What is a Project Manager at Children's Health?

As a Project Manager at Children's Health, you are at the heart of an organization dedicated to making life better for children. This role is not merely about tracking timelines; it is about driving strategic initiatives that directly impact clinical excellence, patient outcomes, and operational efficiency. Whether you are working within Operational and Strategic Planning, Talent Development, or Clinical Systems, your work ensures that our providers have the resources they need to deliver world-class pediatric care.

The impact of this position is felt across our Dallas and Plano campuses. You will lead cross-functional teams consisting of clinicians, administrators, and executive leadership to solve complex problems in a fast-paced healthcare environment. Because Children's Health operates at a massive scale, your ability to navigate ambiguity and align diverse stakeholders is critical to the success of high-stakes projects, ranging from facility expansions to the implementation of new care delivery models.

Joining the Project Management team means becoming a strategic partner to our leadership. You are expected to bring a high level of rigor and professional discipline to every project, ensuring that we remain a leader in pediatric healthcare. For a candidate who thrives on mission-driven work and complex problem-solving, this role offers the unique opportunity to see the tangible results of your labor in the smiles of the families we serve.

Common Interview Questions

Our questions are designed to reveal your thought process and your ability to remain calm under pressure. We use a mix of behavioral questions and situational case studies.

Behavioral & Leadership

• Tell me about a time you had to lead a team through a significant organizational change.
• Describe a situation where you had to influence a stakeholder who had more authority than you.
• How do you prioritize your tasks when you are managing multiple high-priority projects simultaneously?
• Give an example of a time you failed to meet a project goal. What did you learn?

Technical & Process

• What project management methodology do you find most effective for healthcare projects, and why?
• How do you handle "scope creep" when it originates from a senior leader?
• Describe your process for conducting a project post-mortem or lessons-learned session.
• How do you ensure that project documentation remains accurate in a fast-changing environment?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for an interview at Children's Health requires a blend of technical project management expertise and a deep appreciation for our mission. We evaluate candidates not just on their ability to move a project from start to finish, but on how they manage the human element of change within a sensitive clinical environment.

Healthcare Domain Awareness – While you do not need to be a clinician, you must demonstrate an understanding of how projects function within a hospital system. Interviewers look for your ability to account for patient safety, regulatory compliance, and the unique schedules of medical staff when planning your initiatives.

Stakeholder Influence – You will often need to lead by influence rather than authority. Candidates must show they can build rapport with everyone from frontline staff to VPs and Directors, translating technical project requirements into language that resonates with different departments.

Methodological Rigor – Whether you prefer Agile, Waterfall, or a hybrid approach, you must demonstrate a disciplined methodology. We evaluate your ability to manage budgets, mitigate risks, and maintain clear documentation throughout the project lifecycle.

Mission Alignment – At Children's Health, our values define us. You should be prepared to discuss why you are drawn to pediatric healthcare and how your professional goals align with our commitment to the community.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process at Children's Health is designed to be thorough and collaborative, reflecting the high level of coordination required in our daily operations. You can expect a multi-stage journey that typically spans about one month. The process is highly organized but requires patience, as our leadership teams balance clinical responsibilities with the hiring process.

Initially, you will engage in virtual or phone-based conversations to establish your foundational fit and experience level. As you progress, the interviews become more immersive, involving a variety of stakeholders including fellow Project Managers, Directors, and eventually Executive Leadership. The final stages often include an onsite component where you will experience our culture firsthand and meet the teams you will be supporting.

This timeline illustrates the typical progression from initial outreach to a final decision. Candidates should use this to pace their preparation, ensuring they are ready for the shift from high-level screening to deep-dive behavioral and situational assessments in the later rounds.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Stakeholder Management & Communication

In this area, we look for your ability to navigate the complex hierarchy of a major healthcare system. You must demonstrate that you can manage expectations and resolve conflicts between departments with competing priorities.

Be ready to go over:

• Executive Presence – How you present data and project updates to senior leadership.
• Conflict Resolution – Specific instances where you aligned disagreeing stakeholders.
• Cross-functional Collaboration – Your experience working with non-technical teams, such as nursing or facilities management.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Describe a time you had to deliver bad news about a project timeline to a high-level executive."
• "How do you handle a situation where a key stakeholder is unresponsive or resistant to change?"

Project Execution & Risk Mitigation

This area focuses on your technical "toolbox." We want to see how you handle the "what ifs" of a project and how you keep a multi-million dollar initiative on track when variables change.

Be ready to go over:

• Risk Assessment – Your process for identifying and documenting potential project hurdles.
• Resource Allocation – How you manage budgets and personnel across multiple workstreams.
• Change Management – The steps you take to ensure project outputs are actually adopted by the end-users.

