Project Lead Strengthening Institutions Program - CSU San Francisco

Another Source • San Francisco, CA

2d • $76,500 - $81,200 • Onsite

About The Position

San Francisco State University is recruiting a Project Lead for its federally funded Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP), a new university-wide initiative focused on student success, career readiness, and workforce engagement. The role provides strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the program and leads implementation of the university’s Student Success and Career Pathways Ecosystem, coordinating across academic and administrative divisions to develop sustainable programs and measurable outcomes. The position is grant-funded for five years, with the appointment described as renewable, and is onsite in San Francisco, California.

The Project Lead works with faculty, university leadership, career development professionals, employers, community organizations, and technology partners to expand career-connected learning and strengthen institutional capacity. A key priority is ensuring that programs, partnerships, and systems developed through the grant can continue after the funding period. The position reports to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Career Development.

Responsibilities include strategic planning and implementation; faculty engagement and academic innovation; employer and community partnership development; assessment and evaluation; and program administration, fiscal management, and grant compliance. The anticipated annual salary range is $76,500–$81,200. Occasional evening or weekend work and local travel may be required. The position also involves occasional lifting and moving of materials and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds, including for event setup. Relocation assistance is not available. The role is designated as a mandated reporter under California law and applicable CSU policy.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and administrative experience involving research, analysis, evaluation, or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
• General knowledge of administrative or program operations, including foundational public administration principles and practices.
• Ability to independently plan, organize, and implement complex projects involving multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including evaluating information and developing practical, evidence-based recommendations.
• Ability to understand complex organizational challenges and develop strategic and operational solutions.
• Sound judgment and discretion when interpreting policies, resolving problems, and recommending courses of action.
• Experience building productive working relationships with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and external partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including preparing reports, delivering presentations, and facilitating collaborative discussions.
• Ability to analyze program outcomes, assess effectiveness, and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Working knowledge of budget administration, fiscal analysis, and resource management.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in higher education, public administration, business administration, education, organizational leadership, or a related field.
• Experience leading complex, grant-funded, or institution-wide initiatives in higher education or the public sector.
• Demonstrated success developing strategic initiatives requiring cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience supporting student success, career readiness, experiential learning, workforce development, or related higher education initiatives.
• Experience establishing partnerships with employers, industry representatives, community organizations, government agencies, or other external stakeholders.
• Background in project planning, budget development, fiscal management, program assessment, data analysis, and performance reporting.
• Experience improving operational policies, processes, and procedures to strengthen organizational effectiveness.
• Familiarity with student engagement, career services, experiential learning, or project management platforms such as GivePulse, Handshake, Salesforce, or similar systems.
• Knowledge of federal grant administration and applicable university or CSU policies and procedures.
• Collaborative, service-oriented approach, strong communication skills, sound professional judgment, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of the Strengthening Institutions Program and coordinate initiatives supporting the Student Success and Career Pathways Ecosystem.
• Develop strategic plans, annual work plans, implementation timelines, performance benchmarks, and project priorities.
• Coordinate academic and administrative partners to align activities with university priorities and student success goals.
• Identify operational challenges, evaluate current practices, and recommend improvements to institutional effectiveness.
• Build sustainable processes, shared practices, and collaborative structures to continue successful initiatives beyond the grant period.
• Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, and project updates on progress, challenges, and opportunities.
• Coordinate implementation with Career & Leadership Development, the Institute for Civic & Community Engagement, and the Student Success & Workforce Partnerships Coordinator.
• Partner with faculty and academic departments to integrate career readiness and experiential learning into the student experience.
• Coordinate Faculty Career Champions and Faculty Learning Community initiatives; support faculty in connecting classroom learning with professional competencies, workforce expectations, and high-impact educational practices.
• Facilitate faculty workshops, professional development, and cross-disciplinary collaboration; identify approaches that strengthen faculty engagement and lasting institutional change.
• Develop relationships with employers, industry leaders, alumni, government agencies, and community organizations.
• Expand student access to internships, mentoring, undergraduate research, community-engaged learning, and other career-connected experiences.
• Provide strategic direction for employer and community engagement, identify alignment with regional workforce needs, and represent the program at committees, employer meetings, community events, and workforce development activities.
• Monitor project outcomes and performance measures; work with Institutional Research and external evaluators to collect, analyze, and interpret program data.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and recommendations to inform decisions and continuous improvement.
• Lead institutional implementation and long-term adoption of the GivePulse platform with the Institute for Civic & Community Engagement.
• Work with technology, research, and program partners to establish data practices, reporting frameworks, and sustainable technology solutions.
• Coordinate grant budget planning, expenditure monitoring, financial forecasting, and resource allocation; prepare financial analyses and reports.
• Coordinate purchasing, contracts, and procurement in accordance with university, CSU, and grant requirements.
• Maintain documentation, administrative procedures, and reporting practices that support accountability and compliance.
• Monitor deliverables, facilitate meetings, and coordinate follow-up activities; perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package through the California State University system.
• Up to 24 vacation days per year, depending on employee group and services; the posting also describes work-life balance and flexibility.
• Access to campus athletic and gym facilities, sporting events, artist events, and speakers.
• Professional development opportunities, including tuition waivers for the employee and eligible family members across CSU campuses.
• CalPERS Retirement Plan or 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Plan.
• Medical benefits.
• Pre-tax commuter benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level