Project Manager for Student Affairs Communications and Marketing

$50,000 - $53,000/Yr

James Madison University - Harrisonburg, VA

Full-time - Mid Level

Harrisonburg, VA

Educational Services

About the position

The Project Manager for Student Affairs Communications and Marketing at James Madison University (JMU) plays a crucial role in supporting the Student Affairs unit by overseeing various communication and marketing projects. This position is responsible for managing a diverse range of deliverables, including graphic design, videography, photography, writing, and web development projects. The Project Manager will work closely with clients, supervisors, team members, and other stakeholders to ensure that all projects are completed on time and meet the established expectations. This role requires effective communication skills to relay project deadlines, responsibilities, and progress updates clearly and consistently. In addition to project management, the Project Manager will be tasked with analyzing project analytics to track engagement and effectiveness of promotional materials. This includes creating a reporting system that summarizes project outcomes and engagement data, as well as making recommendations based on the analysis. The role also involves supporting the implementation of a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system for the division, which includes establishing policies, training users, and collaborating with university partners. The Project Manager will also handle purchasing responsibilities, maintaining relationships with key suppliers to ensure timely delivery of materials and managing the budget for the Student Affairs Communications and Marketing unit. Furthermore, the position includes overseeing the production of campus-wide publications, such as the Potty Mouth newsletter and the Dukes Weekly student newsletter, ensuring that they contain the most current information available. The Project Manager will supervise staff members, including a Marketing Coordinator and a Graduate Assistant, to coordinate student communication and marketing efforts effectively.

Responsibilities

• Determine clear deliverables and track milestones for graphic design, videography, photography, writing and web development projects.
• Communicate deadlines, responsibilities, and progress of projects with clients, supervisors, team members, and other stakeholders in a timely, clear and ongoing basis.
• Estimate the resources and participants needed to optimally achieve project goals. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to appropriate student personnel.
• Meet with clients to plan marketing/communication project needs and establish expectations according to the production schedule.
• Serve as point person for clients throughout project process and share changes with all applicable team members.
• Work with student teams to manage the project workflow and communication with clients.
• Proactively manage changes in project scope, identify potential concerns and devise contingency plans.
• Maintain project management system (currently Trello) by managing users, teams, roles and access, routinely reviewing and recommending better workflow for various project types and maintaining an orderly and effective system for project organization.
• Track engagement of promotional materials using bit.ly reporting systems.
• Create a reporting system that includes a summary of projects and engagement data to be accessed by others as needed.
• Analyze data to determine what's working, what isn't and how our resources are being utilized.
• Make recommendations based upon the analytics.
• Establish and maintain system for tracking the effectiveness of each campaign.
• Support implementation of the university's new CRM system for the division which includes providing insight into establishing policies around its use, training and access for designated users, and collaboration with university partners.
• Maintain relationships with key suppliers (i.e. printing, promotional items) to ensure deliverables are provided within their timelines and specifications and communicate this information to clients.
• Handle all purchasing for SACM as well as the Vice President for Student Affair's printing and promotional items. This includes entering orders in eVA (web-based procurement tool), reconciling small purchase credit card (SPCC) and keeping budget reports updated.
• Track expenditures to ensure spending remains within budget.
• Create and manage content, print and distribute the campus-wide Potty Mouth newsletter.
• Oversee production of the weekly Dukes Weekly student newsletter to ensure it contains the most up-to-date information available.
• Assist with special events or committees as opportunities arise.
• Supervise staff members who oversee campus wide coordination of student communication and marketing efforts including a Marketing Coordinator and Graduate Assistant.

Requirements

• Strong organizational skills
• Effective communication skills
• Ability to compile and analyze data
• Ability to multi-task
• Proficiency with project management software (i.e. Trello, Microsoft Loop or a similar system)
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office systems

Benefits

• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Parental leave
• Community service leave
• 19 paid holidays a year
• Affordable health insurance
• Retirement through the Virginia Retirement System
• Work-life balance and integration program
• Tuition Waiver Program for undergraduate and graduate courses at JMU