Strategic Project Manager, Office of the Provost at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, CA

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 valu