Department

CENTER FOR RURAL ENGAGEMENT (BL-CFRE-IUBLA)

Department Information

The Indiana University (IU) Center for Rural Engagement improves the lives of Hoosiers through collaborative initiatives that discover and deploy scalable and flexible solutions to common challenges facing rural communities. Working in full-spectrum community innovation through research, community-engaged teaching, and student service, the Center builds vision, harnesses assets, and cultivates sustainable leadership structures within the communities with which it engages to ensure long-term success.

Job Summary

The Center for Rural Engagement (CRE) Associate Project Manager reports to the Deputy Director and provides essential project management and high-level support to the Center's 7 director-level positions. The position ensures workflows are maintained and that leadership has the necessary support to execute their roles effectively, including using project management software to track tasks and action items.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Exercises initiative and independent judgment when devising procedures and actions consistent with the mission of the CRE and IU policies.
• Serves as the clearinghouse for coordinating committees, community outreach, and technical procedural advice.
• Human Resources Liaison: Acts as the internal human resource contact for CRE employees. Assists in the creation of job descriptions, coordinates applicant reviews and interviews, and oversees the onboarding process for all new hires. Co-coordinates employee performance reviews with the Deputy Director.
• Serves as the lead logistical planner for major CRE events, including the annual Rural Indiana Faculty Tour in August and the Rural Conference in May.
• Assists other staff with planning and coordinating logistics for various events and attends these functions to provide on-site logistical support, which includes occasional overnight stays.
• Works on special projects as needed to enhance executive and philanthropic effectiveness.
• Serves as the primary CRE office contact for facilities and building operations.
• Acts as a liaison with the Office of Finance, Administration, and Budget by reconciling P-card purchases and reimbursements through Chrome River and BuyIU.
• Manages office supplies, technology support needs, office equipment, and Fleet Services requests.
• Provides comprehensive support to all staff, including managing complex calendars for directors and arranging complicated campus-wide and external meetings.
• Maintains accurate meeting minutes, electronic logs, and files, and utilizes the internal project management system to track action items and progress toward annual and quarterly goals.

General Responsibilities

• Manages a small project, from start to finish, or 1 phase of a large project, ensuring on time completion within budget.
• Develops project plan(s) and efficiently analyzes, tracks, forecasts, and reports on project metrics and shortfalls.
• Reports on progress and provides regular updates to upper management.
• Coordinates and communicates between various areas; conducts project meetings and prepares regular reports.
• Collaborates with other departments to ensure that project objectives are achieved within established time frames.
• May provide guidance and support to non-exempt staff.

Qualifications

Required Education: Bachelor's degree in relevant field.

Required Experience: 2 years of professional experience in an office environment.

Preferred Experience: Experience in a higher education environment and familiarity with IU systems and project management platforms.

Required Skills: Ability to drive multiple projects to successful completion. Demonstrates project management skills. Proficient in English with written and verbal communication skills. Excellent organizational skills. Excellent collaboration and team building skills. Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.

Preferred Skills: Fluency in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole. Demonstrate the ability to manage competing demands, multi-task, and determine priorities independently. Requires strong verbal and written communication skills, solid research and organizational abilities, and a professional presence with high attention to detail. Must exercise discretion and confidentiality. Requires critical thinking skills for independent problem-solving and a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel).

Working Conditions / Demands

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana. This is an in-person position.

Advertised Salary

$53,000 per year

Work Hours

Monday- Friday 8:00am -5:00pm. Requires occasional evening commitments and overnight travel twice per year for event support.