ITS Special Projects Manager

Loyola Marymount University•Westchester, IL

1d•$87,000 - $117,500

About The Position

Under the direction of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), the ITS Special Projects Manager is responsible for coordinating and advancing executive-priority initiatives that span the ITS organization. This role operates as a strategic partner to the CIO, helping translate executive priorities into organized plans, actionable next steps, and measurable progress across the department. This position supports cross-functional initiatives of strategic and operational significance; working across ITS leadership and campus partners to coordinate efforts, prepare briefings and decision materials, track follow-up actions, surface risks and dependencies, and help maintain momentum on high-priority work. Success in this role is defined by achieving project objectives through an ability to bring structure to facilitate progress, initiatives, align stakeholders, manage sensitive information with discretion, and ensure executive priorities are communicated clearly and moved forward effectively.

Requirements

Typically a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Communications, Information Systems, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience supporting executive-level initiatives, managing strategic projects, or coordinating cross-functional work in a complex organization.
Experience coordinating initiatives that span multiple departments or organizational units.
Experience preparing executive briefings, presentations, board or cabinet materials, or strategic summaries.
Experience with data reporting, governance documentation, or policy/process implementation.
Understanding of enterprise technology environments, including ERP/SIS-related planning efforts.
Familiarity with project and portfolio management concepts, while not serving as a formal PMO delivery role.
Knowledge of project coordination, strategic planning support, executive communications, and organizational operations.
Knowledge of technology organizations, governance structures, and cross-functional planning practices.
Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to prepare clear, concise, and polished summaries, reports, and executive-ready materials.
Strong facilitation and stakeholder coordination skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and collaboration/project tools such as Smartsheet, Teams, or similar platforms.
Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
Ability to work effectively with senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism in handling sensitive matters.
Ability to synthesize complex information and present it clearly to varied audiences.

Nice To Haves

Experience in higher education is strongly preferred.
Experience supporting a CIO, vice president, dean, or other senior executive leader is preferred.
Experience in higher education information technology or administrative operations is preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate Executive-Priority Initiatives: Manage and advance strategic projects sponsored by the CIO that have broad ITS impact and may span multiple functional areas. This ensures leadership priorities are translated into coordinated action and sustained progress across the department.
Support Strategic Planning and Special Initiatives: Organize, track, and support major departmental initiatives such as ITS strategic planning, continuity of operations, governance, climate and culture. This provides continuity, visibility, and operational support for initiatives that do not fit cleanly within existing portfolios or departments.
Prepare Executive Briefings and Decision Materials: Develop high-quality summaries, presentations, briefing documents, talking points, status updates, and other materials to support CIO communications, decision-making, and stakeholder engagement. This helps leadership communicate clearly, make informed decisions, and maintain alignment across ITS and campus partners.
Track Actions, Decisions, and Follow-Up: Maintain structured tracking of initiative milestones, action items, dependencies, risks, decisions, and follow-up commitments. This improves accountability, reduces missed handoffs, and helps ensure initiatives continue moving forward between meetings and milestones.
Facilitate Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with ITS directors, managers, and campus stakeholders to coordinate activities, align priorities, and resolve barriers affecting shared initiatives. This strengthens collaboration, improves execution, and supports consistent progress on complex, cross-cutting work.
Support Emerging and Ambiguous Work: Provide project and operational coordination for new or evolving executive priorities that may not yet have a defined owner, scope, or governance path. This gives the CIO flexible capacity to advance important work while helping clarify structure, ownership, and next steps.
Manage Sensitive and Confidential Information: Handle executive materials, internal planning documents, and sensitive communications with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment. This protects trust, supports sound decision-making, and ensures appropriate stewardship of confidential information.
Create and Improve Coordination Tools and Processes: Develop templates, trackers, dashboards, workflows, and lightweight governance tools to support visibility, reporting, and coordination of special projects. This improves consistency, transparency, and operational efficiency across executive-sponsored work.
Provide Strategic Research and Analysis: Conduct research, gather relevant information, and synthesize findings to inform recommendations, planning discussions, and executive decisions. This supports thoughtful evaluation of opportunities, challenges, and emerging priorities across ITS.
Promote a Culture of Service: Adhere to LMU’s service standards of Communication, Accountability, and Professionalism. This builds trust and reinforces ITS’s commitment to responsive, mission-aligned service.
Perform other related duties.