Senior Director of Project Management Office

Worldstrides - Charlottesville, VA

Full-time - Senior

Remote - Charlottesville, VA

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

WorldStrides is the global leader in educational travel and experiential learning, founded in 1967. The company has grown to provide a wide range of programs for more than half a million students annually to over 100 countries around the world. The Head of Project Management plays an integral role in partnering with business leaders and team members to identify, prioritize, and monitor critical projects to ensure we execute with certainty. This role is crucial for WorldStrides' success by providing leadership support to ensure successful project execution focused on process optimization, growth strategies, and improving the customer journey. The Senior Director of Project Management Office will be responsible for strategic planning to ensure that prioritized projects align with WorldStrides' organizational objectives. This includes maintaining project governance standards, policies, and procedures to ensure effective project execution. The role also involves resource management, where the director will allocate resources efficiently across projects, ensuring optimal utilization and alignment with business priorities. Additionally, the director will oversee the project portfolio, prioritize initiatives, and provide guidance on project selection and execution. Risk management is another critical aspect of this position, where the director will identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize disruptions and achieve successful outcomes. Performance monitoring will be essential, as the director will define key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure project performance, providing regular reporting to stakeholders. Stakeholder communication is vital, facilitating communication between project teams, stakeholders, and executive management to ensure alignment and transparency. The Senior Director will continuously evaluate and improve project management processes and methodologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Talent development is also a key responsibility, as the director will mentor and develop project management professionals within the organization, fostering a culture of learning and growth. Finally, the director will partner with business leaders on change initiatives related to project management practices to strengthen transitions and adoption by project teams.

Responsibilities

• Ensure prioritized projects are aligned to WorldStrides organizational objectives.
• Maintain project governance standards, policies, and procedures to ensure effective project execution.
• Allocate resources efficiently across projects, ensuring optimal utilization and alignment with business priorities.
• Oversee the project portfolio, prioritize initiatives, and provide guidance on project selection and execution.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize project disruptions and achieve successful outcomes.
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure project performance, and provide regular reporting to stakeholders.
• Facilitate communication between project teams, stakeholders, and executive management to ensure alignment and transparency.
• Continuously evaluate and improve project management processes and methodologies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Mentor and develop project management professionals within the organization, fostering a culture of learning and growth.
• Partner with business leaders on respective change initiatives related to project management practices to strengthen the transitions and adoption by project teams.

Requirements

• Proven experience in project management, preferably in an educational or travel-related field.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and develop team members.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to facilitate stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in strategic planning and project governance.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively.
• Strong analytical skills to define KPIs and measure project performance.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with change management initiatives.
• Familiarity with educational travel or experiential learning programs.
• Certification in project management (PMP, PRINCE2, etc.).

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Life, accidental death and dismemberment, accident, critical illness, and disability insurance.
• FSA healthcare, FSA dependent care, HAS with employer contribution, and generous 401k match.
• 10 paid floating corporate holidays, 1 paid volunteer day & 25 PTO days to start - accrue up to 28 over 3 years, 4 mental health days, and 5 bereavement days.
• Tuition reimbursement up to five thousand, two hundred fifty dollars annually or one thousand dollars towards professional certification annually.
• Opportunities for paid and discounted travel.
• Flexible work schedule providing on-site, remote, and virtual office opportunities.
• Encouraged participation in Employee Resource Groups and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion council.
• Fitness Center and café onsite at select locations.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Paid Parental, Caregiver, and Disability leave.
• Team Member Discount Program.