ITS Special Projects Manager

Loyola Marymount University; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 87,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

LMU Information Technology Services seeks an ITS Special Projects Manager to translate executive priorities into organized plans and measurable progress across the department. You will coordinate high-impact strategic initiatives sponsored by the CIO and provide executive-ready materials.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years coordinating cross-functional work in complex organizations, preferably in higher education, with strong communication and governance knowledge.

Qualifications

• Typically a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, Information Systems, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience supporting executive-level initiatives, managing strategic projects, or coordinating cross-functional work in a complex organization.
• Experience in higher education is strongly preferred. Experience supporting a CIO, vice president, dean, or other senior executive leader is preferred.
• Experience coordinating initiatives that span multiple departments or organizational units.
• Experience preparing executive briefings, presentations, board or cabinet materials, or strategic summaries.
• Understanding of enterprise technology environments, including ERP/SIS-related planning efforts.
• Knowledge of project coordination, strategic planning support, executive communications, and organizational operations.
• Knowledge of technology organizations, governance structures, and cross-functional planning practices.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills. Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate Executive-Priority Initiatives: Manage and advance strategic projects sponsored by the CIO that have broad ITS impact across functional areas.
• Support Strategic Planning and Special Initiatives: Organize, track, and support major departmental initiatives with visibility and continuity.
• Prepare Executive Briefings and Decision Materials: Develop summaries, presentations, talking points, status updates, and board materials.
• Track Actions, Decisions, and Follow-Up: Maintain structured milestone tracking, dependencies, risks, and decisions.
• Facilitate Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with ITS directors, managers, and campus stakeholders to align priorities.
• Support Emerging and Ambiguous Work: Provide coordination for new executive priorities needing structure and governance.

Skills

Executive coordination

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Presentation skills

Governance awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, Information Systems, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, or related field

Equivalent professional experience

Tools

Smartsheet

Teams

Microsoft Office

Job description

LMU Information Technology Services team enables technologically-rich learning environments, provides effective teaching and scholarship resources and maintains reliable, accessible, and integrated information systems.

This work is grounded in and supports the University’ mission:

• The encouragement of learning
• The education of the whole person
• The service of faith and the promotion of justice

Under the direction of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the ITS Special Projects Manager is responsible for coordinating and advancing executive-priority initiatives that span the ITS organization. This role operates as a strategic partner to the CIO, helping translate executive priorities into organized plans, actionable next steps, and measurable progress across the department.

Position Specific Responsibilities/Accountabilities

• Coordinate Executive-Priority Initiatives: Manage and advance strategic projects sponsored by the CIO that have broad ITS impact and may span multiple functional areas. This ensures leadership priorities are translated into coordinated action and sustained progress across the department.
• Support Strategic Planning and Special Initiatives: Organize, track, and support major departmental initiatives such as ITS strategic planning, continuity of operations, governance, climate and culture. This provides continuity, visibility, and operational support for initiatives that do not fit cleanly within existing portfolios or departments.
• Prepare Executive Briefings and Decision Materials: Develop high-quality summaries, presentations, briefing documents, talking points, status updates, and other materials to support CIO communications, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement. This helps leadership communicate clearly, make informed decisions, and maintain alignment across ITS and campus partners.
• Track Actions, Decisions, and Follow-Up: Maintain structured tracking of initiative milestones, action items, dependencies, risks, decisions, and follow-up commitments. This improves accountability, reduces missed handoffs, and helps ensure initiatives continue moving forward between meetings and milestones.
• Facilitate Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with ITS directors, managers, and campus stakeholders to coordinate activities, align priorities, and resolve barriers affecting shared initiatives. This strengthens collaboration, improves execution, and supports consistent progress on complex, cross-cutting work.
• Support Emerging and Ambiguous Work: Provide project and operational coordination for new or evolving executive priorities that may not yet have a defined owner, scope, or governance path. This gives the CIO flexible capacity to advance important work while helping clarify structure, ownership, and next steps.
• Manage Sensitive and Confidential Information: Handle executive materials, internal planning documents, and sensitive communications with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment. This protects trust, supports sound decision-making, and ensures appropriate stewardship of confidential information.
• Create and Improve Coordination Tools and Processes: Develop templates, trackers, dashboards, workflows, and lightweight governance tools to support visibility, reporting, and coordination of special projects. This improves consistency, transparency, and operational efficiency across executive-sponsored work.
• Provide Strategic Research and Analysis: Conduct research, gather relevant information, and synthesize findings to inform recommendations, planning discussions, and executive decisions. This supports thoughtful evaluation of opportunities, challenges, and emerging priorities across ITS.
• Promote a Culture of Service: Adhere to LMU’s service standards of Communication, Accountability, and Professionalism. This builds trust and reinforces ITS’s commitment to responsive, mission-aligned service.
• Perform other related duties.

