Senior Program Manager

Howard University

12d•$145,000 - $150,000

About The Position

The Senior Program Manager provides strategic leadership, planning, execution, and oversight for complex University-wide programs, initiatives, and projects that advance Howard University's strategic priorities. The incumbent serves as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and is responsible for developing frameworks, managing resources, driving organizational effectiveness, and ensuring successful implementation of critical institutional initiatives. The position requires advanced program management expertise, exceptional relationship-building skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across academic, administrative, healthcare, research, and community-facing functions. The Senior Program Manager manages multiple high-profile initiatives simultaneously and ensures programs deliver measurable outcomes aligned with University objectives, regulatory requirements, operational goals, and stakeholder expectations.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, Human Resources, Healthcare Administration, Project Management, or related field.
Seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience managing complex programs, projects, operations, or institutional initiatives.
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and strategic initiatives.
Experience preparing executive-level analyses, reports, and presentations.
Microsoft Office Suite
Workday
Power BI or Tableau
Project Management Platforms
Data Analysis Tools

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a related discipline.
Program Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
Change Management Certification (Prosci, ADKAR, or equivalent).
Experience within higher education, academic medicine, healthcare systems, research administration, or large complex organizations.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership and supervision to professional and administrative staff, project teams, contractors, consultants, and assigned program personnel.
Responsible for workforce planning and staffing recommendations, performance management and coaching, employee development and succession planning, work allocation and prioritization, budget oversight and resource management, and fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, innovation, and continuous improvement.
May lead cross-functional teams that include faculty, administrators, staff, students, and external partners.
Lead the design, implementation, and management of complex strategic initiatives and programs supporting institutional priorities.
Develop comprehensive program strategies, goals, objectives, governance frameworks, and performance measures.
Align program activities with University strategic plans and operational objectives.
Provide executive-level recommendations regarding program performance, risks, opportunities, and resource allocation.
Develop and manage comprehensive program roadmaps, project plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
Ensure successful execution of programs within established timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
Establish program governance structures and accountability mechanisms.
Manage competing priorities while balancing strategic and operational requirements.
Serve as liaison between executive leadership and operational stakeholders.
Build strategic partnerships across schools, departments, administrative units, and external organizations.
Facilitate consensus-building among diverse stakeholder groups.
Provide executive briefings, presentations, and status reports to leadership.
Evaluate program effectiveness using qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
Identify opportunities to streamline operations and improve service delivery.
Develop and implement process improvement initiatives.
Apply project and change management methodologies to improve organizational performance.
Develop, monitor, and manage program budgets.
Analyze financial performance and resource utilization.
Prepare business cases and cost-benefit analyses.
Ensure responsible stewardship of University resources.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs).
Analyze operational, financial, workforce, and programmatic data.
Prepare executive dashboards and performance reports.
Utilize data-driven insights to support strategic decision-making.
Identify and mitigate operational, compliance, financial, and reputational risks.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, accreditation, grant, and University requirements.
Develop contingency plans for significant initiatives and projects.
Lead organizational change initiatives associated with program implementation.
Assess stakeholder readiness and potential barriers to adoption.
Develop communication, training, and change management strategies.
Promote stakeholder engagement and sustained implementation success.
Support development of grant proposals and funding opportunities.
Cultivate strategic partnerships with government agencies, foundations, and external organizations.
Monitor funded program performance and reporting obligations.
Perform other related duties as assigned.