GWSC Strategic Operations Program Manager - 525651

Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $68,500 - Midpoint: $89,100 (Salaried E11)

Department/Organization: 750502 - Global Water Security Center

Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 4:45pm

Note to Applicants: Position is eligible for remote work subject to University policy.

Job Summary: The GWSC Strategic Operations Program Manager researches, selects, and implements tools, strategies, policies, and procedures to increase the effectiveness and scalability of the Global Water Security Center (GWSC). Develops and implements change management strategies and plans to ensure success. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify and address potential barriers. Identifies measurable key performance indicators and benchmarks to measure team and initiative success.

Additional Department Summary: The Global Water Security Center (GWSC) seeks a candidate passionate about helping the center to address global environmental challenges in the real world. Will serve as a member of GWSC's leadership team, providing direct support to the Director through consistent organizational analysis, continuous improvement strategies, implementation of project management tools, and assistance with determining and communicating organizational strategy. Enacts new policies and procedures to achieve broader impact goals while ensuring staff adapt to these transitions as seamlessly as possible.

This position will be instrumental in driving and managing change initiatives that will shape the future of GWSC. They will have the opportunity to make a significant impact on the company's growth, development, and achievement of strategic objectives. Supported by analytics, guide the team to provide solutions by working with product owners and stakeholders to ensure they are well engaged. They will also identify resources constraints or needs to promote content delivery success.

GWSC is an applied research and operational center commissioned to respond to our nation's need for water and environmental security insights. GWSC will inform national security partners and others with global interests in water and environmental security. Our partners will include the Department of Defense(DoD), other US Government agencies, private companies, and data producers from federal agencies and academia.

Continuation in this position is contingent upon availability of external funding derived from research programs or specific projects.

Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and four (4) years of experience; OR master's degree and two (2) years of experience.

Skills and Knowledge: Strong skills and knowledge of organizational development, servant leadership, facilitation, change management, communication best practices, situational awareness, conflict resolution, continual improvement, empowerment, and increasing transparency within an organization.

Ability to develop performance goals and long-term operational, content, and organizational strategy plans in support of center's goals in collaboration with center director. Ability to provide analysis of complex tasks and to organize and coordinate the work of others to accomplish objectives. Ability to use data analytics to evaluate strategy effectiveness and make recommendations to organizational leadership for continuous improvement.

Knowledge of global environmental issues and ability to communicate those issues in laymen's terms so they are easily understood and can be operationalized for decision making by GWSC partners. Knowledge of change management framework or method (e.g., Agile, Kanban), as well as in-depth knowledge of traditional project management principles and practices.

Proven track record of successfully leading and implementing organizational initiatives. Ability to maximize efficiency and productivity through process analysis and inter-team collaboration by cultivating meaningful feedback loops via surveys, focus groups, and 1:1 interaction.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively influence and guide stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Knowledge of best practices for conflict resolution, providing feedback, and interpersonal communication. Experience in conducting training workshops, seminars, and presentations. Ability to deliver assessment reports in a wide range of presentation modes - oral, written and technological.

Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously. Self-starter and high degree of motivation to go above and beyond the task at hand.
Excellent communication, coaching, and mentoring skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Prefer five or more years of experience identifying areas that require improvement and development of strategies to optimize operations. Overseeing communications specific to organizational transformation and developing communications strategy for stakeholder engagement. Experience working for a research center, preferably in a higher education setting. Experience working directly with government agencies, including the US Department of Defense, State Department, etc. Certification in Change Management or Agile methodologies, like Registered Scrum Master (RSM), Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM). SAFe certification and Kanban certification are a plus.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" Poster