"Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives"

Job Summary

Colorado College’s Office of Communications & Marketing (OCM) is seeking a Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives to join our dynamic team. This position is one-half of the Strategic Initiatives support and operations team, working across the division and all four OCM departments to drive collaboration and efficiency.

This role is responsible for guiding and coordinating creative, marketing, and communications projects from intake to delivery. In this role, you’ll serve as the project manager for major initiatives that span multiple departments and act as the primary liaison to campus partners. You’ll oversee collaboration request intake, manage workflows, and streamline processes to ensure projects are delivered on time, on brand, on budget, and aligned with institutional priorities.

You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to maintain project momentum, foster alignment, and support high-impact initiatives on behalf of the Vice President. If you excel at coordinating complex projects, building strong partnerships, and creating operational clarity, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on strategic communications at Colorado College.

Responsibilities

• Project Management & Execution:
  • Manage the project intake process, reviewing submissions for clarity and completeness, and coordinating with internal leads to initiate planning and kickoff.
  • Facilitate and lead discovery sessions to ensure accurate project parameters and scope.
  • Develop project scopes, creative briefs, and timelines in collaboration with campus partners and internal stakeholders.
  • Track progress across multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously, ensuring milestones and deadlines are met.
  • Proactively resolve timeline risks, bottlenecks, or resource issues to maintain project momentum.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date project documentation, task tracking, and status updates.
  • Serve as the lead (sole project manager) on key initiatives that cross functional teams.
• Cross-Functional Team & Stakeholder Collaboration:
  • Coordinate cross-functional project teams (content, design, digital, media) to support seamless execution of deliverables.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for project-related communications, facilitating timely and clear updates to stakeholders.
  • Support high-visibility projects and events (e.g., Commencement, Homecoming) in partnership with senior staff.
  • Partner with OCM staff to ensure alignment across the office’s operational and project-based workstreams.
• Strategic Planning & Forecasting:
  • Under the general direction, oversee the development and upkeep of the OCM’s annual communications roadmap and project forecasting efforts to support long-term planning and prioritization.
  • Coordinate with team leads to ensure the roadmap reflects and aligns institutional priorities with internal capacity.
• Process Improvement & Tools:
  • Use and maintain project management platforms (e.g., Basecamp or similar) to manage project timelines, assignments, and internal communications.
  • Serve as system administrator and subject matter expert on office’s PM system.
  • Contribute to the evolution of project management systems and processes by identifying opportunities to increase efficiency or clarity.
  • Stay current with tools, templates, and best practices in relevant workflow management.
• Work of the College:
  • Support the OCM team with additional tasks and special projects as needed.
  • Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and collaborative team culture.
• Brand, Production, & Training Support:
  • Ensure office’s final deliverables are on brand and align with college design, tone, and messaging standards.
  • Assist with vendor coordination and production logistics for print, digital, or multimedia deliverables.
  • Support project-related asset collection, file delivery, and quality assurance reviews in collaboration with creative and digital teams.
  • Serve as co-lead/facilitator of division-provided campus trainings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• 5 years of experience in a related field
• One year of relevant work experience may be substituted for one year of required education (OR) one year of relevant academic coursework beyond the minimum requirement may be substituted for one year of required professional experience.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Project management principles, methodologies, and tools (e.g., Waterfall, Agile, hybrid approaches).
• Creative, marketing, and communications workflows.
• Workflow optimization and resource planning.
• Higher education environment and the role of strategic communications in institutional success (preferred).
• Project planning, task prioritization, and timeline management.
• Facilitating cross-functional collaboration and consensus-building.
• Using project management software (e.g., Basecamp, Asana, Trello) and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.
• Problem-solving and proactive communication to keep projects on track.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Work independently and as part of a collaborative, cross-functional team.
• Balance short-term tasks with long-term planning.
• Adapt quickly to shifting priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and diplomatically with diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

Applicants are welcome to apply even if you do not meet the preferred qualifications. We value diverse perspectives and encourage individuals with a genuine interest in the role to submit their applications.

Other Position Details

• Does not supervise others
• Position will not drive CC vehicles

Application Instructions

• Continuous Recruitment - for full consideration, apply by: 1/5/2026
• Please note, Colorado College will be closed for Winter Break 12/20/2025-1/5/2026
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

In alignment with our commitment to reduce potential bias in hiring, applicants may redact any information that discloses their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from educational institutions on resumes, certifications, transcripts, or other application materials. There will be no penalties for the omission of such information.

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range

$67,512 to $82,702 per year

What We Offer

As part of the total compensation for Staff and Faculty roles, we offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid vacation and sick time - accrual of 7.34 hours of vacation per pay period (176 hours, 22 days per year) and 4 hours of sick time per pay period (96 hours, 12 days per year)
• Paid seasonal breaks and holidays (20 days per year)
• 403(b) retirement plans where employees contribute 5% of pay and CC contributes 10%
• Tuition benefits for employee and eligible dependents
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Assistance Program
• Wellness benefits include free access to the sports center, swimming pool, arts and crafts, outdoor programs, and financial consultants