Program Director, USHE Enterprise Initiatives

Reporting directly to the USHE COO, this position will define, communicate, and institutionalize the vision and strategies for effective project management across USHE Operations. This includes directing the integration activities between USHE Operations and broader SEI corporate functions (e.g., Finance, Legal, IT, and Analytics) and will support continuous process improvement to enhance effectiveness and efficiency, while ensuring that all projects are aligned with USHE Ops strategies while driving towards operational excellence.

This role is a strategic partner that leads coordination and alignment between SEI corporate functions and USHE Operations divisions to directly contribute to USHE overall success. success. This role will design, direct, and manage the process and people involved in USHE and SEI corporate shared services, prioritization, resource allocation, and the execution of key initiatives and activities . For specific initiatives/projects, responsible for drafting and managing project plan, including identifying resources and ownership, planning for dependencies, building timelines, and holding teams accountable for deliverables.

This role requires a resourceful, objective, self-driven individual who is comfortable driving through ambiguity; in addition, the role must have the ability to partner, execute, and lead through influence and collaboration across SEI and USHE business functions. Experience and comfort working in a matrixed corporate environment is critical to success in this role.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with cross-functional SEI leaders to ensure requests are managed efficiently across shared-services groups; estimate projects and allocate resources; work with USHE Ops leadership to align on priorities for scarce resources.
• Communicate monthly corporate plans to USHE Ops leadership, identifying which requests can be executed based on resource capacity and project priority.
• Monitor the execution process to identify and resolve inefficiencies between USHE Ops and SEI corporate functions.
• Provide support and strategic guidance to the COO and leadership team.
• Provide updates on changing dynamics that may influence strategic priorities or introduce risk to current plans.
• Manage the strong execution of select strategic projects that require cross-team collaboration, especially where decision rights span across multiple areas of the business. Coordinate across departments to ensure resources and schedule stay integrated while reflecting the latest project developments.
• Independently resolves routine issues or questions within the context of the larger picture, keeping management informed and involved as needed.
• Partner to develop and maintain quarterly progress/performance updates, analysis and reporting for key USHE Ops, IT, and Finance leadership.
• Develop and implement project management methodologies, tools, and best practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Define, communicate, and institutionalize the vision and strategies for effective project management across USHE Ops.
• Serve as escalation point on multiple projects being executed simultaneously.
• Act as operations representative on the extended USHE Ops leadership team, contributing to project/program manage key projects and initiatives.

Job Skills:

• Strategic thinker, able to contribute to strategic roadmaps and set major team goals.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Conveys information clearly and effectively through both formal and informal documents, presentations, and dialogues.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Independently resolves routine issues or questions within the context of the larger picture, keeping management informed and involved as needed.
• Self-starter who is detailed oriented and has a proven ability to prioritize tasks.
• Able to use data to inform insights and evaluate outcomes and impacts to drive new initiatives.
• Ability to facilitate and influence cross-functional groups with the intent to drive fast paced decision making.
• Ability to manage interdependencies across multiple projects and multiple teams. Works comfortably with executive leadership down to project resources.
• Lead through and by influencing others.  Advanced comfort level negotiating with senior executive leaders.
• Excellent at prioritizing tasks, organizing information and managing projects to time and budget goals.
• Experience and interest in supporting technology optimization.
• Highly capable in creating and presenting technical information in a consumable format to drive decisions.
• Knowledge of change management principles and practices.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel.

Work Experience:

• 10+ years of highly transferable business experience with direct emphasis on project management and/or operations leadership experience.
• Minimum of 5+ years of advanced project management experience with demonstrated growth in managing complexity and ambiguity, preferably in a very fast-paced work environment.
• Proven experience with leveraging data to drive decisions.
• Proven experience launching and measuring new initiatives and collaborating across multiple facets of an organization.
• Experience working cross functionally across multiple levels of an organization with ability to effectively influence without authority, especially at the executive level.
• Proven experience launching and measuring new initiatives and collaborating across multiple facets of an organization.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree; MBA preferred but not required

Certificates, licenses and registrations:

• Formal training in project and program management methodologies strong preferred
• Highly skilled in and significant experience with Project Software/tools (SharePoint, MS Project, Basecamp, etc.) to track and manage tasks, resources and project costs.

Other:

• Must be able to travel occasionally should a business need arise. For most roles travel would not be common. Travel may involve plane, car or metro. In accordance with ADA policies, reasonable accommodations regarding travel limitations can be provided. Travel will be more common for roles such as Account Executives (25 - 50%), senior leaders (10 – 20%) or Capella Core Faculty (5 – 10%). 
• Ability to work onsite in Corporate or Campus location (in a typical office environment) may be required based on role. If so, this would include being mobile within the office, including movement from floor-to-floor using elevators or stairs.
• If offsite or hybrid role, must have access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
• Faculty and Federal Work Study roles require access to work in setting which enables meeting all requirements of the role (including computer, privacy, reliable internet access, phone, ability to video conference, etc.) at a remote location.
• This role may require lifting, however reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with our ADA policies.
• Must be able to meet critical thinking and problem solving aspects aligned to job duties, as well as effectively communicating with co-workers.
• Must be able to work more than 40 hours per week when business needs warrant. Accommodations related to schedule may be considered. 
• Able to access information using a computer.
• Other essential functions and marginal job functions are subject to modification.

SEI offers a comprehensive package of benefits to employees scheduled 30 hours or more per week. In addition to medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans, SEI employees may take advantage of well-being incentives, parental leave, paid time off, certain paid holidays, tax saving accounts (FSA, HSA), 401(k) retirement benefit, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, tuition assistance as well as entertainment and retail discounts. Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay, if applicable.

Careers - Our Benefits, Strategic Education, Inc

SEI is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture where individuals can grow their careers and contribute fully. We strive to attract talent with broad experiences, skills and perspectives. We welcome applications from all. While it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top end of the pay range at SEI, we offer a competitive salary.  The actual base pay offered to the successful candidate may vary depending on multiple factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, and internal pay equity. Our Talent Acquisition Team is ready to discuss your interest in joining SEI. The expected salary range for this position is below.

$116,300.00 - $174,500.00 - Salary

If you require reasonable accommodations to complete our application process, please contact our Human Resources Department at Careers@strategiced.com.