Senior Director, Institutional Initiatives Portfolio Management

Accountabilities: Serve as the lead implementation partner for strategic initiatives sponsored by senior institutional leaders, translating vision and priorities into structured execution plans.

Partner with executive stakeholders to assess opportunities, define implementation approaches, evaluate alternatives, and develop practical recommendations.

Provide consultative guidance on project feasibility, organizational impacts, risks, benefits, resource requirements, and implementation trade-offs.

Engage cross-functional stakeholders across technology, finance, human resources, academic units, and administrative teams to develop sustainable solutions.

Research industry and peer organization practices to identify innovative approaches and inform strategic recommendations.

Facilitate discussions, workshops, and decision-making processes that align stakeholders around objectives, priorities, and expected outcomes.

Collaborate with change management and process improvement teams to assess readiness, adoption considerations, business impacts, and opportunities for operational enhancement.

Partner with technical teams on initiatives involving systems, data, integrations, digital capabilities, and technology investments to ensure alignment with broader technology strategies.

Oversee approved projects and portfolios by establishing governance structures, implementation roadmaps, timelines, success measures, and reporting processes.

Lead and support a team of experienced project managers while coordinating with internal teams to ensure effective delivery.

Monitor project progress, manage risks and dependencies, resolve challenges, and provide leadership visibility into status, outcomes, and strategic impact.

Act as a connector between executive leadership and operational teams, ensuring initiatives move from strategic concepts to measurable results.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

10+ years of experience leading project management teams or working within a consulting, program management, or PMO environment.

Proven experience operating in complex, matrixed organizations with stakeholders across multiple levels and functions.

Strong ability to translate strategic priorities and desired outcomes into actionable implementation plans.

Demonstrated understanding of project management methodologies, portfolio management practices, governance models, and delivery frameworks.

Experience creating executive presentations, status reports, project plans, and communication materials for senior stakeholders.

Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills with the ability to evaluate complex challenges and develop practical solutions.

Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt messaging for technical, operational, and executive audiences.

Ability to build consensus, influence decision-making, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.

Experience partnering with both technical and functional teams to achieve organizational objectives.

Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment.

Preferred experience working in higher education, government, nonprofit, or similarly complex institutional environments.

Preferred background in a leading consulting organization or advisory environment, with experience supporting large-scale transformation initiatives.

Track record of successfully delivering portfolio, program, and project management initiatives for senior leadership teams.

Benefits:

Competitive annual base salary range of USD $220,000 to USD $260,000 .

Opportunity to lead high-impact institutional initiatives with visibility among senior leadership.

Work in a collaborative environment focused on innovation, transformation, and long-term organizational value.

Engage with diverse teams across technology, operations, finance, human resources, and academic functions.

Opportunity to contribute to sustainability and institutional improvement initiatives.

Inclusive workplace committed to equal opportunity and fair treatment throughout the employment experience.

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