Project Manager (Center On Metropolitan Housing And Communities)

About Urban Institute:

At the Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. As a nonprofit focusing on social and economic policy, our researchers and policy entrepreneurs open minds, shape decisions, and identify transformative solutions to the most pressing issues of our time.

Our Mission

To open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research.

Our Values

Collaboration, Equity, Inclusivity, Independence, and Integrity

For more information on the Urban Institute, please visit https://www.urban.org.

The Opportunity:

Within the Urban Institute, the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Center (Metro) conducts research on how housing and place shape people’s lives. We believe that housing and place matter. Quality, affordable housing anchors families, and the communities where people live can influence nearly everything in their lives: where they work and how they get there, the quality of schools that their children attend, their health and safety, even their longevity.

Under the supervision of the Director, Center Operations this Project Manager provides proposal preparation, financial administration and other related project assistance, but also plays a key role in operational support for the center. This mid-career position also provides coaching and professional development to early career operations staff on the team.

What You’ll Do:

• Help supervise the work of early career operations staff by providing guidance and feedback and working with the Director to manage team workflows.
• Provide guidance and serve as point of contact to Metro staff regarding Urban’s business processes including training and assistance.
• Lead the management of proposal development processes by coordinating across team members and other offices, overseeing deadlines, compiling submission packages, and applying a strong attention to detail.
• Perform a variety of complex financial and project management tasks including creating and overseeing project budgets and navigating project modifications in partnership with research teams.
• Manage project procurement functions including subcontract agreements, purchase orders, and consultant agreements by working with team members to compile necessary documentation, provide feedback on scopes of work and deliverable schedules, and liaise with internal offices to execute agreements.
• Work on and help guide a small team that serves as the “go-to” people in Metro for questions regarding progress reports, contract compliance, project specific tasks, and large institute initiatives
• Build ad-hoc financial models and analytics, create cost-down budgets, and prepare monthly financial reports – both internal and external facing.

Who You Are:

The successful candidate must have outstanding writing ability and be well-organized, highly motivated, and able to work effectively on multiple tasks at once. Prior work experience or public policy related internship experience in fast-paced office environments with federal, state, local policymakers, philanthropic and/or non-profits leaders is a plus.

The successful candidate will:

• Have a working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Demonstrate basic research and/or policy knowledge or an appetite to acquire and grow in this knowledge
• Possess a Bachelor's degree, preferably in the field of Public Policy, Urban Studies, Political Science, or other social science field and 5 years related experience
• Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Operate successfully both independently and in a team environment, be able to take initiative; manage workflow
• Exhibit excellent project management, organizational skills and experience working with budgets.
• Display strong written and verbal English communication skills, including the ability to compose formal business correspondence
• Desired experience and knowledge of the proposal process and display solid experience reading RFPs and pulling necessary requirements for complex, multi-year budgets, preferably experience in U.S. Government (federal) funding management
• Adapt easily to changes in work assignments; deadlines and priorities while maintaining superior attention to detail as well as critical and creative thinking to troubleshoot and solve problems
• Demonstrate effective project management including experience creating and managing work plans, timelines, budgets, and other contractual research components.
• Exhibit high level of organization, time management, motivation, creativity, and self-confidence; we seek individuals who can work effectively, independently, and simultaneously on multiple projects and across multiple teams.
• Display a high level of professionalism.

What You’ll Experience:

No matter your role with Urban, you will contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference for people and communities across the country. And whether you call the Washington, DC area or elsewhere home, you can expect to be part of a welcoming and hybrid workplace. We are committed to cultivating a community and working in a manner defined by collaboration, equity, inclusivity, independence, and integrity.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people.

The salary range for this position is $65,000-$80,000. Salary offered is commensurate with experience and considers internal equity. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Salaries are just one component of Urban Institute’s total compensation package.

Urban is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being through a robust benefits package for yourself, eligible dependents, and domestic partners. It includes generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays, medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance, and transit benefits. Urban is unique in that we offer 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after six months of service and 500 hours, with immediate vesting. You’ll also have access to a health advocate, personal finance coaching, an Employee Assistance Program, and educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This position has the opportunity to be fully remote.

With the conclusion of the government-issued COVID-19 national public health emergency, Urban has updated our COVID-19 safety guidelines. All Urban Institute employees working from our onsite location must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and comply with any masking requirements. Fully vaccinated is defined as receiving the primary series of US approved COVID-19 vaccinations (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen) with the addition of at least 1 COVID-19 booster. Employees who are working onsite may request exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement based on a medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief that prevents them from being vaccinated. Where such an exemption is approved, Urban will discuss potential accommodation with the employee. These guidelines do not apply to employees who are teleworking or other offsite staff.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned. This posting is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Urban management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

The Urban Institute is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, veteran status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected status under applicable law. The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minorities/Women/Disabilities/Veterans