Position Title: Project Manager

Position Category: Exempt, Full-Time

Reports to: Sr. Director of Operations (Executive Director until the Sr. Director of Operations role is filled)

Flexible Hybrid: Remote/Hybrid

Direct Reports: N/A 

Salary Range: $85K-100K

Location: Chicago, IL 

Join Our Team 

At the Center for Better Aging (CBA), our mission is to improve the quality of life for older adults and strengthen the communities we serve. We provide compassionate aging services, support, and resources that help individuals live healthier and safer lives.

CBA is a diverse, mission-driven team of professionals who value collaboration, innovation, and dignity for all. We foster a supportive work environment that encourages new ideas, growth, and work-life balance.

We’re a growing nonprofit—and we’re looking for people who want to grow with us. Employees at CBA are encouraged to take on new challenges, develop leadership skills, and pursue professional development opportunities that help advance their careers within the organization. 

Key Responsibilities

Organization-Wide Project Management

· Lead assigned cross-functional projects from planning through implementation, monitoring, and closeout.

· Build work plans with clear milestones, timelines, owners, dependencies, and measures of success; manage competing priorities and changing requirements.

· Coordinate with directors, executive leadership, staff, consultants, and partners to resolve obstacles and keep work on schedule.

· Develop a standardized project charter for every major project and recurring workstream. 

· Support for project owners (directors, executive leadership, etc.), where the PM drafts the charter with them and the owner leads the work and keeps the charter current.

· Develop a portfolio tracker that rolls up all charters so leadership can see which projects are at risk or off track and respond with recommended next steps. 

Strategic Planning & Executive Support

· Support the Executive Director and leadership team in translating strategic priorities into actionable project plans and organizational initiatives.

· Support preparation of materials, dashboards, project updates, and reports for leadership, committees, and Board of Directors meetings as assigned.

· Serve as the primary project management lead supporting implementation and tracking of CBA’s strategic plan.

· Support Executive Office initiatives, board-related projects, organizational transition activities, strategic partnerships, and special projects as assigned by the Executive Director, in coordination with the Chief of Staff and other organization leaders. 

Systems, Structure & Process Improvement

· Design and implement a consistent organization-wide approach to project management, including project intake, prioritization, work plans, dashboards, accountability tracking, risk management, and reporting. Create consistent processes for project intake, follow-up, status reviews, risk escalation, and handoff to ongoing operational owners.

· Partner with teams to document and improve workflows, reduce duplication, and strengthen organizational efficiency.

Collaboration, Grants & Change Management

· Facilitate working sessions, clarify responsibilities, track commitments, and communicate project updates and decisions across teams.

· Partner closely with the Grants Program Manager and program leadership to ensure grant-funded initiatives remain on schedule, aligned with deliverables, and positioned for successful implementation.

· Support adoption of new programs, processes, technologies, and organizational changes through implementation, planning, communication, training, coordination, and follow-up.

Monitoring, Reporting & Risk Management

· Develop and maintain project dashboards, performance metrics, and status reports that provide leadership with visibility into progress, milestones, risks, and resource needs.

· Proactively identify project delays, competing priorities, and implementation risks; recommend mitigation strategies and escalate issues requiring leadership decisions.

· Maintain accurate project documentation, track decisions and follow-up actions, and identify lessons learned to strengthen future execution.

Measures of Success

· Assigned initiatives advance according to approved project plans, with delays and scope changes documented and escalated appropriately.

· Leadership receives accurate, timely information regarding project performance and decisions needed.

· Project management tools and accountability practices are consistently adopted across assigned initiatives.

· Cross-functional coordination improves, with clear ownership of deliverables and timely resolution of implementation barriers.

· Organizational changes are supported by structured implementation and adoption processes.

· Every major project and recurring workstream has a charter and a named owner, and leadership has a regular view of at-risk projects.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

· Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

· At least five years of experience managing projects or complex program implementations across multiple teams or partners; relevant grants, program operations, and organizational improvement experience is valued.

· Demonstrated experience creating work plans, tracking deliverables, facilitating stakeholders, and improving project or operational systems.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

· Strong organization, prioritization, problem-solving, facilitation, and written and verbal communication skills.

· Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to interpret data and develop actionable recommendations

· Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills and hands-on experience with a project management tool. 

· Demonstrated ability to facilitate consensus among diverse stakeholders and manage organizational priorities in a fast-paced environment.

· Ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, influence without formal authority, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

· Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and familiarity with project management and reporting tools.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, public health, community-based services, or grant-funded environments.

· Experience with change management, process improvement, or establish project management practices.

· Comfort using AI tools, in line with CBA’s privacy and security policies, to assist with project management duties. 

· PMP or comparable project management certification (not required).

· Prior experience working in or helping build a project management office (PMO)

Physical Requirements

· Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer 

· Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone and virtually

· Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 15 pounds, as needed to support organizational events, meetings, or other job-related activities.

· Ability to travel locally as needed 

Work Environment

Hybrid office and collaborative work environment, with occasional local travel to CBA and partner sites. The Project Manager coordinates execution of approved initiatives; departmental leaders retain responsibility for program decisions, staff supervision, budget management and departmental results.

CBA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their position.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Responsibilities may be revised as organizational needs evolve. Employees may be assigned other job-related duties as needed.

Is This You? 

You excel in fast-paced, high-volume environments where priorities shift and calendars are full. You anticipate needs, exercise sound judgment, and follow through consistently. You are highly organized, detail-oriented, and intrinsically motivated by bringing structure, clarity, and momentum to complex work. You work efficiently without sacrificing accuracy and understand how your role directly supports effective leadership and organizational performance. You work effectively across all teams and departments—Finance, HR, Programs, and Executive Leadership—and you’re not afraid to jump in, take initiative, or lead a new project when needed. If this sounds like you, CBA would love to have you on our team!

The Project Manager (PM) supports the planning and execution of complex initiatives across the Center for Better Aging (CBA). Working closely with the Executive Director, leadership team, department directors, Grants Program Manager, staff, and external partners, this role turns priorities into actionable plans, coordinates shared work, and keeps deliverables moving forward.

This position will serve as CBA’s project management office (PMO) lead and help build practical, organization-wide project management structures and support change management as CBA grows and its programs, partnerships, and operating models evolve. The ideal candidate brings order to ambiguity, communicates clearly, and builds accountability through collaboration rather than direct supervisory authority.

Why CBA?

CBA offers generous pay and benefits, including:

· BCBS medical and dental insurance.

· Principal vision insurance.

· Principal Life Insurance 

· Professional development opportunities.

· Twelve paid holidays.

· Office closure between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

· Hybrid office setting.

· Paid time off.

· 403B plan.

· Excellent technology and IT support.

CBA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply 

To apply, submit a cover letter describing your interest and experience along with your resume to: joinourteam@centerforbetteraging.org