The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) seeks a highly motivated, self-starter to join its team as a Technical Project Manager. This position will report to the Vice President of Technology. This inter-departmental role will plan, manage, evaluate, and deliver technical projects, lead quality assurance evaluation, and serve as a liaison between the business process and technical aspects of NASFAA’s online and technical products and initiatives. An expert in managing multiple projects at once, this role will drive projects from inception to delivery through adoption, managing budget, timelines, and quality goals.

NASFAA Work Environment

NASFAA offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits and opportunities for growth. NASFAA is a mobile-first organization, meaning that we cultivate a work environment that prioritizes and optimizes the flexibility for staff to work remotely most - or all - of the time without sacrificing our ability to fulfill the mission of the organization or the quality of our products or services. While the position does not need to be based in Washington, D.C., occasional travel may be required.

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) is the only national, nonprofit association with a primary focus on information dissemination, professional development, and legislative and regulatory analysis related to federal student aid programs authorized under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. Our membership consists of more than 29,000 financial aid professionals at nearly 3,000 colleges, universities, and career schools across the country. NASFAA member institutions serve nine out of every 10 undergraduates in the United States.

Essential Duties

The duties listed below are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of the Technical Project Manager.

Project Initiation

• Support the application of the NASFAA Rubric & Process for Evaluating New Projects as appropriate.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to determine requirements, work plans and schedules, project objectives, scope, goals, and measurements of success ensuring that critical goals and timelines are met.
• Conduct risk management assessments on proposed scope and workflow.
• Support NASFAA business continuity and user experience best-practices for technology initiatives; outline and maintain association-wide standards.

Project Management

• Manage, in partnership with product owners, project documentation task tracking.
• Advise in resource allocation needs (time, money, equipment, staff, vendors) for project completion and maintenance.
• Lead QA analysis, including developing testing plans for project team and additional staff and volunteers; develop use-case guidance collaboratively with the project team, compile testing feedback, report and manage with internal and external pirates, and facilitate subsequent updates and team confirmation.
• Develop, support, and guide use of feedback routes and project management methodology.
• Regularly report on progress to management, staff, and stakeholders
• Coordinate launch needs and plans; manage staff and stakeholder training, project or process documentation, and any other needed supporting materials for successful deployment.

Project Maintenance

• Assist in development and implementation of marketing and user adoption plans; serve an advisory role in the development and deployment of supporting materials, content, communications, design, and processes.
• Manage transition of project to maintenance phase, ensuring project continuation and integration into current systems and departmental operations, in partnership with stakeholders and other department positions.
• With stakeholders and project owners, monitor reception of the project and its components considering NASFAA needs and integration points; evaluate and prioritize additional project phases, further development needs, project spin-offs, extensions, or efficiencies; suggest further evaluation and development as appropriate.
• Evaluate scalability and applicability of project components to other initiatives.

Team and Association Support

• Maintain invoicing, vendor relationships, change orders and cost estimates.
• Coordinate with and support Communications team efforts, strategies, and needs.
• Manage member-based task forces and working groups as needed.

Qualifications, Skills, and Knowledge Requirements

• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in a related field; project management certification preferred.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in web or technology project management; knowledge, training, and/or certification in various project management methodologies preferred.
• Knowledge of user experience priorities for online and mobile applications.
• Knowledge and experience with HTML and CMS tools.
• Strong experience in cross-platform multi-scenario quality assurance testing.
• Familiarity with iMIS and iBridge; webhooks, API and SSO practices.
• Familiarity with Asana, and/or other project management tools.
• Customer-service oriented disposition, excellent written and oral communication, organization, and experience leading interdisciplinary project teams.
• High attention to detail, but able to see the big picture; focus on meeting immediate goals with eye towards long-term and integration considerations.

The successful candidate will:

• Understand and be comfortable working in a mission-driven organization where individual and departmental goals must align with strategic priorities.
• Have demonstrated their ability to work successfully in a team-based environment where “the whole'' is more important than any one individual.
• Be comfortable with team-based accountability, departmental reporting and paying attention to results. NASFAA is focused on team results, not individual milestones.
• Express and demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to NASFAA’s staff-developed Core Operating Values.

NASFAA Culture

NASFAA is a mission-driven national organization that is focused on supporting the financial aid profession and advocating for public policies and programs that increase student access to and success in postsecondary education. In independent, third-party surveys, NASFAA’s 45-person staff consistently rate high levels of engagement and satisfaction. NASFAA is focused on the greater good: for NASFAA members, students, and society as a whole. It’s a fast-paced organization with specific strategic plans, with latitude for creative thinking and problem solving.

At NASFAA, we strive to attract and retain a diverse and talented workforce that will contribute to the association’s goals, mission, and vision. It is NASFAA’s policy not to discriminate against any applicant for employment because he or she is an individual with a disability or has veteran status. NASFAA will provide reasonable accommodations to employees whose ability to perform their job is affected by pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions. NASFAA is an equal opportunity employer.

Applications

This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range is $85,000 - $90,000 depending on experience and qualifications. NASFAA offers excellent benefits including employee paid health insurance and a contributory retirement savings plan. The position will remain open until filled. 

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