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Higher Education Project Management Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About Higher Education at DLR Group DLR Group's Higher Education practice fully embraces our ... Collaborate with the Project Manager to establish and maintain project work plans, schedules ...

The Project Manager for Higher Education will oversee the planning, design, and construction of ... Project Management: * Project Planning & Design: * Oversee multiple construction projects ...

The Project Manager for Higher Education will oversee the planning, design, and construction of ... Project Management: * Project Planning & Design: * Oversee multiple construction projects ...

We are currently seeking a Project Manager to join our Higher Education team in our Raleigh office. You are passionate about design and devoted to quality. You possess the organizational skills to ...

Higher Education Market Leader

Boston, MA · On-site

$150K - $165K/yr

Adept at building long-term strategic relationships, playing a leadership role on projects, and ... Work closely with the Education Practice Leadership Team, Client Development Manager and Market ...

Adept at building long-term strategic relationships, playing a leadership role on projects, and ... Work closely with the Education Practice Leadership Team, Client Development Manager and Market ...

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Higher Education Project Management information

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$38.5K

$102.7K

$162K

How much do higher education project management jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for higher education project management in the United States is $102,682.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,500.00 and $123,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Higher Education Project Management vs Academic Program Coordinator?

AspectHigher Education Project ManagementAcademic Program Coordinator
CredentialsBachelor's degree, PMP or similar certifications often preferredBachelor's degree typically required, relevant experience valued
Work EnvironmentUniversities, colleges, educational institutions managing projectsAcademic departments, administrative offices supporting programs
Employer & IndustryHigher education institutions, education sectorEducational institutions, academic departments
Primary FocusPlanning, executing, and closing projects within higher educationSupporting academic programs, coordinating activities, managing schedules

Higher Education Project Management involves overseeing specific projects within educational institutions, focusing on planning and execution. In contrast, Academic Program Coordinators handle day-to-day administrative support for academic programs. Both roles require strong organizational skills, but project managers often need certifications like PMP, while coordinators focus more on administrative experience.

What is higher education project management?

Higher education project management involves planning, organizing, and overseeing projects within colleges or universities. These projects can range from implementing new academic programs and managing campus construction to rolling out technology systems or improving administrative processes. Project managers in higher education must coordinate with diverse stakeholders, manage budgets and timelines, and ensure that projects align with the institution's strategic goals. Their work helps colleges and universities operate more efficiently and effectively adapt to changing educational needs.

How do higher education project managers typically collaborate with faculty and administrative staff during project implementation?

Higher Education Project Managers often serve as a bridge between faculty, administrative staff, and external stakeholders to ensure project goals align with institutional priorities. They facilitate regular meetings, clarify project timelines, and coordinate resource allocation, making sure all voices are heard and concerns are addressed. Successful collaboration requires strong communication skills, adaptability to academic schedules, and a clear understanding of both educational and operational objectives. Project managers must also mediate between various departments to resolve conflicts and keep projects on track.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a higher education project manager?

To thrive as a Higher Education Project Manager, you need expertise in project management methodologies, budget oversight, and a strong understanding of the academic environment, usually supported by a relevant degree and project management certification (e.g., PMP). Familiarity with project management software such as Microsoft Project, Asana, or Trello, and institutional systems like Banner or PeopleSoft, is typically required. Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills help distinguish top performers in this role. These abilities are crucial for delivering complex educational projects on time and within scope while aligning with institutional goals and engaging diverse stakeholders.
More about Higher Education Project Management jobs

What cities are hiring for Higher Education Project Management jobs?

Cities with the most Higher Education Project Management job openings:

What states have the most Higher Education Project Management jobs?

States with the most job openings for Higher Education Project Management jobs include:

Infographic showing various Higher Education Project Management job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $102,682 per year, or $49.4 per hour.

