Senior Project Manager

NPR is a thriving, mission-driven multimedia organization producing award-winning news and information. The Senior Project Manager will provide operational and project management leadership for major initiatives, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and on time while collaborating across divisions.

Responsibilities:

• Plans and manages significant projects in the division. They have a deep understanding of the ins-and-outs of creative and collaborative processes — from designing a brand identity, to naming a new product, to producing a promotional video, to building out a multi-platform campaign. They resolve obstacles and manage change requests as they arise, working with cross-functional colleagues to adjust timelines, project scope, and/or resources as needed
• Manages complex projects with greater impact on advancing the organization’s strategic goals, requiring a strong perspective on the interconnectedness of relevant departments and stakeholders. Builds and maintains team-wide project roadmap
• Partners with Division leadership to map out, staff and track all projects, balancing budgets and workloads across the team
• Manages and forecasts the department team’s budget. Works with Leadership to reallocate funds as priorities shift
• Partners with department leadership to shape budget proposals based on defined goals and needs
• Works with Department leadership to establish clear, replicable processes for all kinds of projects, start to finish
• Finds optimal vendors and negotiates rates, in addition to developing and managing the strong relationships with such vendors

Requirements:

• At least eight (8) years of relevant experience in project management
• Ability to plan and execute independently (lead projects) while working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders at every level
• Strong practical and theoretical understanding of lifecycle management for large-scale programs and projects
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage complexity and prioritize multiple projects concurrently in a fast-paced environment
• Expertise in project management and digital collaboration tools. Strong digital fluency and learning agility. Ability to understand technical concepts and to quickly develop proficiency with new programs as needed
• Complex problem solving skills and a proactive approach. If there is an issue, you are usually the first to flag it. If your team is stumped and you don't have the answer yourself, you try to find it for them
• Excellent communication skills. You will be eager to share your team's work and increase its visibility, over-communicate risks and dependencies to your team and management, and both give and accept constructive feedback
• Positive approach to embracing change, resiliency, and an ability to keep teams calm and focused during times of stress
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team, including as a team coach
• Ability to analyze and implement business processes to meet organizational goals while acknowledging the styles of diverse work groups
• Experience in or with a media organization and/or public media preferred
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in work experience preferred