Project Manager, Strategic Operations, College of Engineering

Penn State; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 66,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Excellent retirement plans

Job summary

Penn State seeks a Project Manager, Strategic Operations to drive cross-functional projects that enhance operational effectiveness and service delivery across the College of Engineering. You will lead initiatives from initiation through closeout, aligning stakeholders, resources, and schedules to strategic goals.

The role emphasizes process redesign, data-driven analysis, and technology-enabled solutions, collaborating with leaders across departments and centers to deliver measurable

Qualifications

• Experience leading projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience translating complex information into clear recommendations and actionable plans.

Responsibilities

• Plan, manage, and execute projects that improve operations, processes, and organizational performance.
• Partner with College leadership, academic departments, research centers, institutes, and administrative units to identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and service delivery.
• Facilitate stakeholder discussions, process reviews, workshops, and planning sessions to gather requirements and develop future-state solutions.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, risk assessments, communication plans, status reports, and project documentation.
• Analyze business processes, workflows, financial data, staffing models, and operational practices to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead process redesign, operational improvement, and organizational change initiatives that support the College's strategic priorities.
• Monitor project performance, manage scope, risks, issues, dependencies, and change requests; recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare presentations, reports, dashboards, and executive briefings communicating status, findings, risks, opportunities, and recommendations.
• Support decision-making by translating complex analyses into actionable recommendations for College leadership.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

PM methodologies

Analytical skills

Facilitation

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

**POSITION SPECIFICS**The College of Engineering is seeking a **Project Manager, Strategic Operations** to lead projects and initiatives that improve operational effectiveness, business processes, service delivery, and organizational performance across the College. This position serves as a key partner to College leadership, academic departments, research units, administrative offices, and University stakeholders, leading projects that advance strategic priorities and strengthen organizational effectiveness. The Project Manager is responsible for managing projects through the full project lifecycle, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout. The role leads cross-functional efforts focused on process improvement, operational transformation, business analysis, organizational effectiveness, and technology-enabled solutions. Working across organizational boundaries, the position aligns stakeholders, resources, schedules, risks, and deliverables to achieve project objectives while supporting the College's strategic goals. ## Key Responsibilities* Plan, manage, and execute projects that improve operations, processes, and organizational performance.* Partner with College leadership, academic departments, research centers, institutes, and administrative units to identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and service delivery.* Facilitate stakeholder discussions, process reviews, workshops, and planning sessions to gather requirements, evaluate current-state operations, and develop future-state solutions.* Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, risk assessments, communication plans, status reports, and project documentation.* Analyze business processes, workflows, financial data, transactional activity, staffing models, and operational practices to identify opportunities for improvement and organizational efficiencies.* Lead process redesign, operational improvement, and organizational change initiatives that support the College's strategic priorities.* Monitor project performance, manage project scope, risks, issues, dependencies, and change requests, and recommend corrective actions when needed.* Prepare presentations, reports, dashboards, and executive briefings that communicate project status, findings, risks, opportunities, and recommendations.* Support decision-making by translating complex analyses into actionable recommendations for College leadership.* Leverage data, emerging technologies, and AI-enabled tools to improve analysis, project execution, stakeholder engagement, and operational outcomes.* Contribute to the continuous improvement of project management practices, tools, templates, and methodologies across the College. ## Preferred Qualifications:Successful candidates will demonstrate:* Experience leading projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.* Knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices.* Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.* Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.* Ability to build relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.* Experience translating complex information into clear recommendations and actionable plans.* Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines. **MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS**Bachelor's Degree1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptedRequired Certifications:None### ## Preferred Qualifications:Successful candidates will demonstrate:* Experience leading projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.* Knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices.* Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.* Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.* Ability to build relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.* Experience translating complex information into clear recommendations and actionable plans.* Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines. **BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES**Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.### Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. **SALARY & BENEFITS**The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $65,508.00 - $94,980.00. Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.