A Project Manager manages work on projects with a defined scope, start and completion point. Leads project teams, manages project budgets and schedules; manages contractors and communications with stakeholders. May manage projects in construction, information technology or in other industries.
Candidate must be a California resident. Chico State Enterprises is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (i.e., H-1B Visas). The project manager III will work closely with the development team and the executive director of the North State Planning and Development Collective (NSPDC) on strategies and actions that benefit Chico State's service region and provide opportunities for faculty and students to engage in research and internships. Staff in this position will stay abreast of the priorities of federal, state, local, non-governmental, and private-sector partners and will understand important trends in funding programs. Job duties include identifying funding opportunities; developing projects with external collaborators and/or faculty; researching background documents related to the subject matter of proposals; preparing proposal documents including scopes of work, narratives, and budgets; and complying with campus approval policies and procedures. This position will also assist in managing funded projects and ensuring compliance with scopes, schedules, and budgets. The ideal candidate will have specialized experience in grant writing and project management, and knowledge of economic development, workforce development data support, community development, governmental administration, planning, and/or rural communities. Key objectives of this job function are to secure external funds for applied research, community-benefit projects, and student internships; meet community needs in Chico State's twelve-county service region; meet state and federal research needs; and build collaborative relationships with stakeholders throughout the public, nonprofit, and private sectors. Candidates hired at the higher end of the range must demonstrate advanced skills in managing complicated projects, programs, and budgets.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
The project manager's functional responsibilities include: Lead or provide leadership for the organization's strategic planning, development, and management efforts on new and existing research or operations programs, projects, and initiatives. Develop, define, and execute program plans, schedules, budgets, and deliverables. Identify the resources needed for programs and define/assign major roles. Monitor the program from initiation through delivery, interfacing with external stakeholders on project matters as needed. Assign and monitor the work of program management and support staff, providing mentorship and direction. May ultimately be responsible for the success of the program.
INDEPENDENCE OF ACTION
Work with little to no direction from the project lead and/or supervisor. Contribute to NSPDC strategic planning, NSPDC program and staff planning, and monitoring program budgets and research efforts. Coordinate and/or lead planning and control measures (e.g., productivity tracking, process improvement, impact) for moderate to more complex programs or larger portions of major programs. Identify internal and external issues or variables that affect program deliverables and initiatives. Determine program requirements and recommend strategic objectives. Work with the fiscal team on budget monitoring and revisions as needed. Assist with guiding program implementation and monitor performance to meet funder requirements. Efficiency should be elevated by delegating tasks to others and contributing to projects and meetings, beginning to lead subcommittees or team meetings and tasks such as creating evidence-based materials or supporting grant proposals as a taskmaster helping with proposal development or leading proposal sections. Present at conventions, meetings, and convenings.
SUPERVISION OF OTHERS
Mentor and may supervise cycle 1 employees at levels I-II. Develop staffing plans and may participate in the selection of team members. Seek opportunities to elevate staff levels and skills. Encourage staff cohesiveness and collaboration across teams, and support staffing adjustments as necessary.
SKILLS:
The primary focus of this level is to work more independently, utilizing the skills identified below. Will lead program planning, activity implementation/outreach, and evaluation efforts with minimal input. If serving as co-principal investigator (co-PI), help ensure overall contract compliance using the grant/contract management checklist, including support for overall budget projections and spending (e.g., making program decisions with fiscal considerations and fiscal decisions with program considerations). Staff should have broad knowledge of NSPDC and are able to represent their programs or projects. They contribute to NSPDC's strategic plan and help identify ways to leverage funding opportunities and/or partnerships. This individual will utilize more advanced skills with technology and software.
Collaboration:
Seek opportunities to support NSPDC committees and/or Center-wide discussions and decisions and to engage in external stakeholder collaboration. Effectively interact with project managers, external contacts, collaborative partners, and other project team members, and mentor others in doing so. As necessary, interact with other entities to develop reporting and subcontract requirements. Interface with external contacts on technical and programmatic topics and may serve as the primary contact or liaison with a funder. Initiate relationship management with partners to support the success of subcontractors and/or other collaborative partners (e.g., identifying and sharing best practices, maintaining reliable communication, sharing resources, etc.).
Communication:
Begin to initiate communication with external funders and partners, with review by a supervisor or others as needed. Maintain awareness of others' participation levels and the need for inclusivity and seek contributions from others. Facilitate meetings and encourage input during brainstorming sessions, asking hypothetical questions to stimulate conversation. May help strategize when communication is off track. Seek and provide honest feedback. Demonstrate emotional intelligence in communication and interpersonal relationships.
