Senior Project Manager

Maricopa Community College district; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 79,616 - 103,500; Full time

Job summary

Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead high-visibility, multi-department initiatives from planning through adoption. The role requires working with executive sponsors, navigating ambiguity, and delivering measurable organizational change.

You will drive project plans, coordinate diverse teams, and ensure sustained outcomes with proactive problem solving and change management across MCCCD’s enterprise initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited institution and four years of project management coordination experience.
• Active senior-level project management certification (e.g., PMP, PgMP) preferred.
• Four or more years as autonomous lead for end-to-end delivery of complex initiatives with high political sensitivity.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and manage stakeholders across diverse groups.
• Experience in higher education or decentralized public sector is a plus; strong written communication for executives and frontline audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex, multi-functional, enterprise-wide initiatives from inception through adoption with minimal supervisory intervention.
• Map workflows and craft cross-functional documentation to navigate ambiguity.
• Define project scope, critical paths, and resource needs; translate vision into actionable plans.
• Design stakeholder management strategies to align priorities across academic and administrative leadership.
• Manage cross-functional project teams and deliver plans, status reports, and communications.
• Identify operational gaps and mitigate risks; document lessons learned.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited institution

Job description

Senior Project Manager

Job ID: 322961    Location: District Support Services Center    Full/Part Time: Full Time    Regular/Temporary: Regular

Salary Range: $79,616.28 - $103,500.76 / annually, DOE    Grade: 120

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm; Summer Hours: Monday – Thursday, 7am–6pm

Work Calendar: 12 Months

Overview

The Senior Project Manager is a high-autonomy, execution-focused leader within the Enterprise Performance Office who independently leads complex system-wide initiatives from planning through adoption. The role requires an experienced project manager who can influence without direct authority, navigate ambiguity, build alignment across diverse stakeholders, and drive measurable organizational change. Projects include strategic and operational initiatives that support institutional priorities. Operating with minimal supervision, the Senior Project Manager identifies operational gaps, develops practical solutions, facilitates cross-functional collaboration, and ensures project outcomes are implemented and sustained.

Essential Functions

1. Enterprise Project Leadership & Operational Execution: Lead complex, multi-functional, and politically sensitive enterprise-wide initiatives from inception through adoption with minimal supervisory intervention.
2. Navigate ambiguity by identifying and filling operational gaps (e.g., crafting communications, mapping workflows, creating cross-functional documentation).
3. Define project scope, critical paths, and resource requirements; translate high-level vision into actionable operational plans with executive sponsors.
4. Design and execute stakeholder management strategies to align competing priorities across diverse academic and administrative leadership groups.
5. Manage cross-functional project teams and keep key stakeholders informed on progress.
6. Develop and deliver project plans, status reports, presentations, communications, training materials, and other documentation.

1. Proactive Problem Solving: Identify institutional roadblocks early and develop independent mitigation strategies; present clear, recommended solutions to leadership for issues requiring escalation.
2. Maintain right-sized project management structure and artifacts tailored to the organization’s maturity level.
3. Document project lessons learned.
4. Monitor project risks and recommend mitigation solutions.

1. Change Management & Institutional Adoption: Anticipate culture-driven responses and apply change management techniques to ensure long-term adoption of new processes.
2. Develop and execute comprehensive change management, communication, and training plans for diverse stakeholder groups.

1. Fiscal, Procurement, & Vendor Navigation: Manage project-related expenditures and navigate procurement processes as needed; establish and maintain relationships with vendors, contractors, and fiscal departments.

1. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited institution and four (4) years of project management coordination and experience, or an equivalent combination of degree and directly related full-time work experience sufficient to perform essential duties.

Desired Qualifications

1. Active senior-level project management certification (e.g., PMP, PgMP) in good standing.
2. Four (4) or more years as the primary autonomous lead for end-to-end delivery of complex initiatives with high political sensitivity.
3. Proven success driving decision-making and alignment across diverse stakeholder groups in low-maturity or high-ambiguity environments.
4. Three (3) or more years executing practical change management and communication strategies with measurable adoption.
5. Two or more years working in higher education or decentralized public sector organizations, with ability to navigate matrixed governance.
6. Superior written communication skills, translating complex concepts for executives and frontline audiences.
7. One year of full-time MCCCD experience within the previous two years (preferred).

Special Working Conditions

• MCCCD does not sponsor work visas.
• May be required to work at multiple sites or locations.
• Valid State of Arizona Class D driver's license required; drive-requirements available via link in posting.
• May be required to sit for prolonged periods and view a computer monitor.

Work Hours Details

• Fall/Spring: 8 hours per day, 7am–5pm, Monday–Friday.
• Summer: 10 hours per day, 7am–7pm, Monday–Thursday.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit a cover letter and resume showing how minimum and desired qualifications are met. Materials not meeting minimum requirements at the time of application will not be considered. Additional materials will not be accepted after the posting closes. Missing materials or incomplete employment history will not be considered.

Please ensure your materials clearly provide information on the following: how prior experience meets qualifications, indicate full-time/part-time status, provide a detailed employment history with dates, and include three professional references.

Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Reasonable accommodation requests can be submitted at any point in the hiring process; contact adasupport at the posted email for assistance.

Maricopa County Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Posting and Review

Posting open until filled. First review: Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Applications received after the review date may not be screened.

EEO, Title IX, & Clery Act

MCCCD will not discriminate in employment or education on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or genetic information. Title IX and Clery Act information provided as required by policy.

To apply, visit the MCCCD job portal referenced in the posting.