Project Manager III (Academy Portfolio Management)

Western Governors University • Salt Lake City, UT

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

WGU is hiring a Project Manager III to support high‑impact work within WGU Academy, managing complex initiatives from inception through completion in Academic Programs. This role partners closely with academic and operational stakeholders to deliver projects that are tightly aligned to departmental priorities, timelines, and standards.

Requirements

• Strong project management expertise
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience using project management systems and tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, or similar)
• Working knowledge of change management methodologies and practices
• Ability to influence without authority and motivate cross‑functional partners
• Full‑time, in‑office position in Salt Lake City, UT
• Must reside in or relocate to the Salt Lake City area within 90 days of offer acceptance
• Onsite four (4) days per week with the option to work remotely on Fridays, per department scheduling
• Occasional travel up to 20%, including required attendance at company summits (typically one to two per year)
• Bachelor’s degree
• Five (5) years of experience as the assigned project manager with responsibility for project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure
• Experience applying change management methodologies within projects
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent

Nice To Haves

• Scrum or Agile experience
• Lean Six Sigma or process improvement experience
• Experience in higher education or academic environments

Responsibilities

• Manage all phases of assigned projects, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing
• Keep stakeholders and leadership informed of project status, including milestone achievements, toll‑gate progress, risks, and issues impacting schedules
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date project management records and systems
• Produce timely and accurate reports as directed
• Develop realistic project plans and schedules by analyzing dependencies, resource requirements, work breakdowns, and departmental priorities
• Ensure projects are managed in accordance with organizational standards, policies, and procedures
• Document project deliverables, outputs, and decision rationale
• Understand departmental strategic priorities and influence project team efforts in alignment with those priorities
• Apply and support change management strategies within assigned projects and monitor outcomes
• Provide input to refine project management processes and improve efficiency
• Provide thought leadership, mentorship, and training support to project managers and associate project managers

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare, retirement savings, wellbeing programs, discounted WGU tuition for you and your family, flexible PTO and sick time, 11 paid holidays, and additional paid leaves, including parental leave.
• This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.

What This Job Offers

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