Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT TO: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000 CLASSIFICATION (FLSA): FULL-TIME, EXEMPT LOCATION: SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO About Us: The Instituto del Desarrollo de la Juventud (IDJ) is the only organization in Puerto Rico committed to advocating policies to reduce child poverty. Through research, advocacy, mobilization, and strategic communications, we open pathways to families' economic mobility. You can learn more about our work at: www.juventudpr.org General summary: The Project Manager will oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of multiple project components related to IDJ’s Safety Net and Narrative Change projects. This role involves managing a multidisciplinary team of experts, contractors, and external evaluators while ensuring project objectives are met, deliverables are on time, and financial resources are managed effectively. The Project Manager will play a critical role in aligning stakeholders, managing communications, and ensuring that outreach efforts meet the needs of the Villa Prades community and other target populations in Puerto Rico.

ESSENTIAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Key Responsibilities: Stakeholder Management and Collaboration •

• •

Lead the project team, comprised of the Chief Knowledge Officer, Director of Communication of IDJ, Advocacy Manager and Economic Mobility Lab staff; and several contractors and consulting firms, to ensure alignment and effective communication.

Serve as the main liaison between IDJ and the Platform for Social Impact, and foster regular communication to ensure alignment and avoid duplication of efforts or resources.

Manage key relationships within the Villa Prades community to ensure the execution of the project goals- including community leaders, business owners, and staff from community-serving organizations, such as Vimenti and Vidalus.

•

In collaboration with IDJ Executive Director, manage relationships with local and federal government officials to ensure the implementation of the benefits cliff pilot.

Project Scoping & Planning: • •

Define the project’s scope, goals, and deliverables in collaboration with IDJ’s Chief of Research, Director of Communications, and staff from the Platform for Social Impact (PSI).

Break down project objectives into clear, manageable tasks and use a project management platform, such as Planner and others to assign and monitor their implementation.

Timeline Management: • • • •

Develop detailed timelines to ensure that project milestones are met.

Continuously monitor progress against the project plan, making adjustments as needed.

Prioritize tasks and allocate resources to ensure timely completion of project phases.

Communicate with stakeholders regularly to provide updates on project progress and any timeline changes.

Risk & Issue Management: • • •

Proactively identify risks that could impact project timelines or deliverables.

Develop and implement risk mitigation plans.

Manage project issues as they arise, ensuring prompt resolution and minimal disruption.

Budget Management • • • •

Identify potential financial risks, such as cost overruns, delays in funding disbursement, or unforeseen expenses (e.g., legal fees for policy advocacy or increased media campaign costs).

Timely flagging to the IDJ Executive Director of budget shortfalls or excess expenditures, ensuring financial flexibility and stability.

Ensure that all expenditures comply with the guidelines of the Recompete Grant Work closely with Compliance Officer to document fund usage, ensure proper allocation and financial reports.

Contractors and Contract Management: •

In collaboration with IDJ Director of Communications and Chief Knowledge Officer, identify potential contractors for research and communications.

• • •

Develop and publish Requests for Proposals (RFP) in compliance with the grant requirements.

Manage these processes accordingly as well.

Negotiate contracts, ensuring that services are delivered within the agreed-upon budget and timeframe.

Collaborate with IDJ Senior Manager of Operations and Finance to follow up on vendor payments and manage invoicing processes, ensuring timely payments and adherence to contractual terms.

Communication & Reporting: • •

Establish regular communication processes within IDJ, PSI and other project partners.

Prepare project reports, including performance metrics and post-project analysis.

Data Collection and Strategic Reporting • •

Establish a system for data compilation to track progress on the project’s milestones, outputs and outcomes.

Develop reports for IDJ’s broader strategic planning process.

EDUCATION/ EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Professional and Educational Experience • • • • •

At least 4 years of experience successfully managing complex projects and having a track record of achieving goals.

At least ten years in the nonprofit sector, government (social programs), or academia (working with social sciences and ideally evaluation).

At least three years of experience managing staff.

Some experience managing federal grant programs is ideal, but not required.

A master’s degree is preferred, but not required.

Knowledge • •

Basic understanding of issues of poverty, and social inequality and their systemic nature.

Knowledge in one of the areas: community development, research and evaluation, and/or communications and narrative change.

Skills • • • • •

Use of project management software, with a particular preference for Microsoft Planner.

Project planning Project scoping Hiring and contracting consultants.

Report writing, with preference for reports for federal grants.

Competencies • • • • •

Organizational Skills: Strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines in a fast-changing environment.

Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to engage and relate to a wide range of stakeholders, including community leaders, government officials, and private sector partners.

Self-Starter: Highly motivated, proactive, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.

Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and can adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

Innovation: A highly innovative mindset to create solutions and respond to project needs in a flexible manner.

Organizational Values • • • • • •

Commitment to improving the well-being of low-income families.

Implacable, not give up easily in achieving our goals Respect for the people we serve Results driven Strategic and focused on our mission and goals Transparency in data and results

How to Apply: To apply, please send your resume and cover letter to Sadí de Jesús via email at sadi.dejesus@juventudpr.org