Education Initiatives Project Specialist

University of Colorado Boulder; Boulder (CO); Hybrid; USD 66,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Colorado Boulder seeks an Education Initiatives Project Specialist to translate priorities into executable projects, develop plans, and coordinate work across teams and partners. The role blends project management with hands-on operations and program implementation to advance undergraduate education initiatives.

The successful candidate will organize project plans, schedule meetings, anticipate dependencies, and handle travel and events while ensuring day-to-day operations stay on

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 1+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience coordinating complex projects with multiple collaborators, timelines, and logistics.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration skills.
• Familiarity with university administrative systems and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide project management for a portfolio of Education Initiatives projects and strategic initiatives.
• Develop and maintain project plans with timelines, milestones, roles, responsibilities, and dependencies.
• Translate goals into actionable work plans and track progress with stakeholders.
• Establish project management systems (Asana, documentation, status tracking) for leadership visibility.
• Coordinate cross-team work with university partners, vendors, and collaborators.
• Coordinate scheduling, meetings, travel, events, and administrative processes.

Skills

Project management

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Communication

Collaboration

MS Office

Learning new systems

Scheduling

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

Asana

Job description

Job Summary

The Education Initiatives Project Specialist is a member of theEducation Initiatives team at the Renée Crown Wellness Instituteand works closely with the Director of Education Initiatives andthe Program Manager to advance a portfolio of undergraduateeducation programs and strategic initiatives. The position helpsturn Education Initiatives priorities into well-organized,executable projects by developing plans, coordinating work acrossteams and partners, and making sure both project results andday-to-day operational needs stay on track.

This role combines project management with hands-on operations andprogram implementation. The successful candidate will be able tosee the larger goals of an initiative while also managing thedetails that make the work possible. This includes developingproject plans, organizing work across multiple contributors,anticipating dependencies, and handling the scheduling, meetings,travel, events, and administrative processes that keep the workmoving. The role requires strong judgment, exceptional organizationand follow-through, and the ability to work effectively with peoplewho bring different areas of expertise.

We are looking for someone who enjoys bringing clarity andorganization to complicated work and is comfortable moving betweenthe big picture and the details. The ideal candidate anticipateswhat needs to happen next, communicates well with a wide range ofcolleagues and partners, and enjoys creating systems and processesthat make work easier and more effective. An interest in theInstitute’s mission and in supporting the well-being of youngpeople through education is important to success in thisrole.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with allapplicable federal, state, and local laws governingnondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating aworkplace where all individuals are treated with respect anddignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

Who We Are

The Crown Institute’s research focuses on practices, programs, andpolicies that foster wellness among children and youth, familiesand caregivers, educators, and mental health and health providers.Scholars in multiple fields work together and in partnership withfamilies, teachers, young people, and community members.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Project Management and Strategic Initiatives

• Provide project management for a portfolio of EducationInitiatives projects and strategic initiatives, with assignmentsand priorities evolving based on the needs of the team andInstitute.
• Develop and maintain project plans using backward planning andother project management approaches to establish and documentproject scope in collaboration with project leads and definetimelines, milestones, results, roles and responsibilities,dependencies, and action items.
• Translate project goals and decisions into clear work plans andactionable next steps; track progress and follow up with teammembers and partners to ensure commitments and deliverables moveforward.
• Establish and maintain project management systems, includingAsana boards, project documentation, status tracking, and othertools that provide project teams and leadership with insight intoprogress, responsibilities, decisions, and upcoming needs.
• Coordinate projects across Education Initiatives team members,other Institute teams, university partners, vendors, contractors,and other collaborators, including work that spans curriculum,finance and administration, communications, technology, andexternal partnerships; ensure requirements, decisions, and resultsare effectively communicated across teams.
• Monitor project schedules, outputs, and dependencies.Anticipate upcoming needs and identify potential barriers or gaps.Work with project leads and partners to adjust plans and developsolutions as projects evolve.
• Develop and improve project workflows, templates,documentation, and organizational systems so that work is clearlyorganized, accessible to collaborators, and able to be implementedconsistently across projects and partners.
• Provide project status updates, reports, and otherdocumentation to Education Initiatives leadership and projectpartners as needed.

