Job Description

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly skilled Budget Project Manager with proven experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects that help organizations drive change and solve complex budgetary and financial problems. The position will play a key role in evaluating and refining a newly implemented budget model that supports Rice University's strategic growth initiatives. The position will support project evaluation, including seeking input on pain points from all stakeholders, suggesting options for resolution, and developing a detailed project plan to refine the new Budget Transformation Initiative implemented in the FY25 budget cycle. This project has key stakeholders across campus and requires deft handling of often-complex interactions and financial dependencies.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing project plans, coordinating stakeholder engagement, soliciting feedback, monitoring and reporting progress, facilitating problem-solving, collaborating with diverse stakeholders at many levels of the organization, and preparing status reports and presentations for stakeholders and leadership. The position will report to the Associate Vice President of Budget and Fiscal Analysis in the Office of Budget and Finance. The position will work closely with members of the Budget Office and Academic Finance Office to understand the nuances and complexities of the work.

The position will also support analysis in the Office of Budget and Fiscal Analysis, including supporting the annual development of the endowment distribution budget, which requires detailed analysis of endowment funds.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, innovative problem-solver, and is energized by understanding systems and improving them. They possess a background in budget management, management consulting, strategy, or operations; a strong analytical and project management skill set; and experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders. This individual is skilled at distilling complex ideas and information into clear and compelling presentations, can navigate shifting priorities with ease, and is comfortable with ambiguity.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is offered as a hybrid role (minimum of 2 days in the office per week). Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: $110,400 - $135,986.40 annual salary.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
• 4+ years of experience in budget management, management consulting, strategy, or a related field.

Skills:

• Strong ability to communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Skilled in navigating differing points of view with care, thoughtfulness, and attention.
• Deadline-driven, organized, and able to multitask and manage shifting priorities.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting to evolving situations.
• Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement.
• Understanding of higher education budget and finance.
• Leader and team player who also excels as a strong independent contributor.
• Self-motivated and proactive.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with complex data analysis.
• Strong ability to create compelling presentations and develop clear storylines.
• Creative thinker with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities.
• Experience developing reports and dashboards to track project progress and outcomes.
• Ability to facilitate meetings and engage stakeholders at all levels of an organization.

Preferences:

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in budget management, management consulting, strategy, or a related field
• Expertise in applying leading consulting problem-solving methodologies or frameworks.
• Experience with business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and the Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Essential Functions:

• Partner with initiative owners, team leads, and project managers to identify risks, issues, and critical decisions. Track progress and ensure alignment with organizational initiatives.
• Monitor projects and reporting to track milestones, risks, and barriers.
• Maintain a high-level overview of all ongoing projects and programs, identifying interconnectivity, evaluating competing priorities, and providing recommendations for mitigating risks and issues.
• Build and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders across the organization, ensuring effective communication and program success.
• Develop and implement an effective structure for functional team meetings to address cross-functional impacts and inter-team challenges across the excellence portfolios.
• Identify barriers to success across the portfolio and escalate issues to leadership as needed.
• Prepare and present progress reports, dashboards, and performance metrics to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Support the adoption of best practices in resource optimization and operational efficiency.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and recommend solutions to enhance project outcomes.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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