Project Manager for Strategic Enrollment Initiatives
The Universities of Wisconsin are a premier system of public higher education serving more than 162,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the universities are Wisconsin's talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. Through a constellation of 13 universities statewide, the Universities of Wisconsin are a tremendous academic, cultural, and economic resource for Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.
The Universities of Wisconsin Administration assists in establishing policies, planning the programmatic financial and physical development of the Universities. UWSA supports the Universities in delivering transformative educational outcomes and research that expands the boundaries of knowledge. We work to extend the value of our universities beyond the boundaries of the campuses, seeking to enhance the quality of life for all in Wisconsin and beyond, in fulfillment of the Wisconsin Idea.
The Office of Enrollment and Student Success provides support to the Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs, the President of the Universities of Wisconsin, and UW universities in the development of policies and practices that improve the recruitment, retention, and ultimate success for students in the Universities of Wisconsin. Of particular importance are efforts to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, maintain inclusive, equitable, and safe institutional environments, and engage institutional enrollment management and student affairs units as vital resources in fostering access and student success.
NOTE: The individual in this position will be expected to work in the office in Madison, WI three days per week. Occasional demands of the office may require additional days in office.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the Director for Strategic Enrollment, this position serves as a resource for implementing strategic enrollment initiatives across the Universities of Wisconsin and providing project management and operational support for the office. This individual will manage multiple projects, initiatives and tasks simultaneously ranging in degree of complexity to support enrollment and recruitment related initiatives. They will be expected to research, analyze data and information, develop plans, presentations, reports and proposals and track progress on multiple initiatives. Effective collaboration with a range of constituents within the Universities of Wisconsin Administration, across all 13 UWs as well as other K-12 and higher education partners is an ongoing and essential part of this position. The Project Manager for Strategic Enrollment Initiatives must be able to work effectively in a highly complex and dynamic organization while juggling multiple, often shifting, priorities.
An ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator, planner, collaborator and problem-solver. They will have exceptional attention to detail, be creative and innovative and have experience using a range of tools and strategies to plan, implement and manage projects. They will demonstrate a constant focus on the user experience, and they will be dedicated to continuous learning to develop new skills that allow them to effectively manage projects, identify efficiencies and affect change. This individual may supervise personnel and/or other resources in the course of their work.
Key Job Responsibilities:
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
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Manage multiple projects simultaneously including the development, implementation, tracking and reporting aspects of each project.
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Provide consultation, guidance, and operational coordination and support in the development, implementation, and evaluation of enrollment growth and student retention strategies across the Universities of Wisconsin, in alignment with systemwide strategic goals.
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Provide operational coordination and support in collaboration with Universities of Wisconsin Administration and campus colleagues on ongoing strategic enrollment initiatives, including, but not limited to, Direct Admit Wisconsin, Transfer Wisconsin, dual enrollment, residency determination, enrollment-related policies and FAFSA completion.
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Conduct research, benchmarking and analysis in support of enrollment-related projects and policies
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Support the efforts of strategic enrollment-related campus stakeholder groups across Universities of Wisconsin as assigned by supervisor, including coordination of and participation in meetings.
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Collaborate with institutional stakeholders to identify evolving needs/areas for improvement and assist with identifying strategies that support campuses in addressing strategic enrollment challenges and opportunities.
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Prepare office correspondence, reports, memoranda, presentations, and conference proceedings, including documents of a confidential nature.
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Provide program management and operational leadership with the planning and development of meetings, webinars, and trainings, including staff retreats and strategic planning exercises.
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Create and manage office and initiative websites including updating content and managing registration and evaluation forms.
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Receive, process, and respond to student and campus related inquiries.
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Stay up-to-date on national and regional trends in enrollment, retention, and completion and share information with institutions to support their efforts.
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Perform other duties and assist with special projects as requested by supervisor.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
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Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
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At least 3 years of experience working in a higher education setting that includes project management, stakeholder engagement, and/or enrollment and student success efforts.
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Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple, complex projects and engage successfully with a range of constituents
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Demonstrated ability to prioritize between many diverse assignments, escalate and resolve issues independently and operate under tight deadlines.
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Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with a variety of stakeholder groups.
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Excellent communication (verbal, written, electronic) and organizational skills.
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Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills.
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Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
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Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
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5 or more years of experience working in a higher education setting that includes project management, stakeholder engagement, and/or enrollment management.
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Experience working in a 4-year higher education institution
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Demonstrated ability to facilitate and coordinate teams in a higher education setting.
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Knowledge of issues and national trends related to recruitment, enrollment, transfer, retention and degree completion.
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Experience working with project management tools (e.g., Slack, Asana).
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Experience in analyzing and synthesizing a variety of different inputs to create reports and other documents in a variety of formats.
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Experience working with Excel, Qualtrics, Tableau or other data visualization products.
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Familiarity with administrative research and procedures in higher education or similar complex organizations).
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Prior experience developing and/or editing websites.
WORK LOCATION
The office location is located at Van Hise Hall in Madison, WI. An in-office requirement is expected three days per week with the option to work the remaining two days off-site/remote. Telecommuting agreements are subject to change at any time
COMPENSATION
The Project Manager for Strategic Enrollment Initiatives is a full-time, exempt academic staff position. Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $72,000 - $78,000 commensurate with the candidate's education, related experience, and qualifications.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through 11:59 pm, Sunday, August 3, 2025. However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled.
