Graduate Program Manager Jobs in Tempe, AZ (NOW HIRING)

Job Family: Administrative Operations. Time Type: Full time.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Position Salary Range: $57,900- $72,400 per year; DOE.

Job Profile Summary: Supports and instructs those served by the department with complex queries, applies specialized knowledge of multiple standards, policies and procedures, and maintains accurate and detailed records.

The Project Cities program is a signature program of the Sustainable Cities Network in the Global Futures Laboratory (GFL) at Arizona State University (ASU). Project Cities connects community partners facing sustainability challenges to faculty teaching courses at the university to develop solutions with students through project-based learning. Since the program launched in 2017, Project Cities has collaborated with 17 Arizona community partners on more than 135 projects involving over 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students led by 62 faculty members across more than 30 ASU schools, colleges, programs, and initiatives. In 2022, Project Cities was awarded the ASU President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness for its achievement in advancing mutually beneficial university-community partnerships. Project Cities’ goals are to: (1) Foster long-term, mutually-beneficial partnerships between ASU and local communities and organizations; (2) Leverage ASU’s knowledge base, faculty and student body to improve the quality of life in communities; (3) Bring cross-disciplinary collaboration and research-backed solutions to complex municipal/local challenges; (4) Work with public agencies to identify challenges and co-create project solutions and options; (5) Engage students in hands‑on learning to prepare them for future careers; and (6) Facilitate class project opportunities for ASU scientists and scholars by providing access to Project Cities’ community partnerships and logistical program support.

The Program Manager will lead coordination, administration, facilitation, and evaluation of Project Cities throughout each program cycle. A program cycle includes semester and project pre‑planning, launch, activities, showcase events, and the production and publication of a final summary report. There are typically two program cycles per calendar year, with overlap of activities to ensure continuous program delivery to community partners. To advance program efforts, the Program Manager will develop and manage a network of relationships with key practitioners within ASU and external community partners to co‑design and facilitate student‑led projects. This position will report to the Director of the Sustainable Cities Network (SCN), coordinate with SCN, support its activities, and take on additional projects as assigned or needed. The position will also manage and oversee student employees and AmeriCorps members engaged in Project Cities’ summary report production and marketing activities, including providing direction, coordinating assignments, and ensuring the quality and timely completion of deliverables.

Lead recruitment of community partners to participate in Project Cities by sharing program impacts, outcomes, and processes with leadership and staff upon request. As needed, host information sessions through SCN and other ASU and GFL programs and respond to direct program inquiries. Coordinate partnership development and maintenance with the Sustainable Cities Network (SCN). Lead recruitment of ASU faculty and academic programs to participate in Project Cities by matching their academic courses with partner‑identified projects. Manage relationships with current community partners and ASU faculty and academic program partners through regular meetings and reporting. Maintain and enhance relationships with previous community partners and ASU faculty and academic program partners to track and evaluate long‑term program impacts.

Negotiate, execute, and fulfill terms of formal agreements and project scopes with community and organizational program partners. Manage the community partner onboarding process through the establishment of Master Agreements in coordination with the ASU Office of Sponsored Projects & Research Administration (ORSPA) and community partner leadership. Lead the development, execution, and milestone tracking processes of Administrative Scopes of Work (SOWs) or other agreement documentation, in coordination with ORSPA and community partner liaison and staff project leads. Plan and submit sponsored project budgets to ORSPA as part of formal agreements with partners. Document, process, and track documentation for programmatic expenses. Prepare annual overall programmatic budget. Communicate processes with community partners and ASU faculty, troubleshoot agreement challenges, and serve as a liaison between ORSPA and community partners.

Lead the project planning process in coordination with the community partner project lead and matched faculty member for each project. Plan and facilitate semester launch, including student orientations and kickoff events in coordination with faculty and community partners. Plan and facilitate field trips, site visits, fieldwork, and stakeholder meetings based on the unique needs of each project. Respond to student and faculty resource requests to support and troubleshoot project activities. Plan and facilitate final showcase events for students to present findings and recommendations to community partners. Deliver as‑is student work to community partners at the end of each academic term. Leverage project management tools to track program cycle activities, key milestones, and deliverables. Maintain and update all databases (project details, administrative information, project impacts, etc.). As needed, hire and provide management oversight of student workers and external contractors providing additional program support. Seek opportunities to further grow, develop, and expand Project Cities through additional partnerships, funding (grants, foundations, etc.), and strategic planning with SCN Director.

• Managing the report text development and revision process.


• Manage the report design process.


• Manage internal reviews with faculty and staff as well as external reviews with community partners.


• Manage the report print, digital publication, and delivery process.


• Supervise staff and/or student worker(s) in the areas of graphic design and/or communications who lead report design.


• Maintain Adobe InDesign and Illustrator templates and training materials for graphic design and communications student worker and other Project Cities team members.

Maintain community and university awareness of the program through regular public outreach, marketing, and production of program impact reports. Maintain an up‑to‑date web presence, an active blog of program updates, and navigable public archives of past projects. Produce regular updates on program impact via the Project Cities website and other published media, through coordination with community partners and internal ASU communications resources.

• Extensive experience in developing, managing, and evaluating complex projects and programs.


• Experience in developing and managing relationships with public sector organizations, such as cities, towns, counties, and state agencies.


• Experience working in an academic environment with administrators, faculty, and students.


• Experience in event planning and management.


• Strong writing and copyediting skills; particularly for academic work being reported to non-academic audiences.


• Sample work may be requested.


• Ability to manage budgets and contracts.


• Experience in marketing, communications, and design.


• Experience supervising and directing the work of others.


• Knowledge of sustainability, urban systems, and public sector organizations.


• Knowledge of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed‑methods research practices.


• Ability to clearly communicate and exchange accurate information to perform essential duties.


• Expected to be responsive to customers, engaged in work production, resourceful, flexible, and respectful of others.

Climate-controlled office setting subject to extended periods of being in a stationary position. Constantly detects and operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer.

Global Futures Laboratory takes a broad look at the trajectory of our planet and the role of global society in shaping it, to gather and synthesize knowledge from many frameworks and to fundamentally alter how we manage the planet in ways that achieve sustained habitability. Global Futures Laboratory harnesses the innovative capacity of academia and develops options for sound management of our planet, in part by finding untapped opportunities that lie between disciplines, schools and existing projects. Driving Requirement: This position may require driving. Employee must possess a valid US Driver’s license of the appropriate class and required endorsements throughout employment.

Campus: Tempe

No Federal Funding

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law.

Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real‑world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 100,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions inclusive excellence, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe. ASU is a tobacco‑free university.

ASU conducts pre‑employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the background check. This position is considered safety/security sensitive and will include a fingerprint check. Employment is contingent upon successful passing of the fingerprint check.

Relocation Assistance – For information about schools, housing child resources, neighborhoods, hospitals, community events, and taxes, visit https://cfo.asu.edu/az-resources. Notice of Availability of the ASU Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.