Academic Affairs Manager Jobs in Decatur, GA (NOW HIRING)

About Us
Great universities inspire the very best in us. They nurture new ideas, fresh perspectives, and creative problem-solving. They challenge students to discover their passions - and to turn those passions into thriving careers that improve our world.
Columbus State University is exactly that kind of place. With exceptional facilities, ideal class sizes, and unique field experiences, our students have room to create. Here, every faculty and staff member is part of the educational process, actively mentoring students and championing each new step in their journey.
Located just 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, CSU is part of the University System of Georgia and offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees. Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays (if applicable). Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program. Consider applying with us today!
Department Information
Department of Information Technology
Job Summary
The IT Project Manager serves as the founding leader of the university's IT Project Management Office (PMO), reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer. This position is responsible for designing the PMO's governance framework, methodology, and operational processes while simultaneously leading a portfolio of high-impact technology projects including the Workday HCM and Finance implementation, AV/IT installations for campus construction programs, and enterprise system integrations. The role directly supervises 1-2 project coordinators or analysts and builds project management capability across the IT organization.
Responsibilities
Significant Duties & Responsibilities include: PMO Establishment and Governance (35%) - Design, implement, and continuously improve the IT department's project management framework, including intake processes, charter templates, status reporting standards, and project lifecycle governance. Develop a hybrid Agile-Waterfall methodology tailored to the university's project portfolio, balancing predictability with flexibility across different project types. Establish portfolio-level visibility through dashboards, risk registers, and resource allocation tools that enable informed executive decision-making. Create and maintain a risk management framework across the IT project portfolio, proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks at both the project and portfolio levels. Build a PMO culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement through retrospectives, lessons learned documentation, and measurable process maturity targets. Evaluate and recommend project management tools and platforms to support consistent tracking, reporting, and collaboration across all IT initiatives.; Project Delivery (45%) - Serve as institutional project manager for the Workday HCM and Finance implementation, managing the relationship with the system integrator, coordinating internal workstreams, and ensuring deliverables align with university requirements. Lead AV/IT installation projects associated with university construction and renovation programs, coordinating with facilities, architects, contractors, and academic stakeholders. Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and quality across multiple concurrent initiatives, maintaining clear communication with sponsors, stakeholders, and team members. Develop and maintain project timelines (Gantt charts), work breakdown structures, and sprint plans that keep teams aligned and leadership informed. Lead data migration planning and validation efforts, including legacy system assessment, data cleansing strategies, and conversion testing. Coordinate change management activities including stakeholder communication, training development and delivery, and user acceptance testing. Manage vendor relationships and contracts, ensuring deliverables meet quality standards, timelines, and contractual obligations.; Team Leadership and Development (20%) - Directly supervise 1-2 project coordinators or analysts, providing mentorship, performance feedback, and professional development guidance. Build project management capability across the IT organization by training staff in PM fundamentals, facilitating adoption of standardized tools and templates, and coaching team leads on project execution. Prepare and present executive-level status reports, risk assessments, and portfolio dashboards for university leadership and governance committees. Collaborate with department leaders across Academic Affairs, Business and Finance, Student Affairs, Facilities, and Enrollment Management to align technology projects with institutional priorities.
Required Qualifications
Required Qualifications include: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.; Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.; Seven (7) or more years of progressive experience in IT project management, including at least one full-lifecycle ERP implementation.; Three (3) or more years of supervisory experience, including direct management of staff or project team leads.; Demonstrated experience establishing project management processes, governance frameworks, or PMO functions in organizations with limited prior PM maturity.; Experience managing vendor relationships, including contract oversight, deliverable tracking, and performance evaluation.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications include: Master's degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field.; Experience in higher education, government, or public-sector IT environments.; Workday HCM and/or Finance implementation experience, either as a customer-side PM or with a system integrator.; Agile or Scrum certification (CSM, PMI-ACP, or equivalent).; ITIL Foundation certification or demonstrated knowledge of IT service management principles.; Change management experience or PROSCI certification.; Experience managing AV/IT projects within construction or facilities renovation programs.; Familiarity with data privacy and compliance requirements in educational settings (FERPA, PCI-DSS).
Proposed Salary
The proposed annualized salary range for this position is $78,162 - $86,432 and includes full benefits.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities include: Deep understanding of project management methodologies, including Waterfall, Agile, and hybrid approaches, with the judgment to apply the right approach to each situation.; Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects across different domains (enterprise systems, infrastructure, AV) without losing sight of interdependencies and portfolio-level impacts.; Strong organizational design instincts, including the ability to create governance structures that are rigorous enough to add value without becoming bureaucratic overhead.; Skilled at navigating the collaborative decision-making culture of higher education, building consensus across faculty, staff, and administrative stakeholders.; Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, including root cause analysis, risk assessment, and data-driven decision-making.; Comfort with ambiguity and the capacity to impose order on complex, loosely defined situations.; Working knowledge of ERP platforms (Workday, PeopleSoft, Banner, or SAP), cloud/SaaS architecture, and system integration concepts.; Proficiency in project management tools and platforms (e.g., Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, ServiceNow, or equivalent).; Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to present complex technical information to non-technical audiences and executive leadership.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please contact Cole Maddox, Hiring Manager, via email at
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at _personnel_conduct .
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at .
Institutional Values

• Excellence: Actively engaging outstanding methods in teaching, academic discovery, creative pursuits, student success, cultural enrichment and the overall campus community.
• Creativity: Pursuing distinction through inquiry and innovation, challenging convention and focusing on solutions.
• Engagement: Dynamic civic involvement and participation of students, faculty, staff and alumni in the university experience.
• Sustainability: Advancing fiscal responsibility, well-being, innovation, lifelong learning and environmental stewardship.
• Inclusion: Cultivating and championing a campus environment that welcomes diverse backgrounds, ideas, perspectives and practices.
• Servant Leadership: Leading through ethical empowerment and service.

Conditions of Employment
All selected candidates are required to submit and successfully pass a background investigation to include reference checks and verification of academic credentials (if applicable). Other additional requirements may be required based upon specific position duties:

• A credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage;
• Pre-employment drug testing for positions with high-risk responsibilities.
• Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive a Columbus State University fleet vehicle or other vehicle designated as a fleet vehicle. A successful drug screening will be required as a condition of employment a randomly thereafter.

*Applicants for positions of trust may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. *
For Faculty Hires : Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.
All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond. Additionally, all members of the USG community must adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values must also be aware of and comply with the Board of Regents policies on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Columbus State University is proud to be an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity institution. It is the policy of our institution to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnical origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws.
Other Information
This is a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.
Background Check

• Position of Trust + Education

Special Applicant Instructions
Visit Columbus State University's online Careers portal to drive your career with us! The online applicant system provides you with the ability to review job opportunities and apply to those that you are interested in and feel qualified for. Each job posting has a summary description of the position and required qualifications. All job applications must be submitted through the online portal system.