Accountability:
Contribute to the development and successful completion of programs and organizational objectives. Anticipate and prepare for tasks to complete work on time; seek opportunities to fill gaps and ensure program excellence. Able to prioritize tasks and work efficiently with competing demands. Maintain a schedule that best serves project performance and adjust as needed to support programmatic and organizational needs. Understand and critically evaluate funder guidelines, adhere to implementation standards, and offer guidance to others. Initiate assistance from leadership, administrative, fiscal, program CO-PI or other teams as appropriate. Understands budget line items, flexibility, the invoicing process, and impact on program planning. With fiscal support, may participate in fiscal processes. Begins to understand contract language, contract types, and execution processes. Shares content from trainings and professional development, remains current with best practices and mitigates potential risks to projects. Accountable to reinforcing a healthy work environment. If co-PI, ensure adherence to funder and NSPDC guidelines and help ensure contract requirements are met in collaboration with the PI and admin as specified in the grant/contract management checklist.
Problem Solving:
Anticipate and mitigate problems before they occur, propose creative solutions with minimal input, map out next steps, and delegate resources appropriately. Remain levelheaded and model resilience. Use interpersonal skills to communicate proposed solutions and encourage others to propose solutions.
Institutional Perspective:
Understand the organizational structure, values, and mission of NSPDC, CSE, and Chico State. Begin to initiate programs and partnerships that support NSPDC's strategic plan and priorities.
Leadership:
Begin to lead a program team. Lead multiple objectives of projects and direct team activities (e.g., reporting processes/procedures). Delegate and divide tasks into smaller milestones. Begin to lead and initiate meetings or agenda items within larger or more complex meetings. Help keep tasks on track for all team members and offer constructive feedback. Be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of team members and self; align tasks/roles to best suit team member strengths. With minimal supervisor input, employ performance management strategies such as setting individual and team goals, reviewing and assessing progress toward goals, and developing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of team members. Create a supportive space for innovation.
Change Management:
Develop a structured approach to changes in programs and staffing to help ensure beneficial transitions while mitigating disruptions. Become proactive and responsive to community needs or funder priorities. May utilize management tools. If co-PI, begin to lead tasks associated with projects' closeout and start-up.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree; master's degree preferred. The field of study should be related to natural resources, energy, agriculture, governmental administration, economic development, geographic information systems, planning and/or rural communities. An otherwise prepared applicant that meets the essential job functions may be considered. Minimum of six years of professional work experience (or equivalent) that includes program administration and planning, scheduling, and budgeting (e.g. managing programs, leading activities, meeting deadlines, prioritizing workload, professional communication, etc.), beginning to contribute to NSPDC's overarching activities, and supervising and/or mentoring staff. Ability to research funding opportunities and identify opportunities ahead of request for proposals release. Ability to strategically identify projects and collaborations that align with emerging trends in funding. Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders to identify needs for proposals and form collaboratives. Knowledge of the mechanics of proposal writing. Ability to research refereed literature and government documents to support proposals. Advanced skills with Microsoft Word and Excel. Demonstrated experience managing scopes, budgets, and timelines. Ability to identify project issues upstream and formulate solutions. Demonstrated experience preparing and delivering effective written and oral reports. Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks. Ability to adjust to change in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment (i.e., work environment, technology) and work within deadlines. Ability to work independently under general direction and function cooperatively and productively as a member of a unit.
Environmental Working Conditions:
The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in heat/cold, wet/humid, and dry/arid conditions.
BENEFITS
Benefits for employees working 30 hours or more per week include employer paid life insurance ($50,000) and long-term disability; options for health, dental, and vision insurance; FSA; paid holidays including 1 personal holiday; vacation accrual (initially 10 days/year); sick leave (up to 12 days/year); employer contributions to a 403(b) retirement plan (up to 8%).
HOW TO APPLY
To be considered, submit the following documents by July 31, 2026. Documents submitted after this date may not be considered. Resume
BY DROP BOX
https://csuchico.app.box.com/f/152b103194024d4d8e4c6c398acef210(opens in new window)
BY EMAIL
csejobs@csuchico.edu Paper applications will not be accepted; however, Chico State Enterprises is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is happy to provide reasonable accommodation to applicants at any step of the application process. If you need assistance in this regard, or are having technical difficulties, please contact the Human Resources office at 530-898-6811 or csejobs@csuchico.edu prior to 5:00 p.m. on the document deadline date. The employer is Chico State Enterprises, a nonprofit corporation serving as an auxiliary organization of California State University, Chico. Employment is considered to be at-will.
