Job Description

Job Description Summary:

The NSF NCAR Director’s Office (DO) Facilities & Large Projects Office (FLPO)/Project Management Office (PMO) is looking for a project manager to develop agile and hybrid project management processes and plans for the effective organization and implementation of initiatives focused on the center’s computation, data, and modeling resources. These initiatives are typically new software projects at NSF NCAR that involve complex technical problem solving, are often high-visibility to internal and external audiences, include a significant number of multidisciplinary, cross-organizational, and external team members and user communities, and require a project manager to be comfortable with ambiguity and change in scope.

NSF NCAR, managed by UCAR, is a world leader in weather and climate modeling. We invite you to join the FLPO PMO and support NSF NCAR’s vision of accelerating progress toward a thriving and sustainable society. Your work in the FLPO PMO will directly support research in many aspects of extreme weather and climate changes, and Earth system predictability.

You will work with a dynamic team of in-person, hybrid, and/or fully remote team members in the NSF NCAR DO, a small team of specialized project managers within the FLPO PMO, as well as numerous scientists and software engineers across NSF NCAR’s laboratories.

NSF NCAR encourages employees to have a strong work-life balance, and offers many opportunities for personal and professional growth. You can grow your professional skills through trainings, attending conferences and events, and networking with others across the center.

Position Details:

Visa Sponsored Job:

No

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Job Location:

Boulder, Colorado

Position Type & Term:

Full time, Term - 6 months or more (Fixed Term)

Compensation Range:

Hiring Salary Range: $109,097 - $136,370

*Final salary and rates are based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role.*

Application Notes

Application Notes:

This is a 3-year term position.

This position will be posted for 5 business days, and will close on Nov 14, 2024.

Required Application Materials:

(Attach) Resume

(Answer) Questionnaire: Within the Job application, you will be prompted to answer the below questions

Why are you interested in working at NSF NCAR and what is it about this position that intrigues you?

Please describe your experience with software engineering and supporting software engineers as a project manager.

What skills or experiences do you feel you offer to this position that makes you stand out as a candidate?

Tell us about a time when you fostered and maintained a respectful and productive relationship with someone, even when it was difficult. What were the circumstances and what specific actions did you take?

Background Checks: Conducted for candidates selected for hire. Learn more.
Work Location: Regardless of flexible work arrangements, UCAR requires ALL positions to be performed within the U.S., excluding U.S. Territories.

What You Will Do

The Project Manager II for NSF NCAR Scientific Software Infrastructure role focuses on developing agile and hybrid project management processes and plans for the effective organization and implementation of initiatives focused on the center’s computation, data, and modeling resources. These strategic initiatives and process improvements are led from the NSF NCAR Director’s Office (DO) with close ties to the NSF NCAR Computational and Informational Services Laboratory (CISL) and other laboratories and programs across the organization. 

Here is a brief summary of what one would expect to be generally responsible for in this role.

Project Planning and Execution

Partners with program leadership to define project outcomes, project success metrics and criteria, and resource and schedule commitments.

Collaborates with and supports leadership in all aspects of assigned strategic and/or development process projects including requirements development, planning (scope, schedule, and budget), and execution.

Defines, creates, coordinates, and monitors integrated project plans utilizing appropriate project management methodologies (e.g., agile, waterfall, and hybrid, as necessary).

Builds, leads, and coaches project teams to complete project phases and deliverables for the development and implementation of the projects in this position’s portfolio. May serve as an indirect supervisor or mentor for some personnel assigned to project teams. Leads the development and leverages project metrics to monitor and evaluate progress and performance against the project plan and for operations monitoring. Facilitates all checkpoint/status activities throughout the project lifecycle and program development.

Manages change control processes for approval of changes to project scope, schedule, cost, and requirements. 

Implements risk management processes that identify and facilitate the development of mitigation plans for end-to-end program/project risks.

Coordinates and balances multiple projects effectively to meet deadlines in a time-sensitive environment.

Develops domain knowledge to ensure the ability to understand strategic and/or business process program objectives and achieve project deliverables.

