Project Manager, Business Optimization (Contractor)

National University is a leader in creating innovative solutions to education and serves over 45,000 students. The Project Manager, Business Optimization plays a key role in improving organizational efficiency and operational execution across the Academies by managing cross-functional initiatives and optimizing workflows.

Responsibilities:

• Leads initiatives and projects that leverage AI to improve organizational systems, workflows, and operational efficiency
• Identifies opportunities to streamline systems and reduce operational friction
• Coordinates cross-functional teams to ensure initiatives progress effectively
• Tracks project timelines, deliverables, and milestones
• Maintains visibility across key organizational initiatives and projects
• Tracks progress against priorities across sales, marketing, product, and operations teams
• Maintains project plans and workstream timelines
• Identifies risks, bottlenecks, or resource needs and escalate when appropriate
• Facilitates communication and coordination across departments
• Builds and maintains executive dashboards tracking key organizational metrics
• Supports development of reporting frameworks across departments
• Coordinates collection of operational and performance data
• Prepares summaries and updates for leadership meetings among diverse stakeholders
• Supports automation of reporting where possible (e.g., sales pipeline and performance, program implementation metrics, operational efficiency indicators, financial and revenue tracking, strategic initiative progress)
• Supports operational management of philanthropic initiatives
• Maintains project plans tracking deliverables, milestones, and timelines tied to philanthropic initiatives
• Coordinates internal teams and cross-functional alignment responsible for implementing funded programs
• Supports preparation of updates and reporting related to funded initiatives
• Supports coordination of operational systems and workflow improvements
• Manages the systemic usage of operational systems such as Salesforce, Workday, Teams, Asana, and SharePoint
• Documents workflows and system requirements
• Coordinates with systems administrators and IT teams on implementation projects
• Supports rollout and adoption of AI tools to support operational workflows
• Supports development of scalable operational infrastructure
• Documents Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Contributes to development and enhancement of the organization’s Operations Playbook
• Maintains organized documentation within the Shared Services knowledge base
• Supports adoption of operational processes across teams
• Supports coordination of major initiatives and leadership events
• Maintains planning timelines for strategic initiatives and events
• Coordinates stakeholders and deliverables across teams
• Tracks key milestones and ensures follow-through on commitments
• Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Education or a related field required
• Minimum of four (4) to seven (7) years of experience in project management, business operations, or operational strategy required
• Proven experience working in fast-paced, dynamic environments with a track record of delivering on multiple, complex projects required
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously
• Ability to build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively across teams and leadership levels
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to operational efficiency and process improvement
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present information clearly to diverse audiences
• Ability to adapt to evolving priorities and operate effectively in a dynamic environment
• High level of discretion and professionalism when managing sensitive information
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for creating meaningful impact on education
• Experience with process improvement methodologies such as Lean Management, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement frameworks preferred
• Experience in Leadership and Management in K-12, Ed Tech, or publishing institution, is preferred
• Strong background in strategic operations and process improvement preferred
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and collaborating across departments preferred