Senior Project Strategist

North Carolina State University; North Carolina; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Flexible Spending Account

Retirement Programs

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Job summary

North Carolina State University seeks a Senior Project Strategist to lead complex projects across University Advancement. You will manage communications, marketing and stewardship campaigns, coordinating with campus partners, vendors and internal teams.

The role requires strong project management, cross-functional collaboration and a capacity to drive integrated campaigns aligned with brand standards. Occasional overnights and events may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment or equivalent experience.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience coordinating complex projects involving multiple contributors and deadlines.
• Knowledge of marketing, communications or campaign management principles.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate projects throughout the full lifecycle from concept to completion.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables for multiple initiatives.
• Monitor progress, identify risks, and coordinate solutions to stay on schedule.
• Maintain clear communication and accountability among team members and stakeholders.
• Prepare project updates, dashboards, and reports for leadership and project teams.
• Coordinate logistics for departmental initiatives and campaigns.
• Support leadership by tracking priorities and progress toward goals.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Excel

Tableau

Power BI

CRM tools

Salesforce

Job description

Posting Details

Posting Information

Posting Number PG194998EP

Internal Recruitment No

Working Title Senior Project Strategist

Anticipated Hiring Range Commensurate with experience and education

Work Schedule Monday - Friday; 8a - 5p and other hours as needed to fulfill the duties of this position; flexible work arrangement available.

Job Location Raleigh, NC

Department Development Communications and Stewardship

About The Department

North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University was founded in 1887 with the purpose of creating economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina. Today, NC State is the largest university in North Carolina, with more than 40,500 high-performing students, more than 10,000 preeminent faculty and staff and more than 310,000 dedicated alumni. NC State is a Research One (R1) university known for its leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We're also at the forefront of teaching and discovery in agriculture, business, design, education, humanities and social sciences, natural resources, textiles and veterinary medicine. NC State is consistently named as one of the best values in higher education, and many of our programs are ranked at the top of their respective disciplines. We take a great deal of pride in our collaborative, supportive and collegial team culture. All staff are provided opportunities for training and professional development, with an eye to personalized career growth.

Wolfpack Perks And Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

• Medical , Dental , and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership , and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties

Working with partners within University Advancement and across campus, the senior project strategist will provide both project management and strategy with primary project manager responsibilities including client and vendor relations, scheduling, budget and cost tracking. The position functions as the program expert, managing communications, marketing and stewardship projects, campaigns and services that support fundraising, donor engagement and stewardship efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Project Coordination & Execution

• Coordinate projects throughout the full lifecycle, from initial concept and planning through implementation and completion.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, timelines, milestones and deliverables for multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks or bottlenecks, and proactively coordinate solutions to keep projects on schedule.
• Ensure clear communication and accountability among project team members and stakeholders.
• Maintain project documentation, meeting notes, status reports and action items.
• Prioritizes and manages multiple high-level projects with complex processes and timelines.
• Cultivates professional relationships with partners at all levels of University Advancement to ensure that outcomes meet requirements of university brand and expectations/needs of campus partners.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary coordinator among University Advancement departments, campus partners, vendors and other stakeholders.
• Organize and facilitate project meetings, ensuring agendas, follow-up items, and deliverables are clearly documented and communicated.
• Coordinate reviews, approvals, and production schedules across multiple partners.
• Build collaborative relationships that support efficient project execution and continuous communication.

Marketing & Communications Support

• Coordinate the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications initiatives that support fundraising, donor engagement and stewardship efforts.
• Assist with organizing and maintaining marketing content, campaign assets, editorial calendars and project resources.
• Coordinate production schedules for all communication channels.
• Ensure marketing materials remain current, organized and aligned with University branding and messaging standards.
• In-depth knowledge of marketing principles, including expertise in developing and executing successful, strategic, integrated communications, marketing and stewardship plans; audience analysis and segmentation; CMS , CRM and other engagement strategies.
• Background with e-mail lead generation campaigns, and customer journey mapping.
• Experience working with print collateral and external vendors, with a solid understanding of the printing process from concept through production.
• Business Intelligence tools, such as Excel, Tableau, and/or Power BI
• Google Analytics/Adobe Omniture
• Proven track record of collaborating with videographers, photographers, and designers to establish project timelines and deliverables, ensuring initiatives remain on track and on schedule.
• Marketing automation tools Pardot, Marketo, Eloqua, Acoustic and/or Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
• Thinking creatively about optimization opportunities, digital marketing testing techniques and opportunities for consistent improvement.
• CRM tools (Salesforce, MS Dynamics, Oracle, etc.)
• Exceptional project management skills.
• Knowledge of paid social media strategies to support digital campaigns.
• Strong analytical background.

Department Logistics & Strategic Initiatives

• Coordinate logistics for departmental initiatives, strategic projects and campaigns.
• Support leadership by tracking departmental priorities and monitoring progress toward project goals.
• Assist in developing standardized project management processes, workflows, and documentation to improve operational efficiency.
• Prepare project updates, dashboards, and reports for leadership and project teams.

Relationship & Resource Management

• Coordinate activities with external vendors, consultants, freelancers and campus partners as needed.
• Monitor project schedules and resource allocation to support timely completion of deliverables.
• Help ensure consistency across projects through effective planning, communication and documentation.
• Does not supervise any full-time staff, but will coordinate the work of peers on departmental project teams. May supervise volunteers, interns, freelancers or temporary staff.

Other Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as required or assigned. May require attending an evening event once or twice a year.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Other Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across teams and stakeholders, ensuring outcomes align with organizational goals, priorities, and established brand standards.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience coordinating complex projects involving multiple contributors and deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality work.
• Ability to anticipate needs, identify challenges and implement practical solutions.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Knowledge of marketing, communications, content development or campaign management principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience coordinating marketing, communications, or creative projects.
• Experience working in higher education, nonprofit, or advancement environments.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and workflow management systems.
• Experience supporting integrated marketing campaigns or donor engagement initiatives.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing competing priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 2 two years or greater of related professional experience.

Required License(s) Or Certification(s)

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required

No

Commercial Driver's License required

No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date 10/26/2026

Anticipated Close Date Open until filled

Position Details

Position Number 00102979

Position Type EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) 1.00

Appointment 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID 082080 - Development Communications and Stewardship

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.