CampusWorks partners with higher education institutions to optimize their people, processes, policies, and technologies. Through close collaboration with institutional teams, CampusWorks consultants analyze current operations, design improved future-state processes, and deliver technical and process-based solutions that drive transformation and client satisfaction.
The Project Manager plays a key role in leading these initiatives through the full project lifecycle—ensuring timely, on-budget, and high-quality delivery. Depending on the project, you may act as a project manager, program manager, or portfolio manager. This role requires a detail-oriented, proactive professional who excels in communication, stakeholder engagement, and issue resolution. Grounded in PMI project management principles, the Project Manager adapts CampusWorks’ methodology to meet client-specific needs, aligns stakeholders, and maintains clear, consistent communication throughout the project to ensure its success.
This position is hybrid with up to 75% on-site presence required
Job Duties
- Lead the planning, execution, and closure of large-scale implementation projects across the full project lifecycle.
- Evaluate and prioritize projects, ensure projects align with strategic objectives.
- Balance resources across projects, report portfolio performance to executives.
- Oversee day-to-day activities to ensure alignment with project scope, timelines, and objectives.
- Drive project decisions and ensure continued momentum to meet deadlines.
- Manage project risks, issues, and escalation paths to ensure project stability and success.
- Ensure vendors fulfill contractual obligations and delivers high-quality, validated outputs.
- Monitor institutional staff task completion and resource allocation.
- Establish and maintain project governance structures in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Develop core project documents including the Project Charter, Risk Register, Stakeholder Register, and Project Plan (Quality Assurance, Change Management, Communication, Procurement, Data Conversion).
- Create and maintain detailed project schedules and work plans.
- Facilitate weekly status meetings and deliver regular reports to stakeholders and internal leadership.
- Communicate progress, risks, and decisions effectively to all levels, including the client steering committee and executive sponsors.
- Collaborate with change management leads to ensure organizational readiness.
- Adapt CampusWorks methodologies to align with client-specific project management practices and policies.
- Conclude projects with formal closure, including documentation and lessons learned.
Knowledge, Skills, & Ability
- Strong ability to simplify complex technical information for non-technical audiences.
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills as well as problem identification and resolution.
- High attention to detail, with strong time management and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.
- Effective at decision-making and stakeholder engagement at all organizational levels.
- In-depth understanding of higher education operations and IT environments.
- Familiarity with higher education procurement practices and vendor relations.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook.
- Proficiency in project management tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, Wrike, and Jira.
Experience & Education
- Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree preferred.
- Proven experience managing project portfolios or enterprise software implementations in higher education (e.g., HR/Payroll, Finance, Student, CRM, Advancement).
- Strong experience in project oversight, governance, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Expertise in the full project lifecycle, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure.
Preferred Experience
- 3+ years with a consulting/professional services firm preferred and experience consulting with Higher Education a plus
- PMP or other project management certifications.