Project Manager

Child Trends is seeking a Project Management Specialist II in our Strategic Initiatives area. Candidates must have expertise and experience in leading federal contracts and client relationship management. This position will work with an experienced team focused on strategic federal communications, and will focus heavily on overseeing federal contracts, managing project knowledge and information, and tracking project spending. Review of applications for this position will begin October 19, 2020.

• Serves as a project director for federal strategic communications projects and main point of contact with federal clients.
• Oversees multiple tasks and deliverables, achieving high client satisfaction.
• Manages budgets to reduce risks and cost overruns, ensuring accurate and responsible fiscal management and reporting.
• Presents results and information to clients and stakeholders.
• Provides quality control to promote excellence and high client satisfaction on project management reports, strategic plans, metrics reports.
• Provides mentorship and training to junior staff to develop and execute plans to reach identified metrics/goals within timeline and budget.

• Master’s degree and 7-10 years of experience in federal contracting, including as a project/program manager.
• Experience in project management or training and technical assistance.
• Excellent client relations skills.
• Strong track record of managing federal contracts and scopes of work.
• Excellent skills in project planning, analysis, and problem-solving, as well as strong verbal, written, and presentation skills.
• Experience managing and leading teams of 6 or more to complete complex tasks with high quality.
• Substantial knowledge about project management:
  1. Comprehensive knowledge of project management methods and techniques.
  2. Ability to clearly articulate assumptions and trade-offs.
  3. Ability to design projects start to finish, incorporating appropriate technological or methodological advances.
• Experience in contract and grant proposal writing.
• Knowledgeable about social science research:
  1. Knowledge in a social science discipline and social service programs.
  2. Ability to critically evaluate the presentation of research methods and findings.
  3. Attention to framing research findings in ways that promote equity.
• Familiarity with research communications or digital marketing a plus.
• Experience in strategic communications, such as developing overarching plans and engaging with stakeholders, a plus.

How to Apply:
Please follow the “apply” link to submit your application. When asked by the system to upload resume, please upload one document that includes your resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references. Materials must be combined into one document in order to be uploaded. If you have any difficulties with this process please email the requested materials to recruitment (at) childtrends.org and make sure to reference the position in the subject line. No phone calls please!

Child Trends, founded in 1979, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to improving the lives of children by conducting research and providing science-based information to improve the decisions, programs, and policies that affect children. With annual revenue of $23 million and 192 employees, our clients include federal, state and local government agencies, foundations, and service providers. Our headquarters is located in Bethesda, Maryland, with offices in Minneapolis and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In 2018, we were recognized as a Great Place to Work for Women, Best Workplace in Consulting & Professional Services and Best Small & Medium Workplace.