Project Manager

Position: Project Manager

Location: London, Ontario

Position Type: Full-time, temporary contract of 3 years with a target start date of August 5, 2024

Hiring Range: $72,600 - $90,800.

Application Deadline: July 12, 2024, at 11:59PM.

About Ivey Business School:

Ivey Business School acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Attawandaron peoples, where Western University and Ivey Business School are located. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples, whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of the community.

Ivey Business School (www.ivey.ca) at Western University (www.uwo.ca) is Canada’s leading provider of real-world, case-based business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey’s faculty provides the best classroom experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to confidently take on today’s leadership challenges and opportunities through Case-Method Learning. Ivey offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as Executive Education at campuses in London, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

The Ivey Centre for Building Sustainable Value is convening a major project - Collective Action Program for Sustainable Agriculture (CAP) - to accelerate the transformation of the Canadian agri-food system toward a more resilient and just future. This multi-year project will deploy innovative approaches to enhance connectivity and collaboration between farmers, accelerating the adoption of new sustainable practices and co-management of private and public resources (e.g., Land, Water, Livestock, Equipment, Production Inputs). The pilot phase of the project will take place in Middlesex County with the possibility to expand in other Southwestern Ontario counties.

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee the successful delivery of this complex and innovative project. The Project Manager will be responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of key CAP project activities, working in close collaboration with the Principal Investigator and a multi-disciplinary research team. The Project Manager will also play a critical role in building and managing relationships with farmers participating in CAP, as well as a diverse group of partner organizations, such as Ontario Soil Network and Transition Accelerator, that are supporting the design and implementation of the project.

Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Manage project scope and objectives, involving all relevant stakeholders and ensuring feasibility.
• Ensure that all elements of the CAP project are delivered on time, within scope and budget.
• Develop and maintain a detailed project plan to monitor progress, paying particular attention to critical paths.
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation ensuring the highest confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained.
• Promote, organize, and facilitate workshops with key stakeholders, ensuring a high level of engagement.
• Ensure resource allocation to the various project elements and sub-components.
• Use effective change management processes to manage the evolution of the scope and delivery model as lessons are learned through the pilot phase.
• Measure project outputs and outcomes using appropriate systems, tools, and techniques.
• Assess and minimize project risks accordingly.
• Some domestic travel may be required.

Internal/External Stakeholder and Collaborator Relations

• Act as the primary contact for internal and external stakeholders on all project-related items (i.e. scheduling, follow-up, deliverables, etc.), ensuring communications and responses are provided in a clear and timely manner.
• Coordinate external resources and collaborators of the CAP Project, proactively proposing and scheduling meetings with collaborators and the appropriate members of the research team as required.
• Manage the relationships with all stakeholders and keep track of touchpoints through contacts database.
• Establish and maintain relationships with existing and net new third parties and collaborators.
• Address stakeholder issues and concerns as they arise.
• Attend project-related events to foster and grow meaningful relationships with collaborators.

Qualifications:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, agricultural studies, agronomy, agricultural economics, or related field.
• Educational background in project management (i.e. PMP) preferred.
• 5 years of experience as a project manager, with proven experience managing complex multi-stakeholder projects.
• Proven facilitation skills.
• Professional experience in community development and/or community engagement.
• Professional or practical experience in farming and agriculture is strongly preferred.
• Proven relationship development and management skills; experience dealing with multiple, diverse client groups and confidence dealing with all levels of an organization.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of project management methodologies and tools (Agile).
• Proven track record of successfully managing large and complex community projects, delivering projects on time, within budget, and meeting the required specifications.
• Experience in managing large budgets.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Strong facilitation skills for workshop delivery.
• Ability to work independently, to plan, be proactive and suggest improvements.
• Ability to ensure expenditures and resources are within allotments, and to make appropriate modifications when required.
• Knowledge of common project obstacles and necessary controls and contingency plans that will help address them.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills.
• Ability to plan and manage project-related events.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PPT, Excel, etc.).
• Experience working on applied research projects in academic settings such as a university environment or research institutes is preferred.

What We Offer:

• A bright, inclusive, and modern eco-friendly working environment
• Flexible or hybrid work plans for many roles
• A collaborative and engaging work culture
• Opportunity to join a community of people-focused professionals
• Market competitive compensation
• Benefits package with employer-paid premiums
• Enhanced mental health benefits coverage and resources
• 15 days per year vacation plus 2 paid Ivey Personal Days
• Paid time off during the School’s December holiday closure
• Numerous campus-wide arts, culture, and sport events
• Employee Assistance Program with family coverage

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Ivey

Ivey Business School is committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Please explore Ivey’s EDI homepage for more information on Ivey's commitment to EDI, to read about Ivey’s progress in the EDI Update, and to meet Ivey’s EDI Advisory Council members.

Ivey Business School invites applications from all qualified individuals. Ivey is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace, and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodation
Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Please contact us at hr@ivey.ca to notify us of any needs related to completing the job application, and/or throughout the recruitment process.

Application:

If you're excited about joining Canada's leading business school and meet the qualifications, please submit your resume and cover letter via the Ivey Careers page by the application deadline.

• Please note only selected candidates will be contacted.