Develops and supports agile processes tailored to project and team needs, and waterfall based project planning with agile ceremonies and ritual in a hybrid project management model.

Helps to connect people/expertise to projects by contributing to  a database of software engineering expertise across NSF NCAR and identifying staff who could contribute expertise to projects.

Engagement, Communication, and Collaboration

Facilitates interactions between NSF NCAR computational program leaders and NSF NCAR staff members involved with the development of institutional software, data, and modeling resources, senior leadership, scientists, and other user communities and/or sponsors to drive successful project outcomes.

Establishes strong relationships with program and project sponsor(s) and maintains regular communications on progress of assigned computation projects.

Promotes a high level of collaboration and teamwork with program leaders, project sponsors, user communities, team members, and NSF NCAR senior leadership. Manages project communications plans and delivers regular project status reports and presentations for project sponsors, senior leadership, and other staff as appropriate.

Proactively identifies and supports opportunities, avenues, and events for new community engagement. Engages community members around their shared goals and identifies ways to lower barriers to member participation.

NSF NCAR Project Management

As a member of the NSF NCAR Facilities & Large Projects Office (FLPO)/Project Management Office (PMO) team in the DO, participates with other PMO team members in continual process improvement activities for project management, project intake, and regular planning. Supports the ongoing work of the FLPO/PMO team to research and recommend new or improved project management tools or leading practices to improve project outcomes.

Shares and supports the use of best project management practices with groups outside of the FLPO/PMO, as required.

Who We'd Love To Join Our Team

(Required) Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree

A minimum of 2-4 years experience at the Project Management 1 (or equivalent) level and demonstrated ability to successfully manage scientific and technical projects with increasing levels of complexity.

(Desired, Not Required) Education and Experience

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner (ASCPO) Certification

(Required) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

 Excellent team collaboration skills, including engaging user communities and project teams that operate in an asynchronous hybrid or remote work environment, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining strict attention to detail.

Advanced knowledge of and demonstrated skill in routinely applying project management principles (agile, waterfall, and hybrid are required) to software and software engineering projects. 

Advanced skills and experience using project tracking tools (e.g., Jira, GitHub, Smartsheet, etc.) to develop and manage project scope, schedule, and budget preparation, analysis, monitoring, and stewardship.

Advanced skill with project performance management metrics definition, tracking, and reporting.

Ability to foster and sustain high-trust, high-performance teams; demonstrated skills in the areas of leadership, matrix management, relationship building, communications, and conflict resolution, and developing collaborative approaches with both internal and external user communities.

Ability to thrive in a dynamic work setting, leveraging skills in team building, time management, resource management, communication management, and cost management.

Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.

Comfortable with complex technical information.

Experience with software engineering and supporting software engineers.

(Desired, Not Required) Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Software Development Life Cycle Certification or experience with the Software Development Life Cycle.

Experience in atmospheric or other Earth system research project support or supporting software engineers in a research environment.

Knowledge of state-of-the-art software and hardware technology and trends related to Earth System modeling and applications.

Knowledge and experience with projects and initiatives that support the three values of  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Understanding of NSF Research Infrastructure Office project management policies and processes for the design and execution of projects is strongly desired. (Information about the RIO is available at Research Infrastructure Documents and Guidance| NSF)

Benefits Overview 

UCAR affirms its commitment to employees through competitive benefits. In addition to medical, dental, vision, retirement, and life insurance,  UCAR offers a variety of programs focused on work-life balance and professional, and personal development. These include:

Tuition Assistance, time off allowance to attend classes, and other professional development opportunities

UCAR contributes 10% of your eligible pay into your retirement account; 100% fully vested on day one

Starting minimum accrual of 20 days of personal time off each year (prorated for less than full-time positions)

10 paid holidays

10 days of sick leave each year

12 weeks of paid parental leave

Short-term medical leave paid at 100% of your regular salary

EcoPass for local Colorado residents to use the Denver and Boulder-area transit system at no cost