- CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
- If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The College of Engineering is seeking a Project Manager, Strategic Operations to lead projects and initiatives that improve operational effectiveness, business processes, service delivery, and organizational performance across the College. This position serves as a key partner to College leadership, academic departments, research units, administrative offices, and University stakeholders, leading projects that advance strategic priorities and strengthen organizational effectiveness.
The Project Manager is responsible for managing projects through the full project lifecycle, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout. The role leads cross-functional efforts focused on process improvement, operational transformation, business analysis, organizational effectiveness, and technology-enabled solutions. Working across organizational boundaries, the position aligns stakeholders, resources, schedules, risks, and deliverables to achieve project objectives while supporting the College's strategic goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan, manage, and execute projects that improve operations, processes, and organizational performance.
- Partner with College leadership, academic departments, research centers, institutes, and administrative units to identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and service delivery.
- Facilitate stakeholder discussions, process reviews, workshops, and planning sessions to gather requirements, evaluate current-state operations, and develop future-state solutions.
- Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, risk assessments, communication plans, status reports, and project documentation.
- Analyze business processes, workflows, financial data, transactional activity, staffing models, and operational practices to identify opportunities for improvement and organizational efficiencies.
- Lead process redesign, operational improvement, and organizational change initiatives that support the College's strategic priorities.
- Monitor project performance, manage project scope, risks, issues, dependencies, and change requests, and recommend corrective actions when needed.
- Prepare presentations, reports, dashboards, and executive briefings that communicate project status, findings, risks, opportunities, and recommendations.
- Support decision-making by translating complex analyses into actionable recommendations for College leadership.
- Leverage data, emerging technologies, and AI-enabled tools to improve analysis, project execution, stakeholder engagement, and operational outcomes.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of project management practices, tools, templates, and methodologies across the College.
Preferred Qualifications:
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- Experience leading projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
- Knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
- Ability to build relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Experience translating complex information into clear recommendations and actionable plans.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
Bachelor's Degree 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted Required Certifications: NonePreferred Qualifications:
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
- Experience leading projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
- Knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
- Ability to build relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Experience translating complex information into clear recommendations and actionable plans.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
SALARY & BENEFITS
The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $65,508.00 - $94,980.00.
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster
PA State Labor Law Poster
Penn State Policies
Copyright Information
Hotlines
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree and at least 1 year of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience leading projects involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities
- Knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills
- Ability to build relationships and influence outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups
- Experience translating complex information into clear recommendations and actionable plans
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines
Penn State University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Penn State University and has not been reviewed or approved by Penn State University.
-
Retirement Support — Employer contributions to SERS and the TIAA Alternate Plan are described as significant, with supplemental retirement options available. Feedback suggests these choices and contributions create strong long‑term value.
-
Leave & Time Off Breadth — Full‑time employees accrue over 24 sick and vacation days annually, with additional university holidays and a winter break. Feedback suggests this depth of leave supports work–life balance.
-
Inclusive Benefits Coverage — A 75% tuition discount extends to employees, spouses, and dependent children up to age 26 across resident instruction, World Campus, and Penn College courses. Feedback suggests this broad eligibility meaningfully enhances total rewards, especially for families.
Penn State University Insights
What We Do
There’s a reason Penn State consistently ranks among the top one percent of the world’s universities. Across 24 campuses, our nearly 88,000 students and 17,000 faculty and staff know the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom—it’s the positive impact made on communities across the world. From access to state-of-the-art resources to interdisciplinary pursuits in collaborative atmospheres, a Penn State degree is more than an education. The experiences and knowledge gained here will form the foundation for the lives our students build. Their contributions to the world begin with a Penn State degree. We Are Penn State.
