Job Description

Position Summary
The Project Manager provides oversight, coordination, and execution for a portfolio of programs and initiatives within the Center for Competencies, Skills, and Workforce Development (CCSW), with primary responsibility for competency-based education (CBE) and Skills Lab initiatives. The position translates priorities established by the CCSW leadership into actionable implementation plans and manages initiatives across the full project lifecycle, from concept and development through approval, implementation, launch, and transition to ongoing operations.

The Project Manager works closely with faculty, academic units, university offices, and other internal and external partners to coordinate complex, cross-functional initiatives; navigate university processes; manage timelines, and deliverables; identify and resolve implementation barriers; and develop repeatable processes that support effective implementation and scaling. Operating with a high degree of autonomy under general direction, the Project manager serves as a primary implementation resource for assigned initiatives while elevating decisions involving strategy, significant resources, scope, or program direction to CCSW.

This role will report to the Executive Director and is expected to be able to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement consisting of up to two remote workdays and three on-campus workdays per week, subject to operational needs and university policy.
Job Duties
Responsibility Area: Project Management
Duties:
Translate CCSW priorities into actionable implementation plans, including project scope, work-streams, time lines, milestones, responsibilities, resource needs, dependencies, and deliverables.
Manage the full life-cycle of assigned CCSW initiatives, with primary responsibility for CBE and Skills Lab initiatives, from concept and development through approval, implementation, launch, and transition to ongoing operations.
Lead day-to-day project execution and coordination, including facilitating working meetings, assigning and tracking action items, monitoring progress, following up on deliverables, and keeping projects on schedule.
Coordinate faculty and cross-campus stakeholders involved in CBE and Skills Lab initiatives, serving as the primary implementation point of contact and ensuring appropriate offices and partners are engaged at the right stages of development.
Navigate and manage university processes required for implementation, identifying necessary approvals, policies, systems, documentation, and dependencies and coordinating initiatives through those processes.
Develop and continuously improve repeatable processes, tools, and resources for CBE and Skills Lab development, including templates, work-flows, project plans, implementation guides, readiness checklists, and other infrastructure that supports efficient scaling.
Proactively identify implementation risks, barriers, capacity constraints, and gaps and develop solutions, independently resolving operational issues when possible and elevating matters involving strategy, scope, significant resources, or program direction to leadership.
Manage the portfolio of assigned CBE and Skills Lab initiatives, maintaining visibility into the status, milestones, dependencies, and resource needs of multiple concurrent projects and providing regular progress updates and recommendations to leadership.
Percentage Of Time 60
Essential Function: Yes
Responsibility Area: Accreditation Compliance & Regulatory Alignment
Duties:
Coordinate with appropriate university offices to identify, interpret, and apply applicable higher education regulations, federal guidance, and institutional requirements to ensure project compliance.
Monitor projects for compliance risks related to scope, time-lines, privacy, budgets, and reporting obligations.
Identify deviations from approved work plans and work with faculty, program leads, and leadership to develop corrective actions or formal justifications.
Percentage Of Time 10
Essential Function: Yes
Responsibility Area: Portfolio & Process Development
Duties:
Contribute to the development and refinement of center-wide project management processes, metrics, reporting systems, and engagement frameworks.
Support special center-wide initiatives, pilots, or cross-cutting projects as needed to support CCSW’s strategic priorities (e.g., business development, education support, ad-hoc operational support, etc.).
Percentage Of Time 15
Essential Function: Yes
Responsibility Area: Faculty, Program, & Team Support
Duties:
Provide guidance, resources, and implementation support to faculty, staff, and program teams engaged in CBE, Skills Lab, and other assigned initiatives.
Develop and deliver project resources, orientations, training, or other technical assistance necessary to support consistent implementation
Contribute to team knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
Percentage Of Time 15
Essential Function: Yes
Required and Preferred Qualifications
Required Education
Bachelor’s degree
Will consider an equivalent combination of education and related work experience.

Required Experience
5 years of progressively responsible experience in project or program management, educational administration, program development, or related operations.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
Demonstrated ability to handle prioritization and strategy pivots.
Demonstrated customer service focus.
Experience interpreting and applying higher education standards, best practices, and requirements and coordinating across multiple stakeholders.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to adapt language and materials for diverse audiences.
Required License/Certification
N/A
Required Additional Qualifications:
N/A
Preferred Education
Master’s Degree
Preferred Experience
Experience in an academic office setting as well as managing complex, innovative initiatives and contracts.
Experience with project management platforms, workflow tools, and other technologies including information systems and artificial intelligence used to coordinate complex projects.
Experience with large integrated word processing, spreadsheet, and database software programs required.
Working knowledge of accounting, budgeting, personnel or payroll practices and grants/contracts accounting and management.
Communicating to a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
Experience with competency-based education, skills-based learning, academic program development, alternative credentials, digital credentials, or related educational innovative initiatives.