Project Manager

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Competitive Compensation & Benefits Package * 401(k) with Profit Sharing * Flexible Time Off * Office Dog!!

ABOUT US

By combining our unparalleled domain expertise with leading-edge technology, Ad Astra is helping higher education in its mission to advance timely student completions. We are building a cloud-based software platform that will provide the foundation for our next generation of industry-leading solutions and analytics. Simply put, we're helping students graduate faster.

OUR CORE VALUES

• We recognize talent. We recognize and appreciate the unique God-given talents that our people bring to Ad Astra. Aligning these individual gifts with our work sets team members up to succeed.
• We’re unpretentious. There’s no room for ego. We admit our imperfections and have the humility to know what we don’t know.
• We’re passionate. We aren’t satisfied with the status quo. We’re on a mission together to protect the value of degree completion and to transform the higher education industry.
• We’re pioneering. We’re pioneering and aren’t afraid of failing—in fact, we celebrate it. We love it when our people boldly experiment with innovative solutions.
• We love fun. The health of our relationships is strengthened by working with people who stretch our thinking—and by enjoying the lighter side of life together. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we do take fun seriously.
• We have grit. Beyond talent and intelligence, our people have stick-to-itiveness. We push through challenges to make goals a reality.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Project Manager is responsible for the planning, execution, and delivery of complex, multi-product enterprise software implementations and service projects within agreed scope and timelines.  This role requires an individual who can effectively manage numerous concurrent projects across departments, engage confidently with a broad range of stakeholders from technical teams to executive leadership and apply a consultative, client-centric approach that balances a strong sense of urgency with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive projects to successful, on-time completion.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Effectively manage complex, multi-product enterprise software implementations involving numerous stakeholders, including technical teams and executive-level leadership. 
• Proactively identify potential issues, risks, and opportunities, communicating them clearly and driving them to resolution before they impact the project. 
• Serve as a client-centric partner, balancing a consultative style with a strong sense of urgency to keep projects on track and meet deadlines. 
• Influence and align project stakeholders across functions and levels of the organization, even without direct authority, to keep projects moving forward. 
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Implementation Consultants, Product Management, and company leadership to ensure a seamless client experience from sale through delivery. 
• Ensure project schedules, strategies, and collateral are developed and implemented for each project.
• Manage project team utilization, margin, and variance.
• Ensure that project schedules are consistently up to date.
• Create smooth handoffs between groups or organizations involved in a project.
• Ensure that escalation of risks or roadblocks is timely, thorough, and accurate.
• Maintain and aspire to exceed team and company goals.
• Continually seek opportunities to increase customer satisfaction and deepen client relationships.
• Other duties as assigned

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree (emphasis in a technical, project management, or business-related field)
• At least 5 years of project management experience.
• Demonstrated success leading implementation projects and hitting milestone deliverables.
• Demonstrated success with structured methodologies associated with business processes, needs analysis, and systems analysis.
• Demonstrated project management skills including developing client relationships, taking ownership responsibility, and successful project completion.
• Demonstrated ability to create concise written communications and oral presentations.
• Ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
• Proven experience managing complex, multi-product enterprise software implementations involving numerous stakeholders, including both technical teams and executive-level leadership. 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex information to both technical and executive audiences. 
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify risks and drive issues to resolution before they impact project timelines. 
• Strong consultative and relationship-building skills, with a demonstrated ability to influence and align stakeholders across functions and levels of an organization without direct authority. 
• Travel as needed, (approx. 25%)

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

• Problem Solving
• Collaborative Communication
• Sense of Urgency
• Technical Aptitude
• Team-Oriented
• Self-Motivated
• Proactive Mindset 
• Client-Centric Orientation 
• Consultative Approach 
• Stakeholder Influence & Management 
• Executive-Level Communication 
• Proficiency with Microsoft product suite

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience using Financial Force-PSA (or other project management suite), Hubspot, Zendesk, and Salesforce.
• Previous experience working within the Higher Education Industry.
• Master’s degree in business or related field
• Understanding of SaaS, on-prem, single-tenant, multi-tenant, etc. product architectures
• Project Management Credential: PMP, CAPM, PMI-ACP, PMI-RMP, PMI-SP

HOW PERFORMANCE IS MEASURED FOR THIS ROLE

• Peer Feedback - Peer feedback helps individuals better understand strengths and weaknesses, allowing individuals to continue favorable behaviors and work on areas for improvement.
• Client Feedback - Client Feedback gives insight to client satisfaction levels and project outcomes. Like Peer Feedback, Client Feeback allows for the continuation of favorable behaviors while offering areas to improve implementation practices.
• Project Utilization - As a client facing team member, the majority of the team members' time should be client facing and attributed to client work. Utilization is the percentage of a team member's available time associated with client work. Utilization should be greater than 60% of allocated time
• Project Duration Variance - It is important to set good expectations with the client team for project timelines. In doing so, Project Duration Variation should be minimized. The percentage difference between the project's baseline duration and actual duration should not exceed + or - 20%
• Project Margin - Margin is important to ensure that the On-boarding team is profitable. Margin should be greater or equal to 75%
• Time to value and successful adoption post project close

This position is in Overland Park, KS in the greater Kansas City metro area. Ad Astra does not cover relocation expenses.

Ad Astra is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and fairness—regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, age, political affiliation, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.