Project Manager

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), a nonprofit incorporated in 1957, operates as a consortium of 46 US institutions and 4 international affiliates responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of world-class astronomical observatories and research centers.

AURA employs approximately 1,500 people located in Washington, , Maryland, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and Chile. With an annual budget of approximately $300 million, AURA’s role is to establish, cultivate and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research.

AURA is seeking a Project Manager to serve in a critical role supporting AURA's mission. This individual will report directly to the VP of Operations and Chief Financial Officer.

General Summary Description of Position :

The Project Manager is responsible for providing clear leadership and management of the overall execution of finance, accounting and administrative initiatives and projects, including system implementation and enhancements, and will be responsible for all contract deliverables, customer relations, coordination with consultants, and reporting.

This role will partner with and analyze the organization’s needs, coordinate external consultants and also be a hands-on independent contributor.

This role will have strong interactions with the various team and project stakeholders to establish seamless processes that meet all program and contract requirements.

Essential Functions :

• Lead and perform all stages of project management including project initiation and approval; contract and statement of work development;
• plan development and documentation; resource allocation and scheduling; plan execution, monitoring, and control; stakeholder communication and management;

cost, schedule, scope, quality, and risk management; product delivery; and closeout.

• Lead multiple cross-functional teams to support program requirements of varying size, complexity and duration.
• Holds team members accountable to meet estimates and time frames for all team’s tasks and deliverables.
• Drive planning and delivery of high-quality deliverables in support of program requirements.
• Ensures project tasks and milestones are accurate and complete for all active projects
• Develop program specific planning and control documents to support system documentation.
• Communicate all key project plans, commitments, and changes including requirements, quality assurance plans, schedule, and scope changes.
• Works with the cross functional managers to identify potential improvements to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the role, including a clearly defined requirements hand off process between teams.
• Develop, document and revise program processes and quality standards, and workflows and manage and document related change control processes.
• Collaborate and manage processes across all functions within program and business stakeholders.
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks and remove obstacles to program requirements.
• Guide the completion of root cause analysis to ensure issues do not recur.
• Monitors, measures, and reports on team’s performance via regular status reporting on team’s accomplishments, issues and risks using Confluence, JIRA and other systems.
• Ensures team development of expertise with existing or new systems
• Serves as a conduit between the cross functional managers, program and business stakeholders, fostering relationships across the organization.
• Holds team members accountable to meet estimates and time frames for all team’s tasks and deliverables.

Other Functions :

All AURA employees are responsible for the proper management and control of all AURA property within their work area, whether assigned to them or someone else.

This responsibility includes reporting any known missing, stolen, or non-working property in their work area to their supervisor or the AURA Property Officer.

• Responsible for ensuring compliance with government award terms and conditions assigned to this position or subordinates of this position as defined in the Vela Award Management system.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education / Experience / Skills / Abilities :

• Bachelor’s degree or greater in a related discipline
• Have had responsibility for a numerous successful project (delivered meeting client requirements and with high team satisfaction), complex projects.
• Experience with implementing ERP systems
• Experience evaluating system vulnerability assessments and developing mitigation plans
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in a fluid environment
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment
• Excellent communication and presentation skills and high integrity and ethical behavior
• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills

Preferred Education / Experience / Skills / Abilities :

• PMP certification
• AGILE / SCRUM
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint and Deltek Time and Expense
• Experience with Ultipro Payroll

Physical Demands :

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This work is done in an office environment. Long periods of sitting may be required.

More Details :

AURA offers an excellent benefits package including paid time off and retirement plan contributions, a competitive salary commensurate with experience, and a very attractive work environment.

Details on benefits can be found at

Salary information : The anticipated salary range for this position is $100,000- $135,000. The final salary will be determined by location, experience, and qualifications.

The position will remain open until it is filled. To be considered in the first round of reviews, please submit your application by September 6, 2024.

• Please submit a cover letter and a CV or resume, PDF files preferred. Please name any attachments with the following format : Lastname Docname.
• Application documents that are not uploaded as part of the application may be sent to.
• Please enter 3 professional references in your application (references will only be contacted later in the recruitment process).

Veterans, disabled individuals or wounded warriors needing assistance with the employment process should request assistance at

The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) is a consortium of 46 US institutions and 4 international affiliates that operates world-class astronomical observatories for theand.

AURA’s role is to establish, nurture, and promote public observatories and facilities that advance innovative astronomical research.

In addition, AURA is deeply committed to public and educational outreach, and tothroughout the astronomical and scientific workforce.

AURA carries out its role through its astronomical facilities.

As a recipient of Government funding, AURA is considered a government contractor and is subject to Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action regulations.

As an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, AURA does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity / gender identity expression, lawful political affiliations, veteran status, disability, and / or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local equal opportunity laws.

The statements below as well as the requests for self-identification are required pursuant to these regulations. We encourage your participation in meeting these federal reporting requirements which are included for protection and to assist us in our recordkeeping and reporting.

Your responses are kept strictly confidential.

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