Job Description for the Project Manager position. Review job description, requirements, and qualifications. Apply or register interest for the position.

Title: Project Manager

Position Type: Staff Full-Time

Days Per Week: Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week: 40

VP Area: Office of the President

Department: President's Office

Position Summary

The Project Manager for the Office of the President serves as a key operational leader responsible for driving the successful implementation of Elon University's strategic plan and managing critical strategic initiatives. This position ensures that strategic objectives are translated into actionable projects through comprehensive planning, execution, and performance monitoring while maintaining alignment with institutional priorities.

The incumbent provides executive-level support to the Associate Vice President by conducting research, analyzing complex data, and developing evidence-based recommendations that inform high-level decision-making. This role requires exceptional communication skills to disseminate information across diverse stakeholder groups and the ability to interpret policies and procedures for resolution of complex, non-routine challenges.

Key responsibilities include managing cross-functional project teams, facilitating collaboration between campus units, and identifying process improvements that enhance organizational effectiveness. The position demands both strategic thinking and attention to detail, requiring the ability to navigate seamlessly between big-picture planning and granular project management tasks.

The Project Manager represents university leadership with professionalism and maintains strict confidentiality while engaging with internal and external constituents. Success in this role requires strong analytical capabilities, change management expertise, and the ability to drive results in a dynamic higher education environment while ensuring all initiatives support the university's strategic vision and academic excellence goals.

Benefits of Working at Elon

As an Elon University employee, you’ll join an internationally acclaimed university with a commitment to fostering a thriving community. Ranked among the most innovative, creative and best-run universities in the nation, Elon’s personal approach to education extends to employees, whose growth, professional development and success is a hallmark of our training and advancement opportunities.

Elon University’s home is the charming town of Elon, North Carolina, a small, friendly community located a short distance from the beach and the mountains, and among the vibrant cities of Greensboro, Raleigh and Durham. In addition to the beautiful canopy of historic oak trees iconic to our campus, you’ll find boundless opportunities for family-friendly recreation, cultural events and outdoor activities. Hiking, water sports, fine dining and entertainment are just a few of the many happenings in the Elon area, making the region one of the nation’s premier travel destinations.

Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package that includes:

28 annual days off, including holidays and vacation.

Immediate tuition remission for undergraduate courses

Tuition remission for approved graduate-level courses after 12 months of employment.

Retirement plan with an 8 percent contribution from the university.

Immediate eligibility for health, dental and vision insurance, along with free acute care and lab services at our onsite Health & Wellness Clinic.

Free use of campus fitness facilities.

Free admission to musical and theater performances, guest speakers, religious and ethnic observances, recitals, art exhibitions, entertainment and our Division I Phoenix athletics.

Eligibility for tuition remission at Elon for spouses, qualifying domestic partners and dependents begins at two years of service. After two years of employment, eligibility begins for participation in the Tuition Exchange, a national scholarship exchange program that enables dependents to enroll in nationally recognized partner colleges and universities.

Elon values and celebrates the diverse backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of our community members. As an equal opportunity employer, Elon’s principles of diversity extend to race and gender identity, age, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, religion, and other aspects of one’s identity. At Elon, our employees respect human differences, passion for lifelong learning, emphasis on personal integrity and an ethic of service.

Minimum Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university; five to seven years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Duties

• Assist the Associate Vice President in administering strategic operations:
  • Manage and coordinate meetings related to strategic initiatives and partnerships, including scheduling and coordinating various committees, group meetings, retreats, and events, as well as managing travel, budgets, expenses/reallocations. 
  • Draft agendas, presentations, communications, correspondence, reports, and analyses.
  • Serve as ambassador for guests, faculty, staff and students, and routing questions to appropriate offices.
  • Prepare correspondence and provide leadership for the development of reports and presentations related to strategic university initiatives.
  • Review project plans, budgets, and schedules to ensure feasibility and alignment with campus goals.
  • Provide guidance and support to project stakeholders on complex issues and decision-making.
  • Facilitate communication and collaboration between project teams, stakeholders, and senior leadership.
• Assist the Associate Vice President in overseeing implementation and tracking of the Boldly Elon strategic plan:
  • Assist with management of system, as well as use and regular updating of strategic plan project management system (Citrix/Podio) by campus leaders.
  • Assist in collaborating with university communications to ensure regular updating of strategic plan website, presentations, and communications to the campus and beyond.
  • Assist with oversight/management/coordination of and communication/collaboration with various strategic plan implementation teams.
• Provide management of strategic partnerships:
  • Coordinate the meetings and actions of the university’s internal partners council.
  • Ensure regular communications and outreach to existing and new external partner organizations, businesses, and potential partners.
  • Assist with the management of the Elon Partners Program, including welcoming of new partners as well as regular communications and invitations to Partners.
  • Partner across campus units to drive process improvements, identify root causes of issues and recommend solutions that increase organization capability.
• Assist with the coordination of university events and other duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President.
• Inclusive Community Building Community is foundational to Elon and a shared responsibility within our residential campus. All who work at Elon should demonstrate an understanding of and engagement with Elon’s foundational commitment to relationships, mentoring and collaboration in a close-knit residential community. We embrace the shared responsibility to foster inclusive excellence within a strong residential community. Accordingly, employees are expected to join together and build connections in activities that foster an active and engaged campus environment and engage in professional development to support the shared responsibility of enriching diversity, equity, and inclusion through meaningful relationships and mentoring at Elon. Employees are encouraged to, for example, attend or participate in campus activities such as College Coffee, Numen Lumen, campus cultural events, athletic events, continuing education, professional development opportunities and trainings, employee resource groups and other university-sponsored activities to demonstrate an active commitment to the Elon community.