Project Manager - Advanced Professional

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• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

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POSITION SPECIFICS​

The Office of Physical Plant (OPP) seeks a talented and motivated Project Manager - Advanced Professional to join our Project Management Office (PMO). This position will report to the PMO Supervisor, and the focus of this position is to provide effective project management on various large initiatives across OPP. The selected candidate will be responsible for all projects being delivered on time, within budget, and with a high-quality outcome to OPP business operations. This individual needs to be an ambitious and dedicated professional who will continue to build upon our values and reputation as a trusted partner for our business areas.

The Project Manager is a professional practitioner of project management responsible for leading and delivering complex projects through the application of established project management methodologies, governance frameworks, and industry best practices; is accountable for managing the full project lifecycle, including project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and project closeout; serves as the central point of accountability for project performance and works across organizational boundaries to align stakeholders, resources, schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables to achieve project objectives.

Please note:  This position is not within the Design and Construction area of OPP. This position is based in State College, Pennsylvania and is primarily an in-person role. This is a full-time position and may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. The PMO is supportive of flexible work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. Questions related to flexible work hours should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

This position also collaborates with leadership to ensure that the project management provided across the organization meets exceptional standards. This position fosters a positive culture committed to inclusion, diversity, and investment in staff by understanding the talent needs of the business areas, providing training and opportunities for professional development, and fostering a connection to the University and Office of the Physical Plant mission and goals.

The successful candidate will:

• Lead technical projects through the full project management lifecycle, applying established project management methodologies, standards, and governance practices
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project management plans, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, communications, procurement, resource, stakeholder engagement, and risk management plans
• Facilitate project steering committees, executive reviews, and stakeholder decision-making processes
• Partner with executive sponsors, stakeholders, functional leaders, and project teams to define project objectives, business requirements, success criteria, and expected outcomes
• Direct project planning activities including project charters, business cases, work breakdown structures, schedules, resource plans, cost estimates, and project baselines
• Monitor and control project performance through the use of project management tools, metrics, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms
• Manage project scope, schedule, cost, quality, risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, and change requests to ensure project objectives are achieved
• Identify, assess, escalate, and mitigate project risks and issues; develop contingency and recovery plans when necessary
• Coordinate cross-functional project teams and facilitate collaboration among stakeholders who may not have direct reporting relationships to the Project Manager
• Lead project meetings, status reviews, risk assessments, lessons learned sessions, and project closeout activities
• Facilitate vendor evaluations, feasibility studies, requests for proposals, and contract-related project activities as applicable
• Ensure project compliance with institutional policies, governance requirements, regulatory obligations, and industry standards
• Produce and maintain project documentation, including project charters, schedules, status reports, financial reports, risk registers, issue logs, change requests, stakeholder analyses, and project closeout reports
• Advise leadership on project management practices, portfolio priorities, project health, and organizational project management maturity
• Contribute to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of project management standards, methodologies, tools, templates, and processes
• May provide mentoring, coaching, and professional development guidance

Education and experience:

• Industry-recognized project management certification (e.g., PMI PMP, CAPM, PRINCE2, Agile certifications) is preferred
• A strong commitment to customer service, substantial technical aptitude, excellent problem-solving analysis and critical thinking skills, quality verbal and written communication and presentation skills, the ability to learn new things quickly and independently, and high performance in a team environment and a proven ability to work successfully in a diverse work environment are required.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree
3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Required Certifications:
None

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $81,312.00 - $122,016.00.

Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.

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