIs, as needed
• Supervises the POM PM II (and other people as assigned/needed)
• Engages fully as a member of the EnCompass staff team, including participating in staff meetings and other EnCompass events

• Other duties as assigned

Position Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 10 years of experience, or Master’s degree and 8 years of experience, or PhD and 6 years of experience, or Associate’s degree and 12 years of experience, or High School diploma and 14 years of experience

Experience and Skills

• Minimum of six years of progressive experience (or more depending on academic credentials) in project management
  • Experience supporting and tracking contracts or task orders and deliverables
  • Experience supporting, supervising, and mentoring staff
  • Experience working with international organizations, including the UN, U.S. Government, NGOs, and the private sector
• Experience supervising larger teams working on multiple complex projects with strong knowledge of USG contracts and associated regulations, such as cost-plus fixed fee, time & materials, and fixed price contracts
• Strong attention to detail in written work, and experience creating and managing internal knowledge management and quality review processes
• Demonstrated expertise in project financial management, to include making projections, creating and managing budgets and financial reports, and analyzing variances
• Proven record of excellent project management and analysis skills
• Deep knowledge of USG procurement contractual and financial regulations
• High level of ethics and integrity and demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships
• Strong judgment and discretion in managing potentially sensitive client, partner, and staff communications or financial information
• Flexibility in working in a dynamic environment managing multiple activities, ad hoc requests, and changing requirements
• Strong attention to detail in written work, and experience creating and managing internal knowledge management and quality review processes
• Excellent management, organization, communication (verbal and written) skills with the ability to prioritize assignments and meet required deadlines
• Ability to confidently engage with staff at all levels to define needs and expectations, collaborate on projects and communicate results
• Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments and build effective working relations with clients and colleagues
• Ability to integrate diverse information from varied sources
• Adept at identifying, framing, and solving problems, setting priorities, and making critical assessments
• Committed to providing the highest level of service
• Expertise in project management and word software, Word processing, database management, spreadsheets (Excel), project management, and web-based programs
• Fluency in language(s) other than English is desirable
• PMP certification is a plus
• Ability to use an appreciative approach in client and colleague interactions and coaching others in developing these techniques

About the Organization

EnCompass LLC is a women-owned, small business consulting firm working in International Development, and offering innovative and customized solutions for leadership, capacity strengthening, technical assistance, and monitoring and evaluation. We have experience in more than 70 countries and a team of more than 100 staff and 1,200 experts around the globe. We partner with government and multilateral agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations around the world, offering thought leadership, rich diversity, and technical expertise in global health, inclusive development, education, human rights, and food security.

Founded in 1999, EnCompass began as a virtual organization supporting clients and implementing work through a network of staff and expert consultants. Today, we have more than 110 full-time staff and a Global Consulting Network, our vetted database of specialists, through which we engage, on average, 200 consultants each year. In early 2017, EnCompass opened its first international office in Addis Ababa for Transform: a Primary Health Care project. In 2019, we set up our second field office in Lima, Peru. We maintain a full-time staff presence in Benin, Ethiopia, Germany, Great Britain, Peru, and Uganda.