Loyola Marymount University Expectations

Exhibit behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the university.

Communicate and employ interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct.

Demonstrate a commitment to outstanding customer service.

Requisite Qualifications Education & Experience

Typically a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, Information Systems, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience supporting executive-level initiatives, managing strategic projects, or coordinating cross-functional work in a complex organization. Experience in higher education is strongly preferred. Experience supporting a CIO, vice president, dean, or other senior executive leader is preferred. Experience in higher education information technology or administrative operations is preferred. Experience coordinating initiatives that span multiple departments or organizational units. Experience preparing executive briefings, presentations, board or cabinet materials, or strategic summaries. Experience with data reporting, governance documentation, or policy/process implementation.

Understanding of enterprise technology environments, including ERP/SIS-related planning efforts.

Familiarity with project and portfolio management concepts, while not serving as a formal PMO delivery role.

Knowledge of project coordination, strategic planning support, executive communications, and organizational operations.

Knowledge of technology organizations, governance structures, and cross-functional planning practices.

Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills. Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Ability to prepare clear, concise, and polished summaries, reports, and executive-ready materials. Strong facilitation and stakeholder coordination skills.\ Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and collaboration/project tools such as Smartsheet, Teams, or similar platforms.

Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Ability to work effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.

Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism in handling sensitive matters.

Ability to synthesize complex information and present it clearly to varied audiences.

Staff Term (Fixed Term) Salary range $87,000.00 - $117,500.00 Salary commensurate with education and experience.

Please note that this position may not be eligible for visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Loyola Marymount University, a Carnegie classified R2 institution in the mainstream of American Catholic higher education, seeks outstanding applicants who value its mission and share its commitment to inclusive excellence, the education of the whole person, and the building of a just society.

LMU is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an environment free from discrimination and harassment as defined by federal, state and local law.

We invite all persons in the full diversity of their being, life experience, and beliefs to apply.

(Visit www.lmu.edu for more information.)

LMU is committed to providing equal access to employment opportunities and ensuring a comprehensive recruitment and selection process for all applicants.

Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any stage of the application, interview, or selection process may contact Human Resources at [e-mail] or by phone at [phone].

Applicants who use relay services or other assistive communication technologies are welcome to utilize those services when contacting Human Resources.

When contacting Human Resources, please include the job posting number, title of the position and department for which you are applying.

Applicants are not required to disclose the nature of a disability or provide medical information when requesting an accommodation during the recruitment process.

LMU will work with applicants in a timely and interactive process to identify and provide reasonable accommodations consistent with applicable federal and state law.

Founded in 1911, Loyola Marymount University is a Carnegie classified R2 institution rooted in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions.

We are committed to fostering a diverse academic community rich in opportunity for intellectual engagement and real-world experience.

We enroll an academically ambitious, multicultural, and socioeconomically diverse student body.

We recruit, retain and support a diverse faculty committed to excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and creativity.

Our three campuses are rooted in the heart of Los Angeles, a global capital for arts and entertainment, innovation and technology, business and entrepreneurship.

LMU is a unique and rewarding place to work.

As you consider your employment opportunities with our institution, we encourage you to take the time to learn about the university community and how it distinguishes us from other places of employment.

We are proud of the programs, benefits and services we provide our community.

We strive to ensure an inclusive environment in all aspects of campus life that fosters a strong sense of trust and mutual respect.

Loyola Marymount University is an equal employment opportunity employer and prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, national origin (including language and language use restrictions), ancestry, disability (mental and physical) including HIV and AIDS, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), denial of Family and Medical Care Leave, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age 40 or over, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other bases protected by federal (including but not limited to Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990), state or local law.

The University does not discriminate on these bases, or any other basis protected by law, in the administration of any of its education or admissions policies, scholarship or loan programs, athletics, and other school-administered policies and programs, or in its employment policies and practices.

All University policies, practices, and procedures are administered in a manner consistent with LMU's Jesuit identity and character.

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