Senior Project Manager (SPM), Academic- Fixed-term position through November 30, 2027

ArtCenter College of Design•Pasadena, CA

5d•$150,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

ArtCenter College of Design is searching for an experienced Senior Project Manager (SPM), Academic- Fixed-term position through November 30, 2027 to join our team. The salary range for this position: $150,000.00 - 175,000.00 Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity. About ArtCenter Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education and has had an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). Every position at ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging. This is a Fixed-term position through November 30, 2027 Reporting to the Provost, the Senior Academic Projects Manager (SPM) leads academic and student‑centered transformation initiatives with primary accountability for academic strategy, academic process design, and academic outcomes. The SPM is responsible for advancing College‑wide initiatives that improve our academic and enrollment operations, student experience, and academic calendar. The incumbent will work with the executive leadership team, comprised of the Provost, the SVP of Enrollment, and the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, to plan and deliver system-wide changes to academic procedures and management using established project management best practices, methodologies, and tools. The SPM will collaborate with the Senior Project Manager, Technology Transformation, to align academic initiatives with institutional technology strategies and partner with project managers across all operational departments and academic areas to join in unifying project management practices college-wide, building organizational project management capability, and fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and results. The position is responsible for developing the corresponding tools, reports, and procedures for data-driven decision-making related to project goals. This is a full-time position. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed hybrid with the expectation of at least 3 days in the office. The demands of this work may include weekends or evenings. The college reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in business, information technology, education, project management, or related field from an accredited college or university
At least 5 years of experience managing complex technology or organizational transformation projects
Proficiency in project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, Kanban, Scrum, Lean) and related tools
Strong budgeting, scheduling, and risk management skills
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels; excellent presentation skills to explain technological terms, practices, modules and standard operating procedures
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in fast-paced, change-oriented environments
Experience working with technology transformation projects or large-scale creation of content
Ability to handle confidential information with tact and discretion and recognize the confidential nature of ArtCenter business
Ability to enforce and implement policies and procedures
Demonstrated experience in cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment into workplace practices within ArtCenter's diverse communities

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education administration
Current certification(s) in project management such as PMP, CAPM, Agile, or similar certification(s)

Responsibilities

Lead the full project lifecycle, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout for assigned academic transformation projects
Conduct as-is assessments and feedback loops to understand the current state
Participate in the development, prioritization and planning of assigned projects and related initiatives
Track all relevant regulatory concerns and procedures with federal and accreditation bodies
Review proposals, develop project charters, feasibility analyses, communication plans, schedules, staffing requirements or recommendations, and identify risks
Coordinate internal and external resources to deliver projects on time, within scope, and within budget
Establish practices and templates for the assigned project with an aim toward establishing a culture of project management throughout the organization
Create and monitor budgets, manage and track dependencies and issues, and implement mitigation strategies
Facilitate regular project meetings, utilize a dashboard or a project management tracking chart to track project status and action items
Maintain executive-level visibility on progress; convene other stakeholders in status update meetings as needed to advance projects
Partner with IT leadership to ensure academic needs are translated into implementable technical solutions for the College
Ensure compliance with project management governance, quality standards, and College policies
Conduct post-implementation reviews and lessons learned to drive continuous improvement
Develop standard operating procedures at the close of each project
The SPM will execute the strategic priorities associated with transforming our student advising ecosystem, including the design and creation of a project charter, plan, schedule, budget, and status reports.
Identify, document, and track milestones and dependencies across enrollment and student services, academic departments, technology acquisition and implementation, marketing and communications, and any other stakeholders
If required, monitor and manage the acquisition and implementation of technology required to support student enrollment and academic advising in conjunction with the Senior Project Manager, Technology Transformation
Partner across all operational and academic departments to unify project management practices College-wide
Engage with stakeholders, sponsors, and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with project objectives and institutional goals
Develop and implement comprehensive change management strategies to support the adoption of new processes, systems, and structures
Facilitate workshops and learning sessions as well as facilitate and deliver communications to promote awareness and adoption of changes
Support the development of organizational project management capabilities by applying change management strategies, including targeted workshops, hands-on mentoring, and role modeling best practices
Serve on educational, departmental, or College-wide committees, work groups, task forces and/or councils to advance project management work
Other duties as assigned