Strategic Initiatives Project Manager and Advisor

YBI Recruiting; Grinnell (IA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Medical Plans

Dental and Vision Insurance

Flexible Spending and Health Savings

403(b) Retirement Savings Plan

Paid Vacation

Life Insurance

Job summary

Grinnell College seeks a Strategic Initiatives Project Manager and Advisor to join the Business Office. This role partners with the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer to drive cross-functional strategic projects, establish roadmaps, and align governance across departments.

The position emphasizes data-driven decision making, dashboards, and clear communications to stakeholders. The Advisor shapes and advances divisional priorities, coordinating with HR, Accounting, Risk Management,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration or related field.
• Five to seven years of progressive project/operations management and strategic planning.
• Champions Diversity Equity and Inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional strategic, operational, technology, and process-improvement initiatives with clear roadmaps and milestones.
• Support implementation of new systems and operating models to modernize operations.
• Advise Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, aligning division priorities.
• Develop communications—presentations, reports, newsletters—to articulate priorities and impact.
• Lead data collection, analysis, dashboards, and metrics to inform planning.

Skills

Project management

Strategic planning

Communication

Data analysis

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or public administration

Master's degree

Project management certification

Tools

CMS (website content management)

PM software

Data reporting tools

Job description

Grinnell College is seeking a Strategic Initiatives Project Manager and Advisor to join their team! The Business Office Strategic Initiatives PM & Advisor serves as a trusted strategic partner to the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, driving high-impact initiatives and advancing the division’s priorities. This role provides leadership across strategic planning, operational excellence, communication strategy, governance support, and special projects, ensuring alignment and momentum across the Business Office.

Working in close collaboration with departmental leaders in Human Resources, Accounting, Risk Management, Facilities Management, and Auxiliary Services (Dining Services, Pioneer Bookshop, the Mail Room, the GC Golf Course, and the Office of Event Coordination and Scheduling), the Advisor helps shape and execute initiatives that enhance operational effectiveness, support informed decision-making, and deliver measurable outcomes on complex, cross-functional projects.

As a central connector within the Business Office, the Advisor serves as a key liaison among senior leadership, trustees, departmental teams, and campus stakeholders. Through this work, the role ensures strong alignment between strategic goals, operational priorities, communications, and project execution—ultimately strengthening the division’s impact and cohesion.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive High-Impact Initiatives: Lead and orchestrate cross-functional strategic, operational, technology, and process improvement efforts. Develop clear project roadmaps, implementation timelines, milestones, and success metrics that ensure measurable outcomes.
• Champion Transformation and Innovation: Support the implementation of new systems, technologies, and operating models—helping departments modernize, streamline operations, and enhance service delivery.
• Serve as a Trusted Strategic Partner: Act as a key advisor and thought partner to the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, facilitating alignment across the division and ensuring effective communication and coordination with senior leaders and trustees.
• Shape and Amplify the Division’s Voice: Develop and deliver compelling communications—ranging from presentations and reports to newsletters and announcements that clearly articulate priorities, progress, and impact to internal and external audiences.
• Translate Data into Insight: Lead data collection, analysis, and reporting efforts, including the development of dashboards and performance metrics, to inform strategic planning, enable data-driven decision-making, and track progress against divisional goals.

ABOUTGRINNELLCOLLEGE

Grinnell College is a top-ranking private liberal arts institution that values diversity, equity, inclusion, intellectual freedom, and social responsibility. We seek candidates that align with these values and have the ability and desire to advance our values and belonging within our community and the communities we engage. Ideal candidates will be prepared to collaborate and contribute to the mission and values of the college across all constituencies.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, communications, Higher Education administration, Finance, Management or related field
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible project or operations management/strategic planning, communications
• Champions Diversity Equity and Inclusion
• Demonstrated experience leading complex projects
• Experience preparing executive-level reports, presentations, communications, and recommendations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and quality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters Degree in any of the forementioned fields
• Experience working in higher education
• Project management certification or equivalent training preferred.
• Proven experience with website content management systems, project management software, and data reporting tools.
• Experience supporting executive leadership and governance activities

• Comprehensive Medical Plans
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Vacation
• Life Insurance
• For a complete list of benefits offered by Grinnell College, please visit the benefits page on their website : https://www.grinnell.edu/about/leadership/offices-services/hr/benefits