Strategic Operations Project Manager

Arizona College of Nursing is a rapidly growing nursing school that prepares individuals for careers in nursing. The Strategic Operations Project Manager will lead high-priority, cross-functional initiatives to support the college’s strategic objectives, ensuring effective project planning, execution, and governance.

Responsibilities:

• Lead assigned strategic projects from initial scoping through implementation and transition to operational ownership
• Develop and maintain project charters, project plans, timelines, milestones, workstreams, resource needs, and implementation roadmaps
• Establish clear project objectives, deliverables, roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes, and measures of success
• Facilitate project kickoffs, recurring workgroup meetings, decision-making sessions, and implementation readiness discussions
• Coordinate work across departments, campuses, functional leaders, subject matter experts, consultants, and external partners
• Build productive working relationships and influence progress without direct authority over project resources
• Facilitate problem-solving and help teams develop practical, sustainable solutions
• Support the transition of completed initiatives to the department responsible for ongoing operations
• Prepare status reports that communicate progress, accomplishments, upcoming milestones, risks, decisions, and support needed
• Present project updates to Strategic Operations leadership, executive sponsors, steering committees, and other stakeholders
• Maintain accurate project documentation and provide timely visibility into overall project health
• Track project performance against agreed-upon scope, schedule, deliverables, and success measures
• Coordinate implementation readiness activities with department leaders, Human Resources, Information Technology, and other internal partners
• Confirm that processes, systems, communications, training, staffing, and operational ownership are ready for implementation
• Monitor early implementation results and coordinate resolution of issues during stabilization
• Conduct post-implementation reviews and document outcomes, lessons learned, and opportunities for improvement

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience
• Minimum 3 years' experience managing cross-functional projects, operational initiatives, or business implementations
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead projects involving multiple departments and stakeholders
• Experience developing and maintaining project plans, timelines, status reports, risk logs, and implementation plans
• Strong organizational, facilitation, communication, and stakeholder-management skills
• Demonstrated ability to influence others, resolve issues collaboratively, and maintain project momentum without direct authority
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management or collaboration tools
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, or another complex, multi-location service organization
• Experience supporting business transformation, process improvement, technology-enabled change, or organizational initiatives
• Experience with tools such as Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, Jira, Monday.com, Smartsheet, or similar platforms
• PMP, CAPM, Agile, Lean Six Sigma, or comparable certification