The Holdsworth Center

About the Organization

The Holdsworth Center is a non-profit organization founded and largely funded by Charles Butt, Chairman of H-E-B, a regional retail company. Our mission is to impact, over time, the quality of K-12 public education for all Texas students by supporting and developing leaders. Based in Austin, Texas, our campus and programs are being developed in honor of Charles’s mother, Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt, who was an educator, a philanthropist, and a lifelong champion for social justice.

We partner with public school districts over five years to help them grow outstanding leaders at all levels so that staff thrive, and students excel in every classroom. At Holdsworth, we believe leadership is not just about titles. We make a deep investment in leaders at both the district and campus levels, including teachers who lead students in the classroom and influence and lead their colleagues.

We are seeking a Strategic Initiatives Project Manager who shares a deep commitment to our mission and whose experience and vision will deepen our capacity and enhance our impact as we strive to serve public school districts across the state of Texas.

Along with working in the capacity of the role, the incumbent will engage alongside Holdsworth staff in leadership development activities and training including but not limited to equity work.  

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL ASK CANDIDATES FOR WORK SAMPLES PRIOR TO PROCEEDING TO THE FIRST PHASE OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

About the Position

The Strategic Initiatives Project Manager is a member of an innovative team focused on developing organizational capacities and management systems Holdsworth requires to grow and scale its impact. The position will support, and sometimes lead, projects that intersect with different business functions within the organization and that are aimed to drive the work of other internal teams (Strategic Initiatives’ “customers”). The main responsibilities will be the effective management of a portfolio of varied, mission-critical projects and research.

For this role, we are open to candidates throughout Texas, but candidates located in Austin are preferred.

The Strategic Initiatives Project Manager will work under the Director of Strategic Initiatives to:

• Support the coordination of large-scale projects from initiation to completion. This will include, but is not limited to, meeting coordination and facilitation, project status reporting, presentation development, and other duties as arise.
• Lead full lifecycle of short-term or small-scale projects. Tasks will include creating project plans and budgets, stakeholder engagement, process design, and projecting monitoring and reporting.
• Conduct ongoing or one-off research projects, to include data analysis, synthesis, and presentation development to support team and organizational decision-making.
• Coordinate the design of and logistics for events hosted at the Campus on Lake Austin, such as program convenings and related forums.
• Work closely with Director to establish practices, templates, policies, tools, and partnerships to expand and mature the capabilities of the team and organization.
  
  

All candidates for the Strategic Initiatives Project Manager role must possess:

Mindsets and Knowledge:

• Desire to work with mission-driven peers in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Commitment to and belief in the potential of excellence in public education
• Self-directed to deliver polished, detailed, practical deliverables quickly and independently
• Clear and effective communicator
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and disciplined in follow-through
• Collaborative work style and openness to feedback
• Ability to navigate ambiguity to deliver results
  
  

Leadership and Technical Skills

• Demonstrated project management and critical thinking skills
• Ability to quickly synthesize and present data tailored for diverse audiences using data visualization and storytelling best practice
• Strong listening, facilitation, and written communication skills
• Strong emotional intelligence to build positive relationships with diverse stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Expertise in change management methodologies and principles

Education and Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in business, public policy, education or related field preferred
• 3+ years of project management experience
• Mastery of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and project management tools such as Asana, Smartsheet, or Basecamp
• Proficient in data collection and analysis tools such as Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey
• Event management experience a plus

How to Apply 

Interested candidates can apply by submitting a current resume and cover letter detailing their interest in this position and how their experience will contribute to the work of The Holdsworth Center at the following link: Strategic Initiatives Project Manager application. Applications submitted without a resume and cover letter will not be reviewed.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL ASK CANDIDATES FOR WORK SAMPLES PRIOR TO PROCEEDING TO THE FIRST PHASE OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

The Holdsworth Center is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. All employment decisions are based on job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.