Senior Project Manager, Engineering Strategy & Execution

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition benefits

Bus pass program

Fitness center access

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Carnegie Mellon University, a private research institution in Pittsburgh, seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead large, cross-functional initiatives across the College of Engineering. You will drive project governance, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management, partnering with college leaders, faculty, and external vendors.

This role emphasizes executive communication, stakeholder engagement, and delivery of complex programs in a dynamic academic environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a relevant field.
• Significant experience in executive support and managing large-scale, complex projects in higher education or research.
• Expertise in project governance, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent executive communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority.
• Experience with diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience in university or research settings preferred.
• Familiarity with change management and organizational transformation.

Responsibilities

• Lead large and complex cross-functional projects from initiation to closeout.
• Apply structured project management methodologies and best practices.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, budgets, and resources.
• Conduct ongoing risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Establish governance structures, decision frameworks, and reporting.
• Facilitate clear communication among teams, sponsors, leadership, and stakeholders.
• Coordinate with multi-departmental stakeholders and external vendors.
• Monitor progress, metrics, and deliverables for scope, timeline, and budget.
• Prepare status updates, presentations, and leadership recommendations.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement across PM practices.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Project management methodologies

Governance & reporting

Budgeting & scheduling

Risk management

Executive communication

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Team leadership

Analytical problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, engineering, information systems or related field

Project Management Certificate (PMP, CAPM) or Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Carnegie Mellon University, a private research institution in Pittsburgh, seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead large, cross-functional initiatives across the College of Engineering. You will drive project governance, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management, partnering with college leaders, faculty, and external vendors.

This role emphasizes executive communication, stakeholder engagement, and delivery of complex programs in a dynamic academic environment.