Sr. Project Management Assistant

Child Trends has an opening for a project coordinator to help manage the day-to-day operations of large federally funded research project(s) on early care and education. This role supports the project management and administrative functions on the project; it is not a research role. This role would be a good fit for someone who enjoys developing and working on project operations and management and supporting high quality research.

Our team values equity and recognizes that systemic discrimination has negatively impacted the well-being of individuals, families, and communities who also are underrepresented in the research field. As researchers, we aim to be accountable for promoting equity by centering the lived experiences of these individuals in our research. As researchers, we also commit to ensuring that we are contributing to Child Trends' work culture in an equitable way. We strongly encourage individuals from populations that are historically underrepresented in research and academic fields (e.g., first-generation college students, first-generation immigrants, people of color) to apply.

Typical Responsibilities and Duties:

The project coordinator will support the project leads in coordinating and executing the day-to-day activities of the project(s).

• Provide support to the Project Director/Manager.This includes:
  1. Coordinating completion of required reporting for the project, including soliciting and tracking the submission of progress reports from our partner organizations and helping to coordinate the submission of progress reports to the funding organization.
  2. Monitoring quality control processes.
  3. Organizing project files.
  4. Tracking specific project or task timelines.
  5. Supporting budget tracking.
  6. Helping to ensure the project follows agreed upon policies and procedures.
• Coordinate team meetings. This includes keeping track of topics to be discussed, drafting agendas for review, setting up video meeting links, sending out agendas with appropriate accompanying materials in a timely manner, and taking notes that clearly identify key action items. This also will include coordinating with partner organizations.
• Oversee email communications. The project coordinator will be responsible for tracking, monitoring, filing, and ensuring that the appropriate team member has responded to all relevant email communications.
• Assist with clerical tasks, information requests, filing, data entry, etc.
• Assist with event planning, including managing attendee lists and invitations, processing travel reimbursements, preparing materials, and supporting other logistics.
• Coordinate with administrative functions include accounting, contracts, and communications teams.
• Help with research-related tasks, as needed such as fact checking, preparing citations, tabling, etc.

The following is our list of preferred qualifications. If you do not meet our criteria exactly but think you are a good fit for this position, please submit and tell us why in your cover letter.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required with at least one year of project work experience preferred in business or research operations.
• Excellent project management skills such as the ability to simultaneously track and manage multiple tasks, coordinate with partners and stakeholders professionally, manage competing and shifting timelines often, and create and maintain systems for organizing information.
• Excellent writing skills (e.g., professional structured writing in email, project planning reports, and memos, etc.) and communication skills.
• Motivated and highly detail-oriented worker.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Prefer experience with project management software, such as Microsoft Planner, OneNote, Asana etc.
• Interest in topics related to early care and education such as the early care and education workforce.

Desired but not required qualifications:

• Some coursework and research experience in qualitative or quantitative research methods preferred.

Additional Information:

This job might be great for a college graduate with administrative experience. This position offers multiple opportunities for professional development and growth in the field of project management.

Locations: Flexible Remote Work; Child Trends' offices are based in Bethesda, MD; Chapel Hill, NC; Minneapolis, MN. Many Child Trends staff work remotely, and while we are set up to hire remote staff in many states, we are not yet operating everywhere in the US and do not have any overseas operations. We are currently approved to hire full-time staff in AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VT, VA, WV, and WI. The organization will require time to assess additional set up requirements (e.g., employment and tax law) for locations outside of areas where we are currently approved to hire. Individuals who would like to work from areas outside of the currently approved states, if offered the position should indicate this preference as early as possible in the application process.

Benefits:
For all full-time and part-time employees who work a minimum of 20 hours per week, we offer generous vacation + sick leave + paid holidays; optional individual/domestic partner/family medical, dental and vision benefits effective first day of employment; optional pet benefits; pre-tax reimbursement funds (FSA, HSA, Commuter); life insurance; short/long term disability, basic life and AD&D coverage paid for by Child Trends; paid family leave; paid bereavement leave; professional development and tuition reimbursement allowance; and 403(b) retirement plan with immediate vesting and Child Trends contributions after 1 year of employment. To learn more, go to https://www.childtrends.org/about-us/careers and click "View Summary of Benefits."

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, transcripts, a writing sample 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 is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center headquartered in Bethesda, MD with more than 200 staff in over 28 states that provides valuable information and insights on the well-being of children, youth, and their families. For more than 40 years, policymakers, funders, educators and service providers in the U.S. have relied on our data and analyses to make better decisions and policies on programs serving children, families, and youth. www.childtrends.org

Child Trends is committed to hiring, retaining, and promoting staff who bring a rich diversity of experience to support our mission of improving the lives and prospects of children and youth, especially those made most vulnerable by the effects of historical and ongoing systemic discrimination. Together, we envision a world in which a child's race, ethnicity, family income, gender, sexual orientation, disability status or any other social identity does not determine how that child will fare in life. Therefore, we approach every aspect of our work with these ideals in mind and encourage professionals who share in our commitment to apply.

Child Trends is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Protected veterans and individuals with disability encouraged to apply.