Advanced concepts:

• EHR Implementation nuances.
• Capital Project budgeting and depreciation.
• LEAN Six Sigma applications in healthcare.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk us through a project that went off the rails. What was your recovery plan?"
• "How do you determine which project metrics are most important to report to the steering committee?"

Key Responsibilities

As a Project Manager, your primary responsibility is the end-to-end delivery of strategic initiatives. This involves defining project scopes, developing detailed work plans, and ensuring that all deliverables meet the high standards of Children's Health. You will act as the primary point of contact for your assigned projects, providing regular status updates and ensuring that all risks are proactively managed.

On a day-to-day basis, you will collaborate heavily with Engineering, Operations, and Clinical Leadership. For example, if you are a Sr Project Manager, you might be overseeing a multi-year facility upgrade, requiring you to coordinate with architects, city officials, and hospital staff simultaneously. If your focus is Talent Development, you will drive programs that enhance the skills of our 7,000+ employees, ensuring our workforce is prepared for the future of medicine.

Documentation is a significant part of the role. You will be expected to maintain project charters, schedules, and financial reports within our project management software. Your goal is to provide transparency and data-driven insights that allow our leaders to make informed decisions quickly.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

We look for candidates who combine professional certification with practical, high-stakes experience. The ideal candidate is someone who can operate both at a 30,000-foot strategic level and a detailed execution level.

• Technical Skills – Proficiency in project management software (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, or ServiceNow) is essential. Familiarity with healthcare-specific systems like Epic is a significant advantage.
• Experience Level – Most Project Manager roles require at least 3–5 years of experience, while Sr Project Manager positions typically require 7+ years with a proven track record of leading large-scale, $1M+ projects.
• Soft Skills – Exceptional verbal and written communication skills are non-negotiable. You must be able to explain complex project concepts to non-experts clearly and persuasively.

Must-have skills:

• PMP Certification (highly preferred or required for senior roles).
• Experience in Healthcare Operations or a similarly regulated industry.
• Strong financial acumen and budget management experience.

Nice-to-have skills:

• Lean Six Sigma Green or Black Belt.
• Experience in the Dallas-Fort Worth healthcare market.
• Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration (MHA) or Business (MBA).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How difficult is the interview process for a Project Manager? The process is moderately difficult but very time-consuming. We look for high emotional intelligence and specific examples of project success, so you should spend significant time refining your "stories" using the STAR method.

Q: What is the culture like for Project Managers at Children's Health? The culture is highly collaborative and mission-driven. You will find yourself surrounded by very smart, dedicated people who are passionate about pediatric care. It is a professional environment where your expertise is respected, but you are expected to be a team player.

Q: How long does it take to hear back after the final interview? Typically, you can expect to hear back within one to two weeks. However, depending on the number of vacancies and the schedules of the executive team, this can sometimes take longer.

Q: Is there an onsite component to the interview? Yes, for most PM roles, the final round includes an onsite visit. This often involves a tour of our facilities and face-to-face meetings with the team to ensure a strong cultural fit.

Other General Tips

• Research Our Recent Growth: Children's Health is frequently in the news for new expansions and partnerships. Knowing our recent strategic moves will demonstrate your genuine interest in the organization.
• Master the STAR Method: When answering behavioral questions, be specific about the Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Quantitative results (e.g., "reduced costs by 15%") are particularly impactful.
• Prepare for the "Tour": If you are invited onsite, treat the tour as part of the interview. Be engaged, ask questions about the facility, and be polite to everyone you encounter.

Summary & Next Steps

The Project Manager role at Children's Health is a career-defining opportunity for those who want to apply their strategic skills to a cause that truly matters. By driving the projects that enable our clinical teams to save lives, you become an essential part of the Children's Health legacy. The interview process is rigorous because the work we do is critical; we want to ensure you have the resilience and the expertise to thrive here.

To succeed, focus your preparation on demonstrating your ability to lead through influence, your command of project management methodologies, and your alignment with our mission. Review your past projects and be ready to discuss them in granular detail, focusing on how you overcame obstacles and delivered value to your stakeholders.

The salary ranges at Children's Health reflect our commitment to attracting top-tier talent. When reviewing these figures, consider your total compensation package, including our comprehensive benefits and the stability of working for one of the nation's leading pediatric health systems. Successful candidates often enter within these ranges based on their specific years of experience and the complexity of the projects they will manage. You can explore more detailed insights and preparation tools on Dataford to ensure you are ready for every stage of the process.