Education Initiatives Operations

• Manage complex scheduling and meeting coordination forEducation Initiatives projects and programs, including schedulingacross Institute leadership, project teams, university partners,vendors, and external collaborators; use an understanding ofproject priorities, deliverables, and dependencies to determineappropriate timing, sequencing, and participation.
• Coordinate meeting preparation, logistics, and follow-through,including developing agendas in collaboration with project leads,arranging space and technology, documenting key decisions anddiscussion, and translating meeting outcomes into clear actionitems, owners, timelines, and updates to project plans.
• Coordinate operational and logistical support for student- andemployee-facing programs, including recurring Communities ofPractice, research seminars, events, convenings, and otherEducation Initiatives activities; coordinate space and technologyneeds, food and supplies, participant communications, and on-sitesupport.
• Coordinate domestic and international travel for EducationInitiatives programs and participants, including flights,accommodations, ground transportation, itineraries, participantcommunications, and related logistics.
• Partner with the Institute’s Finance & Personnel Team tocoordinate contracts and agreements with vendors, contractors,community partners, and collaborating institutions, includingrequired documentation and University approval processes; trackcontract status, invoices, payments, and other administrativemilestones.
• Coordinate program-related financial and administrativetransactions in partnership with the Finance & Personnel Team,including purchasing and procurement, travel reimbursements, vendorand contractor payments, student stipends, scholarships, and otherprogram expenses; support tracking of project and event revenue andexpenses.
• Maintain project and program information in relevant Institutedatabases, tracking systems, shared platforms, files, and records,ensuring information and documentation are accurate, current,organized, and accessible to appropriate team members.
• Participate in Institute-wide meetings, activities, andoperational processes and collaborate with other Crown Instituteteams to support shared priorities and effective cross-teamworkflows.

Program and Initiative Implementation

• Coordinate implementation of new and evolving EducationInitiatives programs and projects, helping move initiatives fromplanning and design through launch and ongoing operation.
• Work with program staff and subject-matter experts to organizecurriculum, program content, requirements, and supporting materialsinto clear and consistent structures that can be effectivelyimplemented by university partners, vendors, and othercollaborators.
• Coordinate technology implementation across program andcurriculum teams and external technology partners; organiserequirements, content, decisions, assets, timelines, and results tosupport effective development and implementation.
• Coordinate vendors, contractors, university partners, and otherexternal collaborators supporting program implementation, includingcoordinating timelines, communicating project requirements,tracking results, coordinating needed information and approvals,and maintaining relevant project documentation.
• Develop and design project and program materials, includingpresentations, one-pagers, meeting materials, programdocumentation, and other digital or printed materials; collaboratewith the Institute’s communications team, designers, and otherpartners as appropriate.
• Coordinate program and project communications, includingdrafting and proofreading materials, gathering input fromappropriate contributors, and managing review and distributionprocesses.

What You Should Know

• This position follows the Crown Institute’s hybrid workschedule and requires regular on-site work in Boulder, Colorado,with a minimum of two days per week in the office.
• This position requires occasional domestic and internationaltravel.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship now or inthe future.
• Anticipated start date is January 18,2027.

What We Can Offer

The annual hiring range for this position is $65,500-$70,000.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder , we arecommitted to supporting the holistic health and well-being of ouremployees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical,dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuitionassistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for localtransit.

As one of Boulder County’s largest employers, CU Boulderoffers an inspiring academic community and access to world-classoutdoor recreation. In fact, CU Boulder has been named one ofForbes' America's BestLarge Employers , ranking #4 among large employers in Coloradoand #28 among universities nationwide. Explore additional perks andprograms through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be groundbreaking. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• Bachelor’s degree and 1+ years of relevant professionalexperience in project management, program operations, highereducation administration, or a combination of relatedexperience.
• An equivalent combination of education and/or relevantexperience may substitute.
• Experience managing or coordinating complex projects and/orprogram operations involving multiple collaborators, timelines,results, and logistical or administrative requirements.

What You Will Need

• Strong project management and organizational skills, withdemonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities,timelines, and results and adapt as project needs evolve.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to bring structure,organization, and follow-through to complex or evolving work.
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, including theability to anticipate needs, recognize dependencies and potentialbarriers, and determine appropriate next steps.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, includingthe ability to synthesize information, document decisions, andcommunicate clearly with internal and external partners.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the abilityto coordinate effectively across individuals with different areasof expertise, roles, and organizational levels.
• Ability to thrive independently with moderate supervision, takeinitiative within the scope of the role, and recognize when to seekinput, elevate issues, or engage additional partners.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook,Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and demonstrated ability andwillingness to learn new project management, administrative, andtechnology systems.
• Dedication to the mission and values of the Renée CrownWellness Institute and interest in contributing to educationinitiatives that support the well-being of young people.
• Willingness to incorporate feedback and a dedication tocontinued learning and professional growth.

What We Would Like You to Have

• Master’s degree.
• 3+ years of experience in project management, programoperations, higher education administration or a similarly complexeducation-focused organization.
• Experience working with undergraduate education programs,student-facing initiatives, or related academic programs.
• Experience coordinating complex scheduling and meetinglogistics across multiple partners.
• Experience using Asana or other project managementsoftware.
• Experience coordinating complex domestic or internationaltravel, events, programs, or convenings.
• Experience working with vendors, independent contractors,community partners, or other external collaborators, includingrelated contracts, purchasing, reimbursements, or paymentprocesses.
• Experience coordinating technology implementation or workingacross program/content teams and external technology partners.
• Experience organizing curriculum or educational content forimplementation across programs, institutions, or digitalenvironments.
• Experience with university administrative systems, includingConcur or similar travel and expense management systems.
• Experience with Qualtrics.
• Experience writing or contributing to funding proposals.