Strategic Project Manager, Office of the Provost

Santa Clara University; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Clara University seeks a Strategic Project Manager in the Office of the Provost to lead cross-university initiatives, coordinate with the Provost's leadership team and strategic partners, and drive the launch of a new school. You will ensure alignment, oversee timelines, and translate priorities into actionable plans with senior leadership.

You will oversee frameworks, cadences, and budgeting with the University Finance Office for the School of Medicine, while mentoring teams and advancing

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and eight years of related experience required, or a Master's Degree and six years.
• Experience in higher education administration is preferred.
• Ability to manage complex, cross-functional initiatives with discretion.

Responsibilities

• Leads strategic initiatives for planning and oversight of a new school.
• Directs cross-functional workstreams across facility planning, HR, marketing communications, and philanthropy.
• Partners with senior leadership to translate priorities into actionable plans with analysis and recommendations.
• Leads cross-functional projects coordinating internal teams and strategic partners to launch a new school.
• Leads planning efforts including development of frameworks, policies, and standards.
• Serves as primary liaison across departments, leadership, and strategic partners with clear communication.
• Liaises with University Finance Office on budget/financial management for the School of Medicine.
• Provides mentorship and problem-solving strategies to business teams and academic workgroups.
• Other duties as assigned

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree + experience / Master's degree + experience

Tools

Workday

Terminal 4

Job description

Position Title:

Strategic Project Manager, Office of the Provost

Position Type:

Regular

Hiring Range:

$129,000 - $150,000 / annual; Compensation will be based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role and internal equity.

Pay Frequency:

Annual
POSITION PURPOSE

The Strategic Project Manager provides senior-level programmatic leadership and direct support to the Provost's leadership team and key strategic partners. The role advances cross-organizational initiatives that drive new academic and operational priorities, ensuring effective coordination and execution across the University. It demands a high degree of professionalism, discretion, and judgment commensurate with supporting the chief academic officers. This position receives direction and supervision from the Vice Provost for Planning at Santa Clara University and the Manager of Undergraduate Medical Education at Sutter Health.

Project & Program Leadership

• Leads strategic initiatives in supporting the planning, development and operational oversight for a new school within the University.
• Directs cross-functional workstreams across facility planning, human resources, marketing communications, and philanthropy to build a sustainable organizational infrastructure.
• Partners with senior leadership to translate strategic priorities into actionable plans, providing analysis, insights, and recommendations to inform decision-making.
• Leads cross-functional projects, coordinating internal teams and strategic partners to ensure the successful launch of a new school. Apply project management principles to manage project scope, timelines, resources, and outcomes, while facilitating collaboration and alignment across a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Leads planning efforts, including development and implementation of frameworks, policies, and standards to support effective decision-making and organizational alignment.
• Serves as the primary liaison across departments, leadership, and strategic partners, fostering strong relationships and ensuring clear, consistent communication. Represents program goals and promotes engagement through strategic partnerships, community outreach, and collaboration.
• Serves as a liaison with the University Finance Office with regard to budget and financial management issues for the School of Medicine.
• Provides mentorship and problem solving strategies to business teams and academic workgroups.

Academic Research, Planning & Analysis

• Organizes a set of academic workgroups with a focus on curriculum development and accreditation approval.
• Conducts and synthesizes complex research into high-impact recommendations on best practices related to collaborative governance, curriculum development, faculty policies and procedures, staffing, space planning, and student support.
• Support decision-making by overseeing data collection, analysis, and reporting to monitor performance and evaluate outcomes.
• Prepares executive-level materials, reports, and presentations, translating complex information into clear, actionable insights.

Other Duties

• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred. This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment and to promote and contribute to an inclusive and respectful workplace.

Knowledge

• Understanding of higher education and academic administration.
• Familiarity with Santa Clara University organizational structure, particularly campus offices that interact with the Provost's Office.
• Familiarity with budget planning, accreditation processes, curriculum development, and collaborative governance.
• Familiarity with large operational or healthcare systems, or similar complex multi-site organizations.
• Understanding of the values and ideals of Jesuit education.

Skills

• Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative and effective working relationships within the Office of the Provost; with all levels of students, faculty, administrators, staff; and with external parties.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks simultaneously, ensuring follow through, prioritizing on-going tasks and projects, and being flexible and responsive to unexpected shifts in workflow.
• Superior organizational, planning, and prioritization skills.
• Skill in drafting business correspondence, minutes, and briefings.
• Skill in gathering information for briefings that may include compiling materials from various sources and fact-finding.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated record of sound judgment.
• Strong customer service and diplomacy skills.
• Advanced level computer skills using the Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workplace Applications. Experience with Workday and web publishing tools such as Terminal 4, is preferred
• Proficiency with AI-assisted productivity tools (e.g., generating meeting minutes, drafting summaries, preparing correspondence, managing information, and optimizing workflows using secure, approved AI tools).

Abilities

• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and to handle sensitive matters with judgment, tact, and diplomacy.
• Ability to provide a high level of attention to accuracy and detail.
• Ability to work with diverse students, faculty, staff, administrators and other stakeholders.
• Ability to reflect, articulate and promote the mission, vision, and identity of the University.
• Ability to identify opportunities to streamline administrative processes using AI-enabled solutions while maintaining confidentiality, accuracy, and compliance with institutional policies.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's Degree and eight years of related experience is required, or a Master's Degree and six years of related experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.
• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.
• May be required to attend conference and training sessions within the Bay Area or in- or out-of-state locations.
• May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors, or suppliers.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Typical office environment
• Mostly indoor office environment
• Offices with equipment noise
• Offices with frequent interruptions

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, pregnancy or related conditions, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website at https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/.

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please visit the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at [phone]. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Consistent with its obligations under the law, Santa Clara University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants who wish to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources ADA Team at [e-mail] or by phone at [phone]. Please note: This contact information is intended for accommodation requests only. Resumes or inquiries about application status sent to this inbox will not be reviewed or forwarded. For resumes or questions regarding application status, please contact [e-mail].