Director, Cornerstone Project

Description:The Chief Administrative Office facilitates critical connections that support the foundation in both programmatic and operational capacities. It is responsible for the foundation's IT and human resources functions as well as facilities and security.

The Director of the Cornerstone Project  is responsible for leading project management for the Cornerstone Project, an enterprise-wide software development project to knit together multiple grant-making and contract business processes that are core to the work of the foundation.  The platform will roll out over three years in three different waves. Therefore, this person will be a project-based employee through June 2011.The Director is accountable for the success and execution of the Cornerstone program and reports to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).  This position will work in a matrixed environment coordinating with project teams and leadership throughout the foundation.  The Director will work with IT (to include the Chief Information Officer), Subject Matter Experts (“SMEs”), Financial Planning & Analysis, Legal, Program teams and other operational areas as needed and will make critical decisions on the project while keeping foundation leadership apprised of project progress and success against established goals and metrics.The Director will also oversee Business Readiness efforts to include Communications, Rollout, Adoption, Training and leadership engagement with critical partnership from HR, IT, Programs, Communications, Accenture and other consulting teams.

• Coordinates dependencies and strategically aligns related boundary projects and process improvements, while managing risks.• Works with functional and program leadership to make programmatic resource allocation decisions that are timely and sufficient to achieve desired outcomes.• Works with Legal, IT, CFO, FP&A, CAO and contracted staff to track Accenture, and other consultants, progress against contract obligations. Manages budgets, and oversees change orders and risk management.• Assumes chairmanship of governance structures, including Steering Committee and Business Management Team. Functions as an advisor to Steering Committee on critical issues around budget, scope and timeline.• Supports the audit function by providing regular, objective assessment of Cornerstone Program stability, status, and risk.• Participates in day-to-day activities and makes critical decisions in meetings with IT, Accenture’s Project Leader, program directors, IT business partners, SMEs and others. Provide an escalation point for enterprise issues needing strategic and decision making guidance. Engages the CAO as necessary.• Manages regular communications about Cornerstone progress to appropriate audiences and manages stakeholder expectations as  it relates to project status.Qualifications:• Requires a bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field (or the equivalent experience and/or education); master’s degree strongly preferred• Disciplined project management training required. • A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience working with organizational-wide initiatives with key emphasis on business processes, operational excellence initiatives and projects including complex software development initiatives from initial business requirements through rollout completion. • Work experience in a commercial enterprise, or not-for-profit organization is preferred.• Prior experience in organizational coordination, complex interactions internally and externally in a large-scale business environment, including vendors, contractors and executives at all levels; the demonstrated ability to relate to all levels of an organization. Prior experience implementing IT systems as part of organization-wide information system rollouts and proven ability to project manage and monitor the success of information technology development projects against established metrics. Deep IT knowledge critical for success.• Has successful record of linking complex plans and business strategies, implementing plans, managing priorities and measuring results to key objectives.  Proven ability to translate business requirements into technical application requirements. • Prior work experience creating dashboards or scorecards is required.• Experience negotiating and managing complex vendor relationships and contracts.• Ability to facilitate working groups and steering committees to consensus on complex issues in a matrix environment.• Experience working in a fast growing organization.• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills.• Must have demonstrated strategic thinking ability with sound business judgment.  Must have experience driving decision-making quickly and efficiently among disparate groups and project teams.• Prior experience in organizational coordination, complex interactions internally and externally in a large-scale business environment, including vendors, contractors and executives at all levels. Demonstrated ability to relate to all levels of an organization.• Passion for the Foundation’s values with commitment to deliver results against the Foundation’s mission.

As part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be contingent upon successful completion of a comprehensive background checkSalary/Benefits: Salary commensurate with experienceJob Location: Seattle, WAJob Number: RUSAGFN242-615728Company URL: http://www.gatesfoundation.orgCompany Profile:Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people - especially those with the fewest resources - have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.