Strategic Initiatives PM and Advisor

Grinnell College; Grinnell (IA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Grinnell College's Business Office seeks a Strategic Initiatives Advisor to partner with the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer. Lead planning, operations excellence, governance support, and special projects across departments to ensure alignment and momentum within the division.

You will collaborate with Human Resources, Accounting, Risk Management, Facilities, and Auxiliary Services to shape initiatives that enhance efficiency, inform decisions, and deliver measurable outcomes on complex

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.
• Experience leading complex projects.
• Experience preparing executive-level reports, presentations, communications, and recommendations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities with attention to detail and quality.

Responsibilities

• Drive cross-functional strategic, operational, technology, and process-improvement initiatives with roadmaps and milestones.
• Champion transformation and innovation; help departments modernize and improve service delivery.
• Serve as trusted advisor to VP for Finance and Treasurer; align division goals with senior leaders and trustees.
• Shape and amplify the division’s voice through compelling communications for internal and external audiences.
• Translate data into insight; lead dashboards and metrics for data-driven decision-making.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, communications, Higher Education administration, Finance, Management or related field

Five to seven years of project/operations management

Champions Diversity Equity and Inclusion

Experience leading complex projects

Experience preparing executive-level reports/communications

Tools

Project management software

Data reporting tools

Website content management systems

Job description

The Business Office Strategic Initiatives Advisor serves as atrusted strategic partner to the Vice President for Finance andTreasurer, driving high-impact initiatives and advancing thedivision’s priorities. This role provides leadership acrossstrategic planning, operational excellence, communication strategy,governance support, and special projects, ensuring alignment andmomentum across the Business Office.

Working in close collaboration with departmental leaders in HumanResources, Accounting, Risk Management, Facilities Management, andAuxiliary Services (Dining Services, Pioneer Bookshop, the MailRoom, the GC Golf Course, and the Office of Event Coordination andScheduling), the Advisor helps shape and execute initiatives thatenhance operational effectiveness, support informeddecision-making, and deliver measurable outcomes on complex,cross-functional projects.

As a central connector within the Business Office, the Advisorserves as a key liaison among senior leadership, trustees,departmental teams, and campus stakeholders. Through this work, therole ensures strong alignment between strategic goals, operationalpriorities, communications, and project execution—ultimatelystrengthening the division’s impact and cohesion.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive High-Impact Initiatives: Lead and orchestratecross-functional strategic, operational, technology, and processimprovement efforts. Develop clear project roadmaps, implementationtimelines, milestones, and success metrics that ensure measurableoutcomes.
• Champion Transformation and Innovation: Support theimplementation of new systems, technologies, and operatingmodels—helping departments modernize, streamline operations, andenhance service delivery.
• Serve as a Trusted Strategic Partner: Act as a key advisor andthought partner to the Vice President for Finance and Treasurer,facilitating alignment across the division and ensuring effectivecommunication and coordination with senior leaders andtrustees.
• Shape and Amplify the Division’s Voice: Develop and delivercompelling communications—ranging from presentations and reports tonewsletters 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 andperformance metrics, to inform strategic planning, enabledata-driven decision-making, and track progress against divisionalgoals.

ABOUT GRINNELL COLLEGE

Grinnell College is a top-ranking private liberal arts institutionthat values diversity, equity, inclusion, intellectual freedom, andsocial responsibility. We seek candidates that align with thesevalues and have the ability and desire to advance our values andbelonging within our community and the communities we engage. Idealcandidates will be prepared to collaborate and contribute to themission 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 oroperations 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 maintainingattention to detail and quality.

Preferred Qualifications

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