Project Manager

Howard University; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellness

Work-Life Balance

Financial Wellness

Professional Development

Additional Perks

Job summary

Howard University is seeking a Project Manager/Coordinator for the Office of Operational Excellence to support governance, enterprise improvement initiatives, and cross-department collaboration. The role emphasizes coordination, documentation, and timely execution of multiple initiatives across the university.

The incumbent will develop project plans, manage meetings, track milestones, and prepare executive updates while maintaining governance materials and ensuring effective communication with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent Experience in higher education or complex organizations preferred.
• Experience coordinating multiple stakeholders and organizational units.
• Proven ability to develop project plans, track deliverables, and prepare executive reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work across levels.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate governance meetings, steering committees, and project working groups with scheduling, materials, documentation, and follow-up actions.
• Manage project intake, maintain documentation, and support prioritization of enterprise initiatives.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, action logs, and status reports.
• Coordinate cross-workstream communications to inform stakeholders of status, risks, decisions, and next steps.
• Support coordination with external vendors and consultants to monitor deliverables.
• Prepare executive briefings, dashboards, and presentation materials for leadership and governance committees.
• Maintain project repositories and governance records for transparency and continuity.
• Monitor risks, issues, dependencies, and progress; escalate when needed.
• Provide day-to-day operational support for the Office of Business Optimization.

Skills

Project coordination

Organization

Communication

Stakeholder management

Documentation

Microsoft Office

Analytical thinking

Confidentiality

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, Management, Organizational Leadership, Project Management, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Project management / collaboration tools

Job description

The Talent Acquisition department hires qualified candidates to fill positions which contribute to the overall strategic success of Howard University. Hiring staff “for fit” makes significant contributions to Howard University’s overall mission. At Howard University, we prioritize well-being and professional growth.

Here is what we offer:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health support
• Work-Life Balance: PTO, paid holidays, flexible work arrangements
• Financial Wellness: Competitive salary, 403(b) with company match
• Professional Development: Ongoing training, tuition reimbursement, and career advancement paths
• Additional Perks: Wellness programs, commuter benefits, and a vibrant company culture

Join Howard University and thrive with us!

BASIC FUNCTION: Provides operational, project management, and administrative coordination for the Office of Operational Excellence while supporting governance, stakeholder engagement, and execution across the University's enterprise improvement portfolio.

SUPERVISORY ACCOUNTABILITY: This position does not have formal supervisory responsibility. The incumbent coordinates project activities across multiple academic and administrative units and provides functional leadership to project teams, vendors, consultants, and other project participants. Success in this role is achieved through collaboration, organization, communication, and follow-through rather than direct authority.

NATURE AND SCOPE: The Project Manager supports the planning, coordination, execution, and monitoring of enterprise initiatives led by the Office of Business Optimization. Working closely with the Assistant Vice President, Senior Program Manager, Business Process Improvement Manager, University leadership, and functional stakeholders, the incumbent provides project management support that ensures initiatives remain organized, aligned, and progressing according to established timelines.

The position develops and maintains project documentation, coordinates meetings and governance activities, tracks milestones and action items, prepares status reports and executive updates, identifies project risks, and facilitates communication across multiple stakeholders. The Project Manager/Coordinator supports initiatives including the Process Optimization Initiative, Workday Governance, Centers & Institutes, Research Administration, Development and Alumni Relations, and future University transformation efforts. The incumbent exercises sound judgment while managing multiple concurrent initiatives in a dynamic, collaborative environment.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Coordinate governance meetings, steering committees, and project working groups, including scheduling, agenda development, meeting materials, documentation, and follow-up actions.
• Manage project intake processes, maintain project documentation, and support prioritization of enterprise initiatives within the Office of Business Optimization.
• Develop and maintain project plans, implementation schedules, milestone tracking, action item logs, and status reports to support successful project execution.
• Coordinate communications across project workstreams to ensure stakeholders remain informed of project status, risks, decisions, and next steps.
• Support coordination with external vendors, consultants, and implementation partners to facilitate project activities and monitor deliverables.
• Prepare executive briefings, presentations, dashboards, and other materials for University leadership, governance committees, and project sponsors.
• Maintain project repositories, governance documentation, project records, and other official documentation to support transparency, continuity, and institutional knowledge.
• Monitor project risks, issues, dependencies, and implementation progress, escalating concerns to project leadership as appropriate.
• Provide day-to-day operational support for the Office of Business Optimization, including coordination of meetings, calendars, reporting, and administrative activities that support the Office's enterprise portfolio.
• Support the implementation of enterprise initiatives, including the Process Optimization Initiative, Workday Governance, Centers & Institutes, Research Administration, Development and Alumni Relations, and other University business optimization efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities and meet established deadlines.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to prepare executive-quality reports, presentations, and meeting materials.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate work across multiple departments while building collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining accurate project documentation and records.
• Ability to identify project risks, monitor progress, and proactively facilitate issue resolution.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies, governance practices, and organizational change principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to organize complex information and communicate it clearly.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience using project management, collaboration, and reporting tools.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, Management, Organizational Leadership, Project Management, or a related field.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience coordinating projects, programs, operations, or organizational initiatives in higher education or a similarly complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience supporting cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders and organizational units.
• Experience developing project plans, tracking deliverables, coordinating meetings, and preparing project documentation and executive reports.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and experience using project management or collaboration platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels.
• Ability to work collaboratively, manage competing priorities, and adapt to changing organizational needs.

Note: This position description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position.Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as may be required.The university has the right to revise this position description at any time.This position description is not construed as a contract for employment.

Compliance Salary Range Disclosure

Compensation Range: $90,000 - $120,000