Senior Program Manager, Special Projects

The Team

Across our work in Science, Education, and within our communities, we pair technology with grantmaking, impact investing, and collaboration to help accelerate the pace of progress toward our mission. Our Central Operations & Partners team provides the support needed to push this work forward. 

Central Operations & Partners consists of our Brand & Communications, Community, Facilities, Finance, Infrastructure/IT Operations/Business Systems, Initiative Operations, People, Real Estate/Workplace/Facilities/Security, Research & Learning, and Ventures teams. These teams provide the essential operations, services, and strategies needed to support CZI’s progress toward achieving its mission to build a better future for everyone.

The Opportunity

CZI strives to be a learning organization that’s responsive to an evolving world, while also maintaining commitment to and focus on existing strategies. CZI’s Project Management function, “Special Projects,” oversees and manages organization-wide strategic internal operations projects to ensure complex, multi-stakeholder efforts are resourced appropriately. Special Projects takes on high priority org-wide internal operational projects, including complex cross-functional and cross-Initiative internal operational projects requiring centralized resources and coordination, strong project management and deep understanding of CZI strategy. 

Current projects include: implementing AI tools and systems in CZI’s operations and overseeing planning of CZI’s AI capacity; establishing values and ethos of CZI’s grantmaking principles; and providing internal training and education opportunities on impact investing. 

Past projects have included: overseeing rollout of CZI’s new “Total Rewards” benefits program; supporting organizational design during company-wide reorganizations; design and implementation of CZI’s exploratory investments in Climate; design support for CZI’s racial equity grantmaking approach. 

This role, reporting to the Director of Special Projects, is part of the Special Projects team within CZI’s Initiative Operations unit. Initiative Operations is a component of CZI’s Central Operations and Partners division.

What You'll Do

As Senior Program Manager, Special Projects, you will help build our internal Project Management function, “Special Projects”, focusing on high-priority, organization-wide processes, and structures. You’ll work in close partnership with program and initiative leaders across the organization, as well as with the Director, Special Projects, Head of Initiative Operations, and Special Projects team to scope and resource high-priority, cross-organizational special projects.

Process Development

• Scope new ideas to cut across organizational silos to encourage/increase collaboration and planning. 
• Develop internal-facing processes for emerging needs/priorities, pulling in relevant external experts and internal stakeholders throughout the process. 

Project Management

• • Drive and deliver program management and lead large, multi-dimensional cross-functional teams; oversee shaping of workstreams, plan deliverables and stage and execute strategies and plans involving multiple dependencies and stakeholders; establish priorities through evaluation of value / risk tradeoffs that address dependencies and roadblocks
  • Identify large opportunities for impact and build programs to execute against them; identify and mitigate complex program, people and organizational risks; advocate effectively for project integrity and efficiency
  • Design, manage and/or implement highly complex time-bound high priority projects in service of initiative and functional teams. May manage day-to-day execution of projects. 
  • Develop and maintain  project plans and other documentation; monitor and review project progress and timelines; adjust schedules and plans as needed; and identify and resolve issues to ensure project success.
  • Design and lead cross-functional team meetings and executive level reviews to facilitate effective and lasting decision making.
  • Ensure on time and on budget delivery of projects.

What You'll Bring

• 12+ years of total relevant experience; with 5+ years managing complex projects and cross-functional teams, whether as a direct manager or project manager
• Proven and strong track record of delivering in-depth methodologies to craft and develop optimal value propositions and vision for programs, projects, and processes; proven ability to provide advice based on evidence-based insights in a highly collaborative organization
• Depth in complex, and highly technical, project management -- autonomously identifying issues and opportunities for process improvements, project scoping (goals/outcomes of a project, timelines and work-plans, necessary resources), identifying partner roles and responsibilities, and driving implementation of the project to achieve determined outcomes
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – the ability to navigate strong and productive relationships quickly with a diverse group of people and communication styles
• Natural curiosity and ability to ramp up quickly in new content areas, leveraging the expertise of others
• Strong analytical skills, particularly in breaking down complex and ambiguous problems
• Comfort working in an ambiguous, matrixed environment, where decisions happen fast and we learn by doing and adapt as needed
• Background in computer science, biology, genomics, bioinformatics, or related field, as well as experience with Jira, Asana, or other technical project management tools is a plus but not required

Compensation

The Redwood City, CA base pay range for this role is $178,000 - $267,000. New hires are typically hired into the lower portion of the range, enabling employee growth in the range over time. Actual placement in range is based on job-related skills and experience, as evaluated throughout the interview process. Pay ranges outside Redwood City are adjusted based on cost of labor in each respective geographical market. Your recruiter can share more about the specific pay range for your location during the hiring process.

Benefits for the Whole You 

We’re thankful to have an incredible team behind our work. To honor their commitment, we offer a wide range of benefits to support the people who make all we do possible. 

• CZI provides a generous employer match on employee 401(k) contributions to support planning for the future.
• Annual benefit for employees that can be used most meaningfully for them and their families, such as housing, student loan repayment, childcare, commuter costs, or other life needs.
• CZI Life of Service Gifts are awarded to employees to “live the mission” and support the causes closest to them.
• Paid time off to volunteer at an organization of your choice. 
• Funding for select family-forming benefits. 
• Relocation support for employees who need assistance moving to the Bay Area
• And more!

Commitment to Diversity

We believe that the strongest teams and best thinking are defined by the diversity of voices at the table. We are committed to fair treatment and equal access to opportunity for all CZI team members and to maintaining a workplace where everyone feels welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. Learn about our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. 

If you’re interested in a role but your previous experience doesn’t perfectly align with each qualification in the job description, we still encourage you to apply as you may be the perfect fit for this or another role.

Explore our work modes, benefits, and interview process at www.chanzuckerberg.com/careers.

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