Program Manager

Arizona State University; Discovery (AK); On-site; USD 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona State University’s Project Humanities seeks a seasoned Program Manager to oversee daily administrative and operational functions for a university initiative. The role supports faculty, staff, students, and external partners, driving efficient operations and coordinating diverse activities.

The ideal candidate has strong project management and budgeting skills, Experience with Workday or ERP systems, and a passion for process improvements in higher education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and three years of experience or equivalent combination.
• Experience in higher education or a large complex organization.
• Experience developing operational procedures and process improvements.
• Familiarity with financial and HR compliance requirements.
• Ability to build cooperative professional relationships across areas.
• Experience in event planning/logistics.
• Experience using Workday or similar ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and assist with planning and execution of initiative programs and year‑round events
• Coordinate logistics including scheduling, communications, venues, contracts, and vendors
• Manage event budgets and operational planning from start to finish
• Manage daily administrative and operational functions to ensure efficient office operations
• Develop, implement, and maintain administrative procedures, documentation, and resource guides
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and recommend process improvements
• Prepare data reports, presentations, award nominations and spreadsheets

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Communication

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget management

Procurement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday ERP

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Profile:

Administrative Operations Specialist 2

Job Family:

Administrative Operations

Time Type:

Full time

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Description:

Project Humanities seeks an experienced, highly organized Program Manager to oversee the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of a dynamic university initiative. This position serves as the operational backbone of the unit, ensuring efficient business operations while supporting faculty, staff, students, and external partners. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem solver with experience managing multiple priorities, improving administrative processes, coordinating personnel activities, overseeing budgets and procurement, and leading complex projects in a collaborative environment.

Position Salary Range:

• $58,00-$65,000 annually; DOE

Event & Logistics Management:

• Lead and assist with planning and execution of initiative programs and year-round events
• Coordinate logistics including scheduling, communications, venues, contracts, and vendors
• Manage event budgets and operational planning from start to finish

Administrative & Operational Leadership:

• Manage daily administrative and operational functions to ensure efficient office operations
• Develop, implement, and maintain administrative procedures, documentation, and resource guides
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and recommend process improvements
• Prepare data reports, presentations, award nominations and spreadsheets

Personnel & Human Resources Coordination:

• Assist with recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and off-boarding activities for Project Humanities staff and/or student employees under the guidance of the HR team in Department of English
• Maintain confidential personnel records in accordance with university policies
• Support the Director with personnel documentation and administrative processes related to Project Humanities

Financial Administration:

• Manage purchasing, procurement, reimbursements, and internal program expense reconciliation
• Process contracts and vendor documentation under the guidance of the financial team in Department of English
• Ensure compliance with university financial policies and procedures

Project & Program Management:

• Coordinate multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines
• Support special projects as assigned
• Collaborate with internal ASU departments and external partners to achieve organizational goals

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in higher education or another large, complex organization
• Experience developing operational procedures and process improvements
• Familiarity with financial and HR compliance requirements
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative, professional working relationships both within and across organizational areas.
• Experience in event planning/logistics
• Experience using Workday or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
• Experience managing administrative operations in a complex organization
• Experience coordinating budgets, procurement, purchasing, and expense reconciliation
• Experience supporting personnel processes, including hiring and onboarding
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Skill in effective communication, both verbal and written
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Project Humanities' goals and mission.
• Awareness of and connections to social justice issues

Working Environment:

• Activities are performed in an environment-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse (75%)
• Frequently required to stand for varying lengths of time and travel moderate distances to perform work (25%).
• Regular use of standard office equipment including, but not limited to: computer workstation/laptop (keyboard, monitor, mouse), printer, fax, calculator, copier, telephone and associated computer/technology peripherals
• Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds
• Depending on the unit/program needs, some evenings and occasional weekends may be required.

Department Statement:

Project Humanities is an award-winning ASU initiative that promotes and facilitates critical conversations and explorations of humanities content and humanist thinking across disciplines, communities, generations and professions. See projecthumanities.asu.edu.

The English Department at Arizona State University is robust and unique precisely because we bring together every part of English Studies in one space. Our interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary scholarship and teaching allow us to make valuable contributions to multidisciplinary initiatives in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. This department’s expressed mission is to study, create, and teach spoken, written, visual, and digital communication practices and texts ranging from the imaginative to the functional in civic, social, personal, academic, and professional communities, and to mentor others to do likewise.

The Department of English's motto - "Start here, go anywhere" - captures the unique value of our undergraduate and graduate English degrees, ones that can serve students in any art form, any discipline, and any profession. In fact, our degrees can take students anywhere they wish to travel. The Department of English faculty is internationally renowned for innovative research and teaching and explores the pan-world expression of the English language and its literature, which span the global yet connect directly to the local. The skills of critical thinking, reading comprehension, and analytic expression cultivated in the degrees are transferable into any endeavor. In particular, such skills provide the foundation for creative problem-solving and cultivate individual and collective expression. The department takes as its purview not just historical positioned work, whether linguistic or textual, but includes all forms of expression and all modes of new media, whether analogical or digital. We emphasize writing- academic, creative, personal, public, and workplace- that explores difference reflectively and functionally. Our goal is to educate citizens who can think, read, write, and act in robust and significant ways to meet new challenges.

Driving Requirement:

Driving is not required for this position.

Location:

Campus: Tempe

Funding:

No Federal Funding

ASU Statement:

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

ASU is a tobacco-free university. For details visit https://wellness.asu.edu/explore-wellness/body/alcohol-and-drugs/tobacco

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report:

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

Relocation Assistance – For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources.

Employment Verification Statement:

ASU conducts pre‑employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

Background Check Statement:

ASU conducts pre‑employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check.

Fingerprint Check Statement:

A fingerprint check is not required for this position.