Start Early (formerly known as the Ounce) is an energized, future-focused organization devoted to providing quality early learning and care across the country.

Our desire to close the opportunity gap and build more equitable early learning experiences for our youngest learners guides everything we do. As a leader in early learning and care, we scale our deep expertise across program, policy and research through partnerships across the country.

We are recruiting individuals who want to join us in this mission and share a commitment to our core values of appreciation & respect, empowerment, diversity, excellence, learning and communication.

Become part of our rewarding, mission-driven culture! We want our employees to feel empowered, motivated, energized, and passionate about the work they do!

This position will apply industry best practices to the management of projects throughout the full project life cycle, from initiating to closing, including resource, scope, timeline, quality, risk, communication and stakeholder management. Projects include those directly impacting the children, families and early childhood professionals we serve or may be focused on improving internal operations.

The Project Management Office (PMO) delivers excellent project, process and change management support, enabling Start Early to facilitate positive change, operate effectively and deliver on our strategic commitments toward our organizational mission. Working in the PMO is an opportunity to be part of a team that aims to provide transparent, equitable access to all PMO supports, ensuring that Start Early staff are confident in their ability to deliver on our commitments and sustain positive change.

Reporting to the Director, Project Management Office, you will:

• Partner closely with senior/executive leaders to define project scope and objectives and develop project plans that align with strategic priorities. Oversee successful execution of the projects by anticipating deadlines, establishing and maintaining processes for managing scope throughout the project and reporting project status and proactively reporting and escalating risks and issues, as necessary, to the appropriate leadership channels to facilitate resolution.
• Facilitate project team meetings and coordination across functional leads and with internal and external partners – including program, policy, research and operations experts – to advance project goals and ensure all aspects of the project are delivered on schedule, within budget, and within scope. Collaborate with project teams to ensure team members have the resources and capabilities needed to meet project objectives.
• Apply and adapt traditional and agile project management tools and methods to suit organizational culture and context. Maintain a comprehensive view of complex projects and continuously monitor the status of project components, adjusting plans as necessary, through execution and closure.
• Apply structured change management methodologies to support the people side of change. Develop and deliver change management solutions and activities that promote effective change adoption.
• Lead process improvement projects focused on developing new processes, or improving existing processes, to enable the flow of work and deliver value to internal and external customers (e.g. define and clarify roles and decision sets, gain buy-in, look for and reduce waste, etc.)
• Serve as an internal consultant or advisor in our PMO disciplines of project management, change management, and process improvement. Develop and deliver training and consultation to colleagues to build organizational capacity in these areas. Support PMO operations to optimize PMO services for internal partners.

Qualifications:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree required.

• Three to five years of experience in project management

• Project Management Certification (PMP, CAPM, or equivalent) preferred. Change management or process improvement certification a plus.
• Deep commitment in advancing diversity, racial equity, inclusion, and belonging into organizational routines and practice.
• Effectively establish and maintain effective relationships with customers and gain their trust and respect.
• Comfort and experience in handling risk and ambiguity to move work forward.

We recognize that few candidates might meet every single piece of knowledge, experience, or education listed here. Research shows that women and people of color, among many other historically excluded groups, are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. Start Early is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your qualifications don’t perfectly align with everything in the job description, we still encourage you to apply!

The Chicagoland Area is preferred.

Base Annual Salary: $75,000 - $82,000

We believe that all employees should be paid fairly and equitably. As of the time of this posting, this is the expected base annual salary range. The base annual salary will be based on a wide range of factors, including skills, qualifications, experience, as well as business needs and limitations.

Our generous benefits plan includes:

Comprehensive Health Plans, Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Holistic Wellness Program, Professional Development Program, 401k Contribution, Paid Volunteer Days, 6 months paid parental leave, and much more.

Start Early is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to our core values by creating an inclusive environment for all staff.