Project Manager - Remote Opportunity

Futures start here. Where first steps, new friendships, and confident learners are born. At KinderCare Learning Companies, the first and only early childhood education provider recognized with the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, we offer a variety of early education and child care options for families. We pave the way for their lifelong learning journey ahead. And we want you to join us in shaping a future we can all be proud to share-in neighborhoods, at work, and in schools nationwide.

At KinderCare Learning Companies, you'll use your skills and expertise to support the work (and fun) that happens in our sites and centers every day. From marketers and strategists to financial analysts and data engineers, and so much more, we're all passionate about crafting a world where children, families, and organizations can thrive. 

KinderCare's Growth Delivery & Operations team drives end-to-end management and success for new, acquired, and reopening child care centers. Our work extends across all brands including KinderCare, KinderCare at Work and Creme de la Creme. The Project Manager focuses on serving a portfolio of projects from risk assessment, initial scoping, and kick-off, to center readiness for the fleet. You'll ensure timeline adherence and performance against success metrics while engaging with internal partners against agreed upon SLAs.

Project Managers handle projects within a Project Management Framework (Iterative and Waterfall) from initiation through project close while providing methodology guidance and expertise on project execution. You'll work cross functionally to ensure other business partners are aware of results and timelines and are able to meet project requirements to deliver on expectations around experience, timeline and budget and partner closely with the Growth Operations Managers to establish center specific success plans including landmarks around, hiring, licensing, building readiness and center environment set up as well as staff training.

• Help create custom Center Success Plan for new construction/acquisition centers to handle through execution with a strong focus on providing excellent experience and communication
• Run center success for both New Construction and Acquisition centers from project kick off through graduation to the fleet ensuring management and completion of open items
• Connect weekly with Center Directors to ensure clear communication of progress and timelines
• Work within a workstream framework to move centers through new center opening or integration
• Ensure execution of training plans and issues for additional training support if needed
• Facilitate operational team building through coordination of operational business partners between teams
• Responsible for the end-to-end success of centers from kick off through integration into the fleet
• Attend weekly workstream calls to handle project process and identify risk
• Ensure center experience for staff and families through welcome, opening and integration processes
• Handle project dependencies, landmarks, and critical path
• Customize project approaches to achieve desired outcomes, timelines and project budgets
• Run task delegation against defined service level agreements and ensure stakeholder management
• Control and supervise changes to scope, schedule, quality/experience, issues, and risk
• Elevate risks and issues to leadership as needed

• 5 years of project management
• Creating clear visuals to help others understand timelines and goals
• Establish rapport and trust across business partners
• Able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and stay positive in the face of change
• Proactively plan work with a focus on user experience and outcome
• Collaborative working style and ability to listen, understand, influence, and prioritize contending needs
• Excellent planning, organizational and analytical skills with meticulous attention to detail
• Superior written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent judgment, ability to think critically and strong decision-making skills, including risk evaluation, outcomes assessment and solutions determination in a timely manner
• Experience with Smartsheet highly desired
• Ability to travel 10-15% of time to sites located in and out of state as required

Our benefits meet you where you are. We're here to help our employees navigate the integration of work and life:

• Know your whole family is supported with discounted child care benefits.
• Breathe easy with medical, dental, and vision benefits for your family (and pets, too!).
• Feel supported in your mental health and personal growth with employee assistance programs.
• Feel great and thrive with access to health and wellness programs, unlimited paid time off and discounts for work necessities, such as cell phones.
• ... and much more.

We operate research-backed, accredited, and customizable programs in more than 2,000 sites and centers across 40 states and the District of Columbia. As we expand, we're matching the needs of more and more families, dynamic work environments, and diverse communities from coast to coast. Because we believe every family deserves access to high-quality child care, no matter who they are or where they live. Every day, you'll help bring this mission to life by building community and delivering exceptional experiences. And if you're anything like us, you'll come for the work, and stay for the people.

KinderCare Learning Companies is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.