Project Manager - EdTech Delivery and Budget Control

Role Overview

This position entails full financial accountability for project delivery by managing and safeguarding budgets during project execution. The Project Manager will primarily own the accuracy of Time-on-Task (ToT) estimates, baseline planning, and real-time financial monitoring, ensuring alignment with scope, underlying assumptions, and contractual agreements. This role extends beyond conventional coordination responsibilities by focusing heavily on estimation accuracy, budget tracking against planned figures, and early detection of budget deviations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop detailed ToT estimates per deliverable and role with explicitly stated assumptions.
• Create a baseline project plan integrating budget, schedule, and scope elements.
• Identify and assess areas with high financial risk prior to project start.
• Execute consistent weekly monitoring of planned versus actual expenditures.
• Lead in variance analysis and detect early signs of budget discrepancies.
• Proactively implement corrective measures including scope adjustments, staffing, sequencing, or escalations.
• Maintain budget discipline throughout the entire project lifecycle.
• Collaborate effectively with Project Leads to ensure correct execution without directly performing tasks.
• Ensure that project progress adheres to initial assumptions and constraints.
• Manage scope creep and assumption deviations by enforcing change control protocols.
• Provide transparent and timely weekly project health updates covering budgetary status, risks, variances, and recovery strategies.
• Communicate proactively with leadership when intervention is necessary.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years managing projects with direct responsibility for budgets.
• Proven track record handling fixed-fee or budget-limited projects.
• Strong proficiency with Time-on-Task estimation, tracking planned versus actual progress, and conducting variance analyses.
• Advanced skills in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
• Able to intervene efficiently and steer projects back on course as needed.
• Demonstrated capability to lead cross-functionally without formal supervisory authority.

Preferred Background

• Experience in EdTech, content creation, or digital product domains.
• Familiarity with AI tools and workflow automation technologies.
• Worked in roles bridging both project planning and execution phases.