"Director Strategic Project Management"

Director Strategic Project Management

Job #: 042570

Location: Syracuse, NY

Pay Range: $98,500 - $125,000

Hours:
Standard University business hours
8:30am - 5:00pm (academic year)
8:00am - 4:30pm (summer)
Hours may vary based on operational needs.

Job Type: Full Time

Job Description:

The Director, Strategic Project Management, will oversee SU Globals portfolio of projects, ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of the customer, under exceptional quality standards. The Director will manage SU Globals projects through a growing team of subordinate project managers.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Operations, the Director will be a strategic leader within SU Global and will define SU Globals project management methodology and establish processes for tracking and delivering projects. The Director will establish project teams and effectively distribute project workload. The Director will serve as the liaison between project teams, external clients, or and other functional areas of the organization. The Director will develop and provide project management status updates, plans, outcomes, and data to key stakeholders to drive project outcomes.

Syracuse University is building something new. Were launching SU Global to reimagine how we support and scale accessible online pathways for non-traditional learners, in a dynamic, innovative, and data-driven environment. That means rethinking how we work.

This role requires on-campus presence because the best ideas emerge from real-time collaboration, the mentorship that happens in hallways, and the spontaneous problem-solving that defines startup culture. Youll work non-traditional hours when needed - evening and weekend coverage, whatever it takes to deliver the best-in-class experience.

Were looking for team members who thrive in:

• High-energy, in-person environments where innovation happens face-to-face
• Flexible scheduling that follows student needs, not the clock
• Startup intensity within a world-class university structure

Were not looking for people who want a job. Were looking for builders who want a mission.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree required.
• Masters degree in project management or related field is preferred.
• Professional Project Management (PMP) certification required.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in project management, preferably in higher education, online education, or mission-driven organizations.
• Demonstrated success with project management platforms and achievement of project outcomes.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines in fast-paced environments.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Proficiency with project management systems, tools, and collaborative workflow platforms. Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Tableau or other data warehouses
• Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships across all organizational levels.
• Ability to partner cross-functionally, solve problems strategically, extract insights, and navigate complex structures with competing priorities.
• Professional demeanor with leadership, faculty, students, and external partners.
• Entrepreneurial mindset comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change.
• High sense of urgency delivering quality work under tight deadlines.
• Self-directed with minimal supervision, knowing when to seek input.
• Flexible for non-traditional hours supporting events or time-sensitive needs.
• Solutions-oriented with creative problem-solving.
• Thrives in high-energy, collaborative, in-person environments.
• Mission-driven with passion for democratizing education access.
• Understanding of higher education landscape, online education trends, adult learner needs, university structures, academic culture, and shared governance.
• Syracuse University brand knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Project Management Leadership

• Sets and manages project expectations.
• Ensures projects are completed on-time and within established quality standards.
• Develops and implements project management practices, processes, methodologies, and metrics.
• Defines projects, identifies expected outcomes, establishes timelines, and assigns project staff.
• Demonstrates in-depth understanding of project management concepts and principles.
• Performs complex tasks determines appropriate processes to follow.
• Actively manage high-priority and complex projects, delegating to team when appropriate and necessary.
• Serve as a primary contact for client schools/colleges, along with managing/delegating to team.

Administrative Management & Supervision

• Lead and direct the work of other employees and recommends performance improvement where appropriate.
• Supervise a growing functional project management team as needs and services of SU Global evolves.
• Develop project management policies and procedures, evaluate results and performance, and informs the development of new or modified budgets, strategic plans, or policies.
• Contribute to strategic planning, direction, and goal setting for SU Global in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Contribute to the establishment departmental policies, practices, and procedures that have a significant impact on the organization.

Data and Analytics

• Define and manage expectations around selected project management platforms (Asana, Trello, etc), and coordinate training for staff on effective platform use.
• Develop and maintain complex project management data and reporting, including but not limited to capacity reporting, capacity projections, project calendars, Gannt charts, etc.
• Create and provide reports to clients, sponsors, and internal and external audiences that detail project status and communicates updates to project stakeholders.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Support special projects, strategic initiatives, and emerging priorities as SU Global scales and evolves.

About Syracuse University:

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the Universitys 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.