Graduate Studies & Career Development

CSU Careers•San Francisco, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Career Development, the Project Lead provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the federally funded Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). The role leads implementation of the university’s Student Success and Career Pathways Ecosystem, an initiative focused on student success, career readiness, experiential learning, workforce preparation, employer engagement, and institutional effectiveness. The Project Lead oversees strategic planning, project implementation, operations, assessment, compliance, and cross-divisional collaboration, with responsibility for achieving project goals and supporting long-term institutional sustainability. The position works with faculty, academic and administrative units, Institutional Research, Information Technology Services, Academic Technology Services, employers, community organizations, alumni, and other stakeholders. It also serves as a key liaison between Career & Leadership Development and the Institute for Civic & Community Engagement to coordinate project activities and institutional priorities. This is a temporary, grant-funded, full-time appointment that will end on or before November 30, 2027. Permanent status cannot be earned in this position, and continuation is contingent on grant funding. The appointment may end earlier, normally with two weeks’ notice. The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The position is assigned to on-campus operations in California, with occasional telework potentially available. Occasional evening and weekend work and local travel may be required.

Requirements

Foundational knowledge of public administration principles, practices, and methods, normally obtained through a bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent training and administrative work experience involving study, analysis, or evaluation of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
Ability to independently plan, organize, coordinate, and implement complex projects involving multiple priorities and stakeholders.
Expertise in research, analysis, evaluation, and interpretation of information to develop sound conclusions and recommendations.
Ability to understand complex issues from a broad organizational perspective and develop strategic and operational solutions.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion in interpreting policies, analyzing problems, and recommending appropriate courses of action.
Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and external partners.
Ability to communicate effectively through written reports, presentations, and facilitation of meetings and collaborative processes.
Ability to analyze data, evaluate program effectiveness, and develop recommendations supporting continuous improvement and informed decision-making.
Working knowledge of budget administration, fiscal analysis, and resource management.
Ability to move boxes of paper, office supplies, outreach materials, displays, and event equipment weighing up to 20 pounds; bend, lift, move, and set up tables, chairs, displays, and other materials.
Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends and undertake occasional local travel as required.
Successful completion of a background check.
Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or authorization to work in the United States within three business days of hire.
Must comply with mandated reporter requirements under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and CSU Executive Order 1083.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in higher education, public administration, business administration, education, organizational leadership, or a related field.
Experience leading complex, grant-funded, or institution-wide initiatives in a higher education or public-sector environment.
Experience developing and implementing strategic initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and cross-functional collaboration.
Experience collaborating with faculty, academic departments, and administrative units on student success, career readiness, experiential learning, workforce development, or related initiatives.
Experience developing and maintaining partnerships with employers, industry, community organizations, government agencies, or other external stakeholders.
Experience with project planning, budget development and fiscal management, program assessment, data analysis, and performance reporting.
Experience developing operational processes, policies, or procedures that improve organizational effectiveness and support continuous improvement.
Experience with student engagement, career services, experiential learning, or project management platforms such as GivePulse, Handshake, Salesforce, or similar enterprise systems.
Knowledge of federal grant administration and applicable university and CSU policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Lead implementation of the Strengthening Institutions Program and coordinate activities supporting the Student Success and Career Pathways Ecosystem.
Develop strategic implementation plans, annual work plans, project priorities, timelines, performance benchmarks, and implementation frameworks.
Plan for the long-term institutionalization and sustainability of project initiatives beyond the grant period.
Coordinate complex initiatives across academic and administrative units and align work with institutional priorities.
Assess organizational needs, identify implementation challenges, and recommend strategies and operational improvements.
Prepare executive reports, presentations, and implementation updates for project leadership and university administrators.
Coordinate project implementation with the Student Success & Workforce Partnerships Coordinator and campus partners.
Facilitate collaboration between Career & Leadership Development and the Institute for Civic & Community Engagement.
Develop institutional capacity through shared governance, documentation, cross-unit collaboration, and sustainable operational practices.
Develop strategies for faculty engagement in career-connected learning and experiential education.
Coordinate Faculty Career Champions, Faculty Learning Community initiatives, faculty workshops, planning sessions, and professional development activities.
Collaborate with colleges, departments, and faculty to integrate career readiness competencies and high-impact educational practices into curricula.
Support cross-disciplinary collaboration connecting academic programs, career development, and workforce preparation.
Cultivate partnerships with employers, industry representatives, alumni, community organizations, government agencies, and other external stakeholders.
Provide strategic direction for employer and community engagement initiatives and coordinate opportunities such as internships, mentoring, community-engaged learning, and undergraduate research.
Represent the project on university committees, in community partnerships, and at campus, employer, community, and workforce events.
Coordinate project assessment and monitor progress toward project goals, objectives, and performance measures.
Collaborate with Institutional Research and the external evaluator to collect, analyze, and interpret project data and develop recommendations for continuous improvement.
Coordinate implementation and use of project technologies for participation tracking, assessment, reporting, and institutional effectiveness.
Lead institutional implementation, governance, and long-term adoption of the GivePulse platform in partnership with the Institute for Civic & Community Engagement and relevant campus units.
Coordinate fiscal administration, including budget planning, expenditure monitoring, financial forecasting, and resource allocation.
Monitor expenditures against approved budgets and grant objectives, analyze budget trends, and prepare fiscal reports, projections, and recommendations.
Coordinate procurement, contracts, and purchasing in accordance with university, CSU, and grant requirements.
Develop and maintain administrative procedures and coordinate required fiscal, programmatic, and compliance documentation.
Monitor project implementation for compliance with university policies, CSU requirements, and sponsor regulations.
Develop project schedules, coordinate meetings, assign follow-up actions, and monitor completion of project activities and deliverables.
Perform other duties as assigned.