Visiting Relationship Manager / Project Manager

University of Illinois System•Urbana, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI) at the University of Illinois System manages a portfolio of statewide programs in partnership with non-profits, state agencies, and University units, including Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy (IVSA). IVSA expands access to high-quality online learning for Illinois students, including Full-Time Academy, Teacher Shortage Solutions, the Next Chapter Credit Recovery Program, and IVSA's Supplemental Program. This position is a blended role, weighted primarily toward relationship management. The majority of the role (approximately 60%) is spent as a Relationship Manager for IVSA, developing and maintaining partnerships with school districts in the central and southern regions of Illinois, and driving school enrollment and engagement with IVSA programs.The remainder of the role (approximately 40%) supports OSI's portfolio of initiatives as a Project Manager, keeping projects organized, on track, and well-documented. The ideal candidate is an outgoing relationship builder and skilled presenter who is also comfortable managing internal project timelines and details. This is a hybrid, home-based position with regular travel required, primarily within central and southern Illinois. Must reside within Illinois. Must be able to travel occasionally to Chicago, Champaign, and Springfield, IL for meetings and project support.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in education, business administration, project management, or a related discipline.
1+ years of experience in relationship management, account management, sales, or educational outreach.
1+ years of experience with project coordination or project management.
Proven experience building relationships and managing accounts, with the ability to make stakeholders feel heard and supported.
Strong understanding of, or ability to quickly learn, the Illinois educational landscape, including school district operations.
Customer-focused approach, responding in a timely manner and problem-solving for stakeholders regularly.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple relationships and projects at once.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort presenting to groups.
Ability to work independently and keep work moving with minimal supervision.
Ability to travel for in-person meetings and conferences, primarily within central and southern Illinois.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate with diverse stakeholders and community partners.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms.
Knowledge of marketing strategies and event management.
Experience working in public health, education, or government environments.
Experience using project management tools (SharePoint, Planner, Monday.com, etc.).
Proficient computer skills and advanced knowledge of applicable computer systems, including Microsoft Office programs: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, etc.
Ability to work well independently as well as a part of a team.
Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

Identify and establish relationships with public and private school districts across Illinois, with a focus on central and southern IL.
Conduct outreach through in-person and virtual meetings to introduce IVSA offerings and onboard new schools, driving school partnership, enrollment, and program growth.
Create and deliver presentations to key stakeholders, including school and district leadership.
Provide continuous, responsive support to partner schools, addressing their needs and ensuring their success with IVSA's programs.
Work with ROE Superintendents and the IVSA Executive Director to align partnership strategies with organizational goals.
Collaborate regularly with IVSA staff to support program implementation and troubleshoot challenges.
Work with IVSA leadership to develop and track progress against Key Performance Indicators on a monthly basis.
Maintain detailed records of all interactions with school districts, including meetings, calls, and virtual sessions.
Generate regular reports on outreach activity, engagement metrics, and progress toward partnership goals.
Represent IVSA at conferences and events to strengthen visibility and presence throughout the state.
Stay current on marketing strategies and event management best practices to support school outreach efforts.
Manage day-to-day execution of assigned projects, tracking deliverables, timelines, and milestones.
Build and maintain project trackers and task lists across multiple concurrent workstreams.
Proactively follow up with internal and external stakeholders to keep projects moving.
Facilitate meetings and take meeting minutes for project tracking purposes.
Identify bottlenecks and escalate risks early.
Prepare clear, concise status updates and reports for leadership and stakeholders.
Support data collection and basic analysis for program tracking and evaluation.
Assist with preparation of presentations, summaries, and briefings.
Contribute to process improvements that increase team efficiency.
Perform additional duties as assigned in support of project and partnership goals.