Manager, Special Projects (46359)

GOLDEN GATE UNIVERSITY

Office of Human Resources - Job Description

Position Title

Manager, Special Projects

Department

Academic Affairs

Reports To

Dean Tom Wooldridge

Classification

Full-Time, Regular Staff | FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

As part of Golden Gate University's ongoing operational transformation, the university has restructured its instructional design function and partnered with Hurix Digital for its major instructional design needs. The Manager - Special Projects manages a portfolio of critical academic projects that draw heavily on instructional design services and serves, together with the Dean, as the central intake and routing point for instructional design requests across the university. The position ensures that major initiatives, including the D2L migration, the EDVisor course transition, and course-format conversions, are delivered on schedule, at high quality, and with clear communication to faculty and program directors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the university's portfolio of special projects related to instructional design, including project plans, timelines, milestones, and status reporting to the Dean and senior leadership.
• Coordinate the D2L migration, including batch course releases, faculty notification, and completion of structural validation checklists within established turnaround times.
• Support the transition of designated high-enrollment courses into EDVisor for Fall launch, coordinating syllabus design with program directors and assigning instructional design resources to build EDVisor and D2L course shells.
• Coordinate the conversion of courses from 7.5-week to 15-week formats, ensuring program directors complete syllabus conversions and instructional design build tasks are assigned and completed on schedule.
• Serve as intake coordinator for instructional design requests; triage and assign requests to instructional design staff and the university's instructional design partner on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the Dean.
• Act as a primary operational liaison with Hurix Digital, monitoring deliverables for quality, accessibility, and timeliness.
• Develop and maintain workflows, checklists, training materials, and documentation supporting the reorganized instructional design function.
• Communicate project status, expectations, and deadlines to faculty, program directors, and other stakeholders; coordinate related trainings and support sessions.
• Identify risks and obstacles to project delivery and escalate to the Dean with recommended solutions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Three (3) or more years of progressively responsible experience in project management, instructional design, academic operations, or a related field.
• Experience with learning management systems (e.g., D2L Brightspace) and digital course development processes.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent projects with competing deadlines and diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience communicating with faculty or comparable professional audiences.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or project management certification (e.g., PMP, CAPM).
• Experience in higher education administration or academic technology.
• Experience managing external vendor relationships and service-level expectations.
• Familiarity with digital accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) as applied to online course content.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong organizational and analytical skills with close attention to detail.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across academic and administrative units.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency with project tracking, productivity, and collaboration tools.

Work Environment

This position operates in a standard office environment on the university's San Francisco campus, with hybrid or remote arrangements subject to university policy and the Dean's approval. Routine use of standard office equipment and prolonged periods of computer work are required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications, and the university reserves the right to modify duties as business needs require. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment.

Supplemental Information

To apply: Please go to http://www.ggu.edu/jobs to submit an application, letter of interest, and a resume.

In applying for a position, candidates sign a consent authorizing a broader inquiry which may include reference checks, a motor vehicle check, and a third-party background check.

Golden Gate University is an equal employment opportunity employer. We support inclusive excellence and are committed to creating a safe and welcoming community for all.

University policy prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion/creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex/gender, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, gender stereotyping, and gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, taking a protected leave (e.g., family medical or pregnancy leave), or on any other basis protected by applicable laws.

The University has a strong commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion, and to maintaining working and learning environments that reinforces these practices. The University welcomes and encourages applications from all demographics.