Project Manager, Marketing and Communications

University of Texas at Austin

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Project Manager for the Office of Marketing and Communications supports the strategic goals of the College of Education by managing the intake, planning, assignment, and execution of all marketing and communications projects. This role serves as the primary point of contact for all project requests submitted to the Marketing and Communications team and ensures work is prioritized, resourced, and delivered on time utilizing a project management system. In addition to project coordination, this position manages vendor relationships and operational processes, including bids, purchase orders, invoicing, and coordination with Business Services on contracts. The role also oversees general office operations, inventory management, and the procurement, storage, and distribution of merchandise/swag, and office supplies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience in project management, communications, marketing operations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple projects simultaneously in a deadline‑driven environment.
• Experience using project management systems or workflow tools to assign, track, and report on work.
• Experience working with vendors, including soliciting bids, tracking purchase orders, and processing invoices.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in higher education, academic, or nonprofit settings.
• Familiarity with university financial, purchasing, and contracting processes.
• Experience supporting creative or communications teams (marketing, design, digital, or editorial).
• Knowledge of inventory management and fulfillment for promotional materials or branded merchandise.
• Project management certification or formal training.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the central intake point for all marketing and communications project requests submitted to the team.
• Evaluate incoming requests for scope, timelines, and resource needs; collaborate with leadership to prioritize work.
• Assign projects and individual tasks to team members using the project management system and monitor progress throughout the project lifecycle.
• Track deadlines, dependencies, and workloads to ensure efficient use of team resources and timely project completion.
• Ensure projects are executed within budget and within deadline.
• Maintain project documentation, timelines, and status updates; provide regular reports and visibility to leadership as needed.
• Support continuous improvement of project intake, workflows, and internal processes.
• Manage relationships with all external vendors supporting marketing and communications initiatives, including designers, printers, photographers, videographers, and other service providers.
• Solicit bids and estimates, compare vendor proposals, and make recommendations in alignment with budget and university guidelines.
• Initiate and track purchase orders, submit invoices for payment, and ensure timely processing and reconciliation.
• Coordinate with the College of Education Business Services team to establish new vendors, contracts, or agreements when required.
• Maintain vendor records and documentation in compliance with university and college policies.
• Oversee general office operations for the Marketing and Communications team, including supplies, equipment, and shared resources.
• Manage inventory, storage, and distribution of branded merchandise, promotional items, swag, and printed materials.
• Track inventory levels, forecast needs, and coordinate reorders to support events, recruitment, and outreach efforts.
• Support logistical planning for events and campaigns by coordinating materials, timelines, and deliveries.
• Work closely with the Senior Director and Marketing and Communications team to support strategic priorities.
• Act as a liaison between internal stakeholders, team members, vendors, and Business Services to ensure clear communication and smooth execution of work.
• Apply a service‑oriented, solutions‑focused approach when working with faculty, staff, and campus partners.

Benefits

• Retirement Plan Eligibility: The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

What This Job Offers

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