Budget Project Manager

About the role

We are seeking a highly skilled Budget Project Manager with proven experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects that help organizations drive change and solve complex budgetary and financial problems. The position will play a key role in evaluating and refining a newly implemented budget model that supports Rice University’s strategic growth initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and refine a newly implemented budget model that supports Rice University’s strategic growth initiatives.
• Support project evaluation, including seeking input on pain points from all stakeholders, suggesting options for resolution, and developing a detailed project plan to refine the new Budget Transformation Initiative.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement, solicit feedback, monitor and report progress, facilitate problem-solving, collaborate with diverse stakeholders at many levels of the organization, and prepare status reports and presentations for stakeholders and leadership.
• Work closely with members of the Budget Office and Academic Finance Office to understand the nuances and complexities of the work.
• Support analysis in the Office of Budget and Fiscal Analysis, including supporting the annual development of the endowment distribution budget, which requires detailed analysis of endowment funds.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• 4+ years of experience in budget management, management consulting, strategy, or a related field

Skills

• Strong ability to communicate effectively with team members and stakeholders, both verbally and in writing
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with senior leaders and stakeholders
• Skilled in navigating differing points of view with care, thoughtfulness, and attention
• Deadline-driven, organized, and able to multitask and manage shifting priorities
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and adapting to evolving situations
• Experience in project management and stakeholder engagement
• Understanding of higher education budget and finance
• Leader and team player who also excels as a strong independent contributor
• Self-motivated and proactive
• Strong analytical skills and experience with complex data analysis
• Strong ability to create compelling presentations and develop clear storylines
• Creative thinker with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex problems
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to changing priorities
• Experience developing reports and dashboards to track project progress and outcomes
• Ability to facilitate meetings and engage stakeholders at all levels of an organization

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field preferred
• 5+ years of experience in budget management, management consulting, strategy, or a related field preferred
• Expertise in applying leading consulting problem-solving methodologies or frameworks preferred
• Experience with business intelligence tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and the Microsoft Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) preferred

Pay

Hiring Range: $110,400 - $135,986.40 annual salary. Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Schedule

This position is offered as a hybrid role (minimum of 2 days in the office per week). Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.