Program Manager

Career Center at Portland State University; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 55,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Retirement plan

Tuition benefits

Job summary

Portland State University is seeking a Program Manager for the Center for Executive and Professional Education (CEPE). The role focuses on program management, instructor talent management, enrollment management and student advising to support non-credit professional programs.

Responsibilities include scheduling courses, maintaining records in Canvas Catalog, advising prospective students, and collaborating on budget forecasting with the Assistant Director, while ensuring excellent customer

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Strong interpersonal, critical thinking and communication skills required.
• Strong organizational abilities required.
• Preferred: Master’s degree with 1+ year of professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Program management of non-credit professional programs.
• Enrollment management and student advising.
• Instructor talent management and onboarding.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Critical thinking

Communication skills

Organizational abilities

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree (+1 year exp)

Job description

Position Announcement

Proposed Start Date 11/16/2026 Classification Title Academic Services Rank N - No Rank Working Title Program Manager Department 257001 - CEP CEPE Continuing & Profssnl Educ Position Number D98903 Representation AU - AAUP Renewable Renewable End date, if applicable Position FTE 1 Tenure Status N - not applicable

Position Summary

Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept

Portland State University is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands‑on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.

More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree‑lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state‑of‑the‑art science labs. We are proud of our world‑class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

Position Summary

This position serves as Program Manager of non-credit professional programs in the Center for Executive and Professional Education. The key responsibilities include, but are not limited to: program management, instructor talent management, enrollment management, and student advising.

Program Management

• Schedule course offerings, using knowledge of market demand, participant needs, and instructor schedules, in order to maximize enrollments.
• Maintain oversight of accurate course and student records in Canvas Catalog (non-credit registration and learning management system) and other data management software.
• Assist instructors to develop course/program objectives and optimize content delivery in order to offer innovative, relevant, and competitive programs.
• In collaboration with the Assistant Director, use market and evaluation data to strategically improve course offerings and assist with open enrollment programs budget forecasting.
• Assist as needed in course delivery to ensure effective course administration and customer service.

Student Advising & Enrollment Management

• Respond to daily inquiries and meet with prospective students to provide advising support, with the goal of converting inquiries to program enrollments.
• Work with Assistant Director to set and meet enrollment goals. Collaborate with staff to manage and promote customer relationships in HubSpot.
• Cultivate student relations using interpersonal and communication skills in order to ensure smooth program participation and high‑level student satisfaction.

Instructor Talent Management

• Recruit, assess and on‑board potential instructors. Maintain instructor relations, using interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, in order to ensure smooth program operation, presentation of dynamic programs, and high‑level instructor satisfaction.
• Provide feedback, and coach instructors as needed to maintain high instructional quality and positive learning outcomes.

General Administration And Team Activities

• Plan and/or attend special CEPE programs and promotional events, using program knowledge and interpersonal skills, in order to gain a better understanding of customer needs.
• Develop relationships with and attend functions of current and potential professional and community organizations, in order to learn about current trends that can be applied to programs and in order to increase awareness of CEPE.
• Participate actively in administration of CEPE, using excellent interpersonal skills in order to help continuously improve motivation, communication, team effectiveness, systems, processes, personnel practices, image, and reputation of the Center and the University.

In accordance with the AAUP collective bargaining agreement this position is open only to current PSU AAUP academic professionals. Article 17 Section 11 refers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 2 years of professional experience
• Strong interpersonal, critical thinking and communication skills
• Strong organizational abilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 1+ year of professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience with professional development programs
• Proven knowledge of best practices in adult learning and development
• Desire to work in higher education
• Mission-driven
• Demonstrated experience with enrollment management

Key Cultural Competencies

• Create an environment that acknowledges, encourages, and celebrates differences.
• Function and communicate effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adhere to all of PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long‑term sustainability goals.

Work Days/Hours

Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week, schedule to be determined.

Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.

The starting annual salary for this position will be $61,140, but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.

• 95% premium paid healthcare
• a generous retirement and vacation package
• reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.

In accordance with the AAUP collective bargaining agreement this position is open only to current PSU AAUP academic professionals. Article 17 Section 11 refers.