Program Manager - Office of Provost & VP- Academic Affairs

University at Albany•Albany, NY

18h•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Manager provides leadership, coordination, and operational oversight for major academic events sponsored by the Office of the Provost. The position's primary responsibility is the planning and execution of Showcase, UAlbany's annual campus-wide celebration of student research, scholarship, and creative activity. Showcase is one of the university's largest academic events, involving extensive cross-campus collaboration and engaging thousands of students, faculty, staff, and community members. In 2026, Showcase featured more than 2,600 student participants delivering more than 1,700 presentations. In addition to Showcase, the Project Manager oversees the logistics of other Provost's Office functions and activities throughout the year such as award ceremonies and faculty development activities, ensuring high-quality planning, effective coordination, and successful implementation. This role requires strategic planning and the ability to coordinate complex activities across multiple academic and administrative units.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
Minimum of two years to three years of experience in conference/event planning, project management, or related professional work.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and coordinate large-scale projects.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse divisions and stakeholder groups.
Ability to learn and adopt new software tools to support event management and communication.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community.
Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role.

Nice To Haves

Professional experience working within higher education.
Experience with data analysis, reporting, and assessment tools.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and direction for Showcase and other major academic functions sponsored by the Provost's Office.
Serve as the central coordinating authority for major functions by the Provost's Office, ensuring alignment among academic units and administrative offices.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Deans, Department Chairs, faculty leaders, staff, and campus service units such as Office of Communication and Marketing, facilities, and catering to support function goals.
Work closely with the Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Success to lead all phases of Showcase planning, including promotion, submission, scheduling, venue coordination, logistics, communications, and day-of operations.
Organize planning meetings with the Showcase Steering Committee, College/School liaisons, guiding decision-making and maintaining project timelines.
Work closely with the Showcase Coordinator and Staff Assistant in Provost's Office to manage logistics, budget tracking, communications, and resource allocation.
Coordinate with various campus units to ensure seamless event execution.
Work closely with the Office of Communication and Marketing, Office of Government and Community Relations, and University Advancement to facilitate fundraising for Showcase and enhance Showcase visibility and impact.
Prepare the annual Showcase report and analyze post-event survey data to facilitate continuous improvement.
Plan, coordinate, and execute other academic functions sponsored by the Provost's Office, such as faculty promotion and recognition ceremonies, faculty development events, Provost's Council meetings, academic forums, and other special functions.
Develop event strategies, timelines, communication plans, and operational frameworks tailored to each function's objectives.
Ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with institutional goals across all Provost's Office programming.
Maintain comprehensive planning documents, timelines, and operational records for all functions.
Oversee event-related communications, including promotional materials, outreach campaigns, and informational resources.
Conduct post-event surveys to facilitate continuous improvement.
Identify opportunities to streamline processes, adopt new tools, and enhance event effectiveness.