Senior Program Planner - Strategy & Programs

Washington University in St. Louis • Hanover County, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Provides senior-level operational, planning, project, program, and performance leadership in direct support of the Vice Chancellor, Enterprise Physical Operations, Infrastructure, Capital Programs, and Real Estate. Supports the full scope of responsibilities assigned to that position by translating strategic direction into coordinated work plans, supervising teams and cross-enterprise efforts, managing execution risk, and ensuring timely delivery of institutional commitments. Serves as a central integrator across WashU Medicine and the Danforth Campus, working closely with facilities leadership teams, schools, departments, academic chairs, executive administration, and cross-functional partners. Provides functional and, where assigned, direct supervision of staff, project teams, consultants, and enterprise initiatives and requires strong communication, diplomacy, strategic planning, financial acumen, and risk management skills. Requires a servant leader who leads by mission, with empathy, in accordance with our departmental and university core values. Ensures continuity, alignment, and follow-through across complex initiatives and may serve as a primary point of coordination and representation in the Vice Chancellor's absence, as delegated.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Business Strategy And Operations Planning And/Or Business Analysis (5 Years)
• Administration And Office Support (5 Years)
• Planning And Prioritization Of Strategic Organizational Objectives (5 Years)
• Relevant Experience (5 Years)

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree
• Facility Management Professional (FMP) - International Facility Management Association (IFMA)
• Higher Education, Preferably In A Complex University Environment (7 Years)
• Progressive Facilities Operations (10 Years)
• Administrative Support Services
• Capital Planning
• Change Management
• Complexity Management
• Coordinating Programs
• Cross-Functional Initiatives
• Database Systems
• Effective Written Communication
• Facility Operations
• Facility Planning
• Fast-Paced Environments
• Higher Education Administration
• Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
• Key Stakeholder Relationships
• Leading Project Teams
• Managing Ambiguity
• Operations Support
• Organizational Communications
• Program Coordination
• Reporting Systems
• Risk Management
• Sound Judgment
• Strategic Initiative
• Supervisory Management

Responsibilities

• Provides direct operational, planning, project, program, and performance support to the Vice Chancellor.
• Supports execution, coordination, and follow-through of initiatives, priorities, and responsibilities assigned to the Vice Chancellor, translating direction into organized workplans, schedules, and deliverables.
• Exercises delegated decision-making authority related to sequencing of work, prioritization of deliverables, and day-to-day execution decisions, escalating policy, budget, or high-risk issues as appropriate.
• Prepares leadership briefings, analyses, presentations, and recommendations.
• Tracks priorities, risks, decisions, and follow-up actions across all assigned areas.
• Provides functional leadership for teams and cross-enterprise initiatives spanning operations, planning, projects, and programs.
• Supervises assigned staff, project teams, consultants, and workgroups, including setting priorities, coordinating workplans, monitoring performance, and supporting professional development.
• Leads cross-functional teams through collaboration, influence, and clear communication to achieve shared outcomes.
• Navigates competing priorities and differing stakeholder perspectives with professionalism, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
• Represents the Vice Chancellor’s priorities and direction in meetings, working sessions, and cross-campus forums, as delegated.
• Coordinates development, tracking, and reporting of departmental and service-area strategic plans across operations, planning, and facilities functions.
• Ensures departmental strategies align with institutional goals, capital plans, and program priorities.
• Consolidates, synthesizes, and presents strategic updates and progress reports for leadership review.
• Leads and coordinates integration of operations, planning, projects, and programs across WashU Medicine and, as assigned, the Danforth Campus.
• Aligns operational activities, capital and facilities planning, project delivery, and program execution with institutional priorities and approved plans.
• Tracks enterprise milestones, interdependencies, risks, and decision points across multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Supports strategic planning efforts at the institutional, departmental, and service-area levels.
• Supports development, maintenance, and continuous improvement of capital planning, program management, and performance databases in coordination with senior leadership teams and WashU IT.
• Coordinates integration of Facilities Condition Assessments (FCAs), operational risks, renewal priorities, and capital needs into planning and reporting tools.
• Tracks, analyzes, and reports on FCA findings, trends, risk exposure, and reinvestment needs across WashU Medicine and WashU.
• Ensures accuracy, consistency, and appropriate use of planning, capital, and performance data used for institutional decision-making, working with IT, finance, and data governance partners.
• Develops standardized dashboards, reports, and leadership summaries to support short- and long-range planning.
• Supports budget development, tracking, and variance analysis for assigned programs, projects, and planning initiatives.
• Coordinates with finance partners to align budgets with approved plans, schedules, and priorities.
• Prepares budget-related briefings and analyses to support leadership decision-making and risk assessment.
• Coordinates development and production of annual performance reports and enterprise progress updates.
• Tracks institutional commitments, customer-facing deliverables, and outcomes related to operations, planning, projects, and programs.
• Identifies execution, operational, financial, and planning risks; assesses impacts; and elevates issues with recommended mitigation strategies.
• Translates complex operational and planning information into clear, leadership-ready narratives and visual materials.
• Supports change management and communications strategies related to operational, planning, and program initiatives.
• Develops stakeholder engagement approaches, implementation plans, and messaging to support adoption of new processes, systems, or organizational structures.
• Coordinates with external partners, consultants, and affiliated organizations in support of operations, planning, projects, and programs, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and standards.
• Serves as a primary point of continuity and coordination during periods of leadership absence or transition, as delegated.
• Supports governance processes related to operations, planning, capital programs, projects, and performance management.
• Maintains clear documentation of decisions, actions, and outcomes to ensure transparency and institutional continuity.
• Contributes to continuous improvement of enterprise execution, coordination, and reporting practices.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
• 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child.
• Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs.
• Adult care resources.
• Tuition coverage for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

What This Job Offers

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