Star Project Director - Job Description
STAR Project DirectorSTATUS: Full Time Grant Funded
DEPARTMENT: Academics
LOCATION: Grand Rapids Lettinga Campus
REPORTS TO: The Provost
DURATION: October 1, 2026 - September 30, 2031
SALARY: $108,000 SUMMARY: The STAR Project Director will provide leadership and day-to-day management of the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP) grant, a comprehensive institutional transformation initiative designed to improve student success, retention, workforce readiness, and AI literacy among Davenport University students. The Project Director serves as the primary liaison with the U.S. Department of Education and is responsible for coordinating all project activities across academic affairs, student services, information technology, institutional effectiveness, and workforce development units. The position requires sufficient institutional authority and direct access to senior leadership to ensure timely implementation of project activities and achievement of grant outcomes.
RESPONSIBILITIES: - Serve as the primary point of contact with the U.S. Department of Education and ensure compliance with all federal reporting, fiscal, and programmatic requirements.
- Provide overall leadership and management of all STAR project activities, including AI-enhanced learning initiatives, student success infrastructure, workforce readiness programming, and institutional capacity-building efforts.
- Supervise grant-funded personnel, including the Data Analyst, Academic Software Developer.
- Collaborate closely with the CIO and Information Technology Services team through a dotted-line reporting relationship to ensure alignment of project technology initiatives with university IT strategy, infrastructure, security, and data governance requirements.
- Coordinate implementation of Ellucian Student Signature, AI-powered student success tools, faculty professional development activities, and workforce readiness initiatives.
- Organize and schedule stakeholder meetings, professional learning sessions, and collaborative development activities.
- Convene and facilitate STAR Advisory Board meetings and cross-functional steering committee meetings.
- Collaborate with DU's Information Technology Services, academic leadership, student services personnel, institutional staff, and employer partners to ensure alignment of project activities.
- Oversee implementation timelines, monitor progress toward objectives, and ensure timely completion of project deliverables.
- Coordinate with the external evaluator to assess project outcomes, analyze performance data, and support continuous improvement.
- Manage project budgets, approve expenditures, and ensure fiscal compliance with federal regulations and university policies.
- Lead dissemination activities, including conference presentations, publications, and sharing of project outcomes and best practices.
- Support sustainability planning to ensure continuation of successful project strategies beyond the grant period.
- Manage project-related logistics, including travel coordination, correspondence, invoice routing, and general administrative tasks.
- Perform additional duties necessary to ensure successful implementation of the STAR project.
- Understand and abide by all external and internal regulations and policies. This includes NCAA, GLIAC, and national affiliations associated with athletics or other role-specific regulations.
- Provides GREAT customer service, anticipating and exceeding the needs of our customers.
- Demonstrate and promote the University's Cultural Values.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS: - Master's degree in higher education, educational leadership, information technology, business administration, institutional effectiveness, or a related field; doctorate preferred.
- Five (5) or more years of experience administering complex institutional initiatives, grant-funded projects, or strategic programs.
- Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and coordinating activities across multiple departments.
- Experience with student success, academic technology, institutional effectiveness, workforce development, or higher education innovation initiatives.
- Strong organizational, project management, budgeting, and communication skills.
- Experience supervising professional staff and managing external partnerships.
- Familiarity with federal grant compliance and reporting requirements preferred.
- Ability to work effectively with executive leadership, faculty, staff, employers, and community partners.
- Business office environment. Prolonged sitting and standing. Use of personal computer and telephone (eye and hand strain). Ability to lift classroom materials, etc., up to 50 lbs.
- Must be able to work an irregular schedule, evenings or Saturday as needed, additional hours during peak times or as required.