Project Manager, Higher Education Practice Lead

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

New York, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago


Job description

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.
Success at SOM Means
  • Ideas: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We look to everyone to actively contribute to the discourse in the firm.
  • Knowledge: We believe that expertise is the result of lifelong learning. We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers, develop new skills and deepen our knowledge.
  • Product: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.
  • Individual: We value individuals who bring the highest standards of professionalism and personal integrity in the way they work. Each person can develop and contribute their wealth of attributes, skills and knowledge to support the overall health of the firm.
  • Team: We value the power of interdisciplinary integration. A positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals is essential.
  • Firm: We have a history of making transformative contributions to the profession and our communities. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Overview
The Project Manager and Practice Lead for the Higher Education practice serves as both project team leadership and strategic advisor to enhance our higher education projects. This role requires active engagement in understanding and articulating the forces that shape higher education buildings and campuses. This position will work directly with Partnership, Principals, and other Practice Leaders to successfully manage higher education projects, identify target clients and projects and assist with the direction of business development strategy including market research, create new business development opportunities and actively pursue leads. This role requires understanding of the higher education market, development of relevant data, tools, and models to serve these clients, and contributes to design innovation to advance SOM's reputation of design excellence in this practice area. Significant knowledge and expertise in campus master planning, space programming, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach for Higher Education institutions is required.
Project Management Responsibilities
  • Leads the Architectural Project Team through close collaboration with SOM Partners project leadership to achieve design, technical and financial success.
  • Prepares, with Leadership input, quality agreements with clients including letters of intent, memoranda of understanding, and professional service agreements. Executes additional service agreements and gains authorization by phase.
  • Collaborates with Partners and senior team to prepare, issue, and manage compliance plans to align project goals including budget, deliverables and schedule. Gains agreement with the senior team for labor allocation. Chairs weekly team meetings to address variances from the project plan.
  • Administers internal control procedures with Project Accountant including billing, collections, percent complete, expense management, and year-end activities. Analyzes project reports and proactively manages the profitability of a project.
  • Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making.
  • Communicates actively through chairing weekly meetings, issuing meeting minutes and accurate project record keeping and sharing project information and correspondence.
  • Manages owner/client relationship and expectations to allow SOM and team to work effectively, efficiently and collaboratively.
  • Initiates, monitors and maintains project schedule and work plan including schedule of meetings and presentations.
  • Schedules and leads internal team weekly project meetings; develops the meeting agenda and project status update.
  • Defines project schedule and work plan with project leadership for early stakeholder engagement for programming and scope definition of educational spaces.
  • Initiates, monitors and maintains project plan and financial performance of project.
  • Initiates and maintains SOM-Client Services Agreement, SOM Sub-Consultant Agreements and requests for additional services.
  • Monitors scope for contract compliance and potential additional services.
  • Actively engages in project risk management through close collaboration with SOM Partners and legal group.

Practice Lead Responsibilities
  • Provide guidance to Project Team members in the development, production, promotion, and marketing of SOM's Higher Education functional market focused on the strategic growth of the practice.
  • In collaboration with firm-wide Higher Education Leads, contribute to the creation and implementation of the business development strategy including market research, create new business development opportunities and actively pursue leads.
  • Proactively organize and implement engagement strategy based on the Higher Education Business Plan including cultivating relationships between SOM leaders and clients and aligning SOM leaders and appropriate industry organizations.
  • Defines appropriate scope of work for Higher Education planning and design projects including review of specialty consultant scope of work.
  • Advise Project Teams and clients on best practices, trends and strategies to implement best in class design and planning solutions for teaching and learning environments.
  • Participates actively in project design and technical discussions and decision making for educational programs.
  • Facilitate integrated, participatory, and data-informed planning and design processes on Higher Education projects.

Leadership Responsibilities
  • Actively leads multiple projects and teams.
  • Established as a officewide resource in an area of expertise for market, discipline, or department.
  • Directly supervises, trains, and mentors team members.
  • Engages in talent strategy to find specialists, leaders, and future professionals for the firm through resume review, interviews, and leveraging personal network.
  • Demonstrates leadership in the implementation of sustainable strategies in all project assignments and the associated development of staff knowledge.
  • Creates and drives new ways of working through contributing to the development of services, standards, procedures based in an understanding of the business principles that protect SOM from financial and legal risk.

Minimum Qualifications
  • Significant knowledge and expertise in campus master planning, space programming, stakeholder engagement, and community outreach for Higher Education institutions is required.
  • Professional degree in Architecture.
  • Licensed in state of practice; LEED accreditation preferred.
  • Minimum 10 years of experience or equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities.
  • General understanding of sustainable strategies and principles including familiarity with LEED or other green building rating systems.
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully lead project teams and manage project schedule, budget and program.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Smartsheets, Adobe Suite and Google Workspace.
  • Familiarity with Deltek Vision, Salesforce.

Are you ready to join a team of creative professionals working on transformational projects around the world? Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to build a better future with SOM.
Our Benefits:
Health and Wellness:Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance
Savings: 401K matching, pre-tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs
Work/Life Balance: Inquire about our hybrid/flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program
Professional Development: Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees as well as specialized in-house career development
Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $120,000 to $170,000.
Our Culture:
Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. Here, you'll collaborate with industry experts on some of the most exciting and transformative architecture, engineering, and planning projects in the world.
We believe an inclusive environment improves our teams, our firm, and our communities and are passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our DEI Action Plan was created to bring meaningful change to our profession, starting with our own culture and practices.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Visit this page to learn more about SOM's employment policy as well as additional information such as a privacy notice for California residents and how to apply offline.
For more about SOM: www.som.com
Portfolios must be submitted for all design and project management positions (Architecture, Interiors, City Design, Graphics, etc).Applications without work samples will not be reviewed. Portfolios should be one PDF attachment, 10-20 pages, maximum 5 MB. Submit portfolios as part of your application in the section where the application asks you for your Resume or CV.