Arizona State University (ASU) seeks a creative, design-oriented project manager to advance a project funded by The MasterCard Foundation. This is a non-benefits eligible, temporary consulting position.
Start date: August 18, 2014
End date: April 30, 2015
Fee based on 11 weeks at 20 hours per week (Aug – Oct), 13 weeks at 20 hours per week (Jan-Mar) and 4 weeks (Apr) at 40 hours per week.
Project description:
The MasterCard Foundation has committed $500 million to support rising young leaders in Sub Saharan Africa (see http://mastercardfdnscholars.org/). Through this investment, 18,000 secondary and tertiary students will receive scholarships over the next decade.
ASU received a planning grant to conceptualize a leadership learning network, supported by a technology platform, that would be open to all 18,000 Scholars during their studies and after graduation. A curated virtual learning environment (with staffing, governance and engagement strategies) will advance the core functions of the Scholars Network:
• Transformative leadership: The platform will curate content from partner institutions and Scholars to promote character-driven leadership.
• Career support and networking: The platform will integrate with the Africa Careers Network (http://www.africanleadershipacademy.org/nurturing-network/alumni/africa-...) and potentially other job search and job preparation tools. In addition to “traditional” career guidance, the platform will empower the Scholars to work together to solve complex societal challenges and leverage knowledge from the network. The platform will also support the cultivation and preservation of meaningful mentoring relationships.
• Sense of belonging, prestige and support: The platform will facilitate idea sharing, storytelling, collaboration, and cohesion among and educational institutions. The platform will also provide professional and social support systems for Scholars after they graduate.
Design process:
In order to effectively design a platform that will empower more than 18,000 MasterCard Foundation Scholars as effective, highly-networked agents of change, we will engage current Scholars, partners and thought leaders in platform development. Although the platform will be new (with the design, features, channels, etc. derived from interviews with Scholars and partners), some of the content offered on the platform will be integrated from existing sources. The project manager will accompany the supervisor of this project to 4 ideation sessions across Africa (exact cities to be determined). The sessions will be designed to gain the participants’ input about platform design and functionality.
Travel requirements (ideation sessions):
• 9/16 – 10/6: Travel across Africa
Additional responsibilities and information:
• Each week, project manager will provide updates to supervisor during 30-minute meetings (in person or Skype).
• The project manager will manage the relationship with a web-design firm that will deliver a clickable prototype of the platform by April 30, 2015. The prototype will be designed based on the summary report of the ideation sessions written by the project manager and ongoing communication with the project manager.
Essential Duties
• Plans, develops, implements, and manages a project team through complete task definitions and work requirement identification and assignments
• Works closely and collaboratively with key stakeholders to define project scope, strategy, budget, and outcomes; identifies critical resource expertise and targets appropriate internal and/or external sources to ensure optimal outcome(s).
• Establishes and continually monitors/manages project expectations with team; assigns tasks and identifies issues for resolution to ensure optimal team effectiveness
• Prepares and maintains all project status reports and schedules; tracks milestones/deliverables, critical paths and dependencies; re-sets expectations as needed in consideration of project progress/outcomes.
• Responds to all inquiries regarding project status; prepares and responds to all regulatory reporting/filings to ensure compliance
• Manages, coaches, and supervises all project team members both internal and contracted to ensure optimal outcomes; builds, develops, and maintains relationships vital to project success.
• Works collaboratively with stakeholders, leadership, and other related staff to define and identify all required project infrastructure to ensure timely availability for successful launch and ongoing project operations.
• Prepares all post-project reports, budget allocations and summaries/filings to ensure timely dissemination of information to all interested parties.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum 5 years of project management experience
• Minimum 5 years of educational technology experience
• Demonstrated hands on experience of program development, planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation
• Demonstrated facilitation skills
• Knowledge of and proficient in use of standard project management practices.
• Experience developing strategies and technical specifications for projects, ability to manage complex technology projects. Ability to clarify roles and responsibilities to ensure understanding of expectations; takes action to mitigate conflict.
• Excellent skill in written and verbal communications including understanding users needs, the ability to communicate technical requirements to meet those needs and the ability to write clearly for different audiences
• A self-starter, requiring little supervision to prioritize tasks and produce high-quality work under pressure
Desired Qualifications
• Master’s degree in a related field, e.g. international development, international education, educational technology, African studies
• Skills in managing international/multi-country projects
• Experience in one or multiple African countries
• Proficiency with Learning Management Systems
• Experience in the field of educational technology
• Software development background
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 70,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.
How to apply:
Application instructions:
To apply, create a single Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) document that includes the following components in following order. Submit this document to ui@asu.edu by August 4, 2014.
Cover letter that addresses your interest in the position, your interest in Arizona State University and your interest in designing a technology platform for transformative leaders.
Resume or CV, including employment listed in month/year format (e.g. August 2005-July 2008), job title, job duties/accomplishments and name of employing organization for each position. Education should include the month and year each academic degree was received. If the degree has not yet been earned, list the anticipated graduation date. Resume should also include a reference to your superior academic achievement.
Contact information for three professional references, including name, mailing address, phone number and email address for each.