Strategic Initiatives Specialist

Job Summary:

The Strategic Initiatives Specialist is responsible for supporting activities related to assigned projects, programs and other initiatives at ICANN org. This role requires frequent interactions with team members, management, and any related stakeholders. The role requires initiative, attention to detail, ability to grasp unfamiliar concepts or subjects quickly, problem-solving skills, ability to learn applicable topics/subjects, ability to prioritize tasks, strong time management skills, organizational, writing and communication skills.

Key Responsibilities & Duties:

• Create and manage project plans that include tasks, due dates, dependencies, milestones and related information to ensure team coordination and to maintain visibility of project status.
• Organize and schedule team calls and meetings based on team and stakeholder availability, time zones, and other logistical criteria.
• Work with team members and stakeholders to formulate action items, assign tasks and track progress across various projects.
• Solves problems in straightforward situations; analyzes possible solutions using technical experience and judgment and precedents
• Create, maintain and distribute accurate and complete records of calls and meetings, including notes, action items, decisions, issues and timelines for deliverables as appropriate.
• Track, manage and communicate completion of action items, deliverables, and resolution of issues, including ensuring that the deliverables meet stakeholder requirements.
• Track spending and resource utilization associated with projects, programs, and initiatives.
• Create and distribute reports to team members, stakeholders or other related parties regarding activities, progress and costs related to assigned projects, programs, and initiatives.
• Create and maintain organized online collaborative workspaces, internal and external web pages to communicate status and substance of activities.
• Draft or edit project proposals, papers, presentations, communications, and any other materials as needed to support projects, programs, and initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned or requested.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

(Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions)

• Strong relationship-building skills and ability to influence activity without authority.
• Ability to work under pressure with changing priorities and maintain attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate complex and sometimes controversial information, concepts, both verbally and in writing, to internal and external audiences.
• Ability to work with a highly diverse workforce.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize work, and meet deadlines.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Flexibility, adaptability and eagerness to learn new things.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Professional, positive, can-do attitude.
• Broad knowledge and experience with any of the following preferred: ICANN, the multi-stakeholder model, registries and/or registrars, the domain name industry.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Minimum five (5) years of related experience or equivalent.
• Project coordination experience, strongly preferred.
• Experience using Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google suite required.
• Experience with project management tools, process documentation tools, and online collaboration tools preferred.

Languages:

• Fluency, both written and spoken, in English is required.
• ICANN is a global organization that values diversity; preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated skills in additional languages besides English.
• Prior international experience preferred.
• Prior experience working for an international organization, strongly preferred.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements:

• International travel may be required to support ICANN related meetings as requested for lengths of 7-10 days for each trip, approximately 1-3 times per year, likely on different continents.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
• Comfort level with an international work environment that requires availability at times outside normal business hours.
• Work is performed in a normal office environment with limited privacy and some exposure to background noise.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk. The employee regularly is required to sit. The employee is frequently required to talk or hear; use hands and arms to reach, handle or feel. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• Work location is flexible.