Senior Project Manager, Grants & Program Operations

Overview Since our founding in 1924, we've cut cardiovascular disease deaths in half, but there is still so much more to do. To overcome today’s biggest health challenges and accelerate this progress, we need passionate individuals like you. Join our movement, be part of the progress, and help ensure a healthier future for all. You matter, and so does the impact you can make with us. The American Heart Association has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Project Manager on the Office of Funded Programs team, based at the National Center in Dallas, TX. The Senior Project Manager (SPM) in the Office of Funded Programs (OFP) is a strategic, cross‑functional role responsible for driving operational excellence across both pre‑award and post‑award functions. This position identifies opportunities to streamline processes, leads the development and implementation of efficiency initiatives, and ensures consistent, high‑quality execution across the department. The Senior Project manager also owns OFP’s training suite, manages departmental Impact Labs, and provides backfill support for pre‑award activities as needed. This role requires a proactive, solutions‑oriented professional who learns quickly, navigates ambiguity with confidence, and can independently move complex projects from concept to completion. It ensures that project goals align with organizational objectives, overseeing scope, timelines, budgets, resource allocation and stakeholder coordination. The Sr. Project Manager will proactively identify risks, drive solutions, and optimize project execution for maximum impact. The Association offers many resources to help you maintain work‑life harmonization through your changing needs and life situations. To help you be successful, you will have access to Heart U, our award‑winning corporate university, as well as additional training and support, locally. #TheAHALife is more than a company culture; it is our way of life. It embodies our commitment to work‑life harmonization and is guided by our core values where our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. Discover why you will Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Valued at the American Heart Association. Responsibilities Process Improvement & Operational Excellence Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and quality across pre‑award and post‑award workflows. Lead the design, development, and implementation of new processes, tools, and operational models. Examples: Develop a service catalog for OFP Conduct end‑to‑end mapping of pre‑award and post‑award workflows Identify bottlenecks and propose solutions to reduce cycle times for critical OFP services Design a triage model for high‑volume periods Conduct systems assessments and propose workflow redesigns Work closely with OFP leadership, pre‑award and post‑award teams; and build strong relationships across the organization to support adoption of new processes. Work with OFP leadership to enhance performance metrics and recommend adjustments to ensure continuous improvement. Serve as a thought partner to OFP leadership on long‑term operational strategy. Training & Capacity‑building Own the full OFP training suite, including design, documentation, delivery, and ongoing updates. Design an OFP knowledge and resource hub. Ensure training materials reflect current policies, systems, and best practices. Cross‑Functional Project Management & Collaboration Lead special projects that span pre award, post award, compliance, and operational domains. Examples include: Manage OFP Impact Labs (departmental work groups focused on process innovation). Design IRB tracking workflow. Manage implementation of a new grants management system (Cayuse). Build dashboards to capture OFP trend data. Create a process to ensure all OFP templates, checklists, and SOPs are reviewed and updated on a regular cadence. Develop comprehensive project plans that outline schedules, deliverables, risks and resource allocation, while ensuring the plans align with business goals, including budget estimates, risk mitigation, and timeline coordination. Communicate project goals, timelines, and outcomes clearly and effectively. Define and track project KPIs, ensuring outcomes align with business unit goals. Pre‑Award Support Provide pre‑award coverage during staff PTO or peak workload periods (i.e., budget development, proposal routing, gift agreement processing, RCO requests). Maintain working knowledge of pre‑award policies, systems, and processes for non‑government grants. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Health, or a related area. Five (5) years minimum experience leading complex projects from concept to implementation. Five (5) years minimum experience leading pre‑award and post‑award processes or other operational roles. Five (5) years minimum experience developing training materials or leading staff development initiatives. Five (5) years minimum experience developing, analyzing, and preparing presentations and reports on project outcomes. Five (5) years minimum experience communicating with senior‑level management. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Familiarity with pre‑award and post‑award processes. Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines. Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects from concept to implementation. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills. Proven ability to learn new systems, processes, and subject matter quickly. Exceptional written and verbal communication. Demonstrated ability to coach teams, resolve issues, and foster a culture of collaboration and customer service. Project management certification (PMP, CAPM, or similar) is a plus. Proficiency with grants management systems (e.g., enterprise grants management tools, financial systems) is a plus. Other Requirements Must be able to travel overnight approximately 10% of the time. Compensation & Benefits The American Heart Association invests in its people. Here are the main components of our total rewards package. Visit Rewards & Benefits to see more details. Compensation – Our goal is to ensure you have a competitive base salary. That’s why we regularly review the market value of jobs and make adjustments, as needed. Performance and Recognition – You are rewarded for achieving success through annual salary planning and incentive programs; eligibility for an incentive program is based on the type of position. Benefits – We offer a wide array of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance, along with a robust retirement program that includes an employer match and automatic contribution. As a mark of our commitment to employee well‑being, we also offer an employee assistance program, employee wellness program and telemedicine, and medical consultation. Professional Development – You can join one of our many Employee Resource Groups (ERG) or be a mentor/mentee in our professional mentoring program. Heart U is the Association’s national online university, with more than 100,000 resources designed to meet your needs and busy schedule. Work‑Life Harmonization – The Association offers Paid Time Off (PTO) at a minimum of 16 days per year for new employees. The number of days will increase based on seniority level. You will also have a total of 12 paid holidays off each year, which includes several days off at the end of the year. Tuition Assistance – We support the career development of all employees. This program provides financial assistance to employees who wish to further their education and career in relation to their current duties and responsibilities, or for potential future positions in the organization. Additional Information In accordance with local and state laws where applicable, qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment. EOE/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities #J-18808-Ljbffr