Description

Position: Project Manager

Department: Strategic Initiatives

Reports to: Vice President, Strategic Initiatives

About Chicago Children’s Museum: Chicago Children’s Museum is committed to improving children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect. Making rich educational and cultural opportunities available to all children during the critical early years has been Chicago Children’s Museum’s primary objective since opening in 1982. Today, CCM is known and respected for our interactive exhibits and workshop spaces; a wide variety of child-centered, open-ended educational programming; and innovative community engagement programs. We embrace creativity and collaboration, we never stop learning, and we remember to stop and play along the way. Chicago Children’s Museum staff is a dedicated group of curious individuals who embrace the playful spirit of childhood. Every employee is empowered to reach their potential and be recognized for the impact they have on our organization, visitors, and the community we serve.

Position Overview: The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for overall project planning and scheduling, resource allocation, project accounting and control, documentation and reporting, and ensuring alignment with and fidelity to project vision, goals and requirements. The PM works primarily on community-based partnerships but may support other museum initiatives as needed. They must have the organizational ability to work with the project team to put ideas and initiatives into action.

PRINCIPAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the day-to-day aspects of projects of varying size, cost, type and use as assigned, ensuring strict adherence to the museum’s goals and objectives.
• Develop project schedules and budgets, continually update them and report out to project teams, museum management and other stakeholders.
• Routinely report on budget, schedule and assessment of project risks to the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives.
• Work with internal stakeholders to assemble project teams and assign individual responsibilities.
• Assist in identifying creative and project development resources such as designers, writers, media producers, evaluators and fabricators.
• Facilitate meetings to help teams reach consensus in project development and implementation while adhering to program, budget and schedule goals.
• Manage project documentation at all phases including meeting minutes, distributed promptly with expected actions and deadlines for team members.
• Schedule and effectively manage project milestone reviews as needed.
• Develop scopes of work and list of deliverables with payment schedules for design/production/ construction contracts.
• Work with Finance and Development departments on grant preparation, reporting, and other funding requirements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with contractors and consultants for future projects.
• Simultaneously manage several projects at different phases of design or implementation unless assigned a single, major project.
• Support the museum’s work in diversity, equity, access and inclusion and actively ensure that DEAI principles are upheld in all work with fellow staff, visitors, community and other external partners.

DEMONSTRATED COMPETENCIES

• Take initiative, work independently, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects from beginning through completion with minimal supervision.
• Effectively collaborate with cross-departmental teams, using clear organization and information management strategies to strengthen the operations and efficiency of teamwork.
• Maintain clear and timely communication with internal team members and external partners.
• Maintain accurate records on program budget, timeline, decisions and implementation.
• Meet program goals as defined, and in accordance with CCM’s mission, vision, strategic framework and foundational documents, and best practices in anti-bias and anti-racist education.
• Possess an equity mindset and cultural humility.

Requirements

• Three to five years’ professional experience, including demonstrated experience successfully managing large projects
• Ability to multi-task and respond to a rapidly changing environment, including interruptions and adjustments to priorities; good sense of prioritization and flexibility
• Proven troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities with a “can-do” attitude and a vested interest in excellence
• Strong, energetic, comfortable communicator, capable of engaging with children and adults from diverse cultural/linguistic, ethnic, socioeconomic, education and geographic backgrounds
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; professional demeanor on the phone, email, and in person with all partners and co-workers
• Determination, commitment and ownership of work
• Strong organizational skills; ability to coordinate and prioritize multiple projects
• Ability to work effectively in a multifaceted, team environment, and to work independently without supervision
• Ability to accept feedback graciously and integrate it
• Commitment to CCM’s mission and vision
• Excellent PC skills: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Asana
• Familiarity with informal learning environments and/or early childhood education a plus
• Spanish-language fluency, both oral and written, is highly desired

Hours: Full-time position, 37.5 hours per week. Occasional participation in evening/weekend community events and programs is required.

Location: Currently hybrid; 60% onsite, 40% remote.

Physical Requirements of the Position: Ability to lift program supplies, up to 20 pounds.

Salary Range: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­$62,000-$66,000

Benefits: Full-time: This position is eligible for medical, dental, vision, Life, Long-term Disability, and Short-term Disability insurances, 401k after six months of service, as well as PTO and Sick time.

Position Classification: Exempt