Project Manager IV | People and Talent

Western Governors University is committed to expanding access to higher education through innovative online programs. The Project Manager IV in People & Talent will oversee complex projects that align with organizational strategy, ensuring effective risk management and stakeholder communication while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Leads all phases of complex, cross-functional projects to ensure alignment with departmental strategy and organizational priorities, from concept/vision through successful completion
• Develops and executes comprehensive project plans and schedules, leveraging data analysis and organizational insights to optimize resource allocation, manage risks, and achieve key milestones
• Maintains effective communication and coordination among project teams and stakeholders, providing timely updates on project status, risks, and critical issues that may impact outcomes
• Champions a collaborative, student-centered culture by partnering with internal and external stakeholders to drive innovation and continuous improvement
• Provides strategic leadership, mentorship, and professional development to project managers and other associates, fostering a high-performing and accountable team
• Ensures accurate project documentation, reporting, and record-keeping to support transparency, informed decision-making, and organizational learning
• Influences and guides team actions in alignment with departmental priorities and proactively identifies process enhancements to advance organizational goals
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree
• 7+ years of related experience
• Project Management certification (PMP or equivalent)
• Deep understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Lean, Six Sigma) and change management frameworks (e.g., ProSci)
• Advanced knowledge of data analysis, requirements gathering, reporting tools, and performance metrics to inform decision-making and continuous improvement
• Familiarity with higher education operations, and/or human resources management
• Knowledge of systems thinking and process optimization principles
• Strategic thinking and the ability to develop technical and business requirements from visionary concepts and align project outcomes with organizational goals
• Advanced stakeholder management and negotiation skills, including the ability to build consensus and manage conflict
• Expertise in conducting project retrospectives and translating lessons learned into actionable recommendations
• High proficiency in project management software (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Asana, Jira) and collaboration tools
• Strong analytical skills for evaluating complex data, distilling high-level ideas into actionable tasks and milestones, identifying trends, and making evidence-based recommendations
• Ability to lead high-performing, cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment
• Ability to manage multiple, large-scale projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail
• Ability to adapt to ambiguity and rapidly changing priorities, demonstrating curiosity, resilience, and flexibility
• Ability to drive process improvements and foster a culture of innovation and accountability
• Ability to communicate complex technical and strategic concepts to diverse audiences, including executive leadership
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion with sensitive information
• Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification
• Lean Silver or Gold certification
• Professional experience in a role that required extensive change management
• Excellent understanding of Change Management theory/techniques, and implementation
• Management skills in a large and distributed organization (5000+ employees)
• Professional experience in strategic planning and risk management
• Professional experience in product management or product development