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 PURPOSEThe 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 DutiesQUALIFICATIONSTo 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 DEMANDSThe physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
- 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 ENVIRONMENTThe 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
TelecommuteSanta 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.
