External Relations Project Manager
Are you someone who strives for excellence, values accountability, provides the best service, all while reflecting unwavering integrity? Our talented team members across the state follow the behaviors, beliefs and outcomes of these core values to ensure that our vision is met. If you're ready to join the TSTC family and make great memories please complete our application process.
Job Description
The External Relations Project Manager serves as the division’s lead for project execution, operational improvement, and modernization initiatives across External Relations. This role provides senior-level leadership for divisional project intake, planning, tracking, and execution while driving continuous improvement efforts that strengthen operational performance, organizational effectiveness, and strategic alignment across the division.
Working closely with divisional leadership and cross-functional stakeholders, the External Relations Project Manager translates strategic priorities into actionable plans, project roadmaps, and operational solutions. The role leads divisional efforts related to workflow redesign, service delivery improvement, operational streamlining, modernization, and execution discipline, ensuring projects and initiatives are aligned with TSTC priorities and positioned for sustainable success.
The External Relations Project Manager serves as a senior technical professional who independently manages a complex portfolio of divisional projects, modernization efforts, and operational improvement initiatives. Through disciplined project leadership, stakeholder coordination, process improvement, and data-informed execution, this role strengthens divisional capacity, improves operational consistency, and supports the long-term operational maturity of External Relations.
Essential Functions
The employee will demonstrate TSTC’s Core Values of Excellence, Accountability, Service, and Integrity with internal and external stakeholders, customers, students, and members of the community.
Project Intake, Planning & Prioritization
Leads divisional project intake and planning processes by vetting new initiatives, proposals, and taskforce concepts and translating business priorities into project scopes, timelines, roadmaps, and recommended next steps. Partners with divisional leadership to assess feasibility, align priorities, and support informed decision-making regarding project activation, sequencing, ownership, and resource needs.
Project Execution & Oversight
Serves as project lead for select divisional initiatives and manages planning, execution, implementation, and transition to operational ownership as appropriate. Monitors major initiatives, projects, and operational efforts across the division to ensure alignment with goals, timelines, deliverables, and intended outcomes. Tracks progress through dashboards, trackers, data visualizations, and regular check-ins with project owners to support accountability and sustained execution.
Operational Improvement & Modernization
Leads divisional initiatives focused on improving operational efficiency, service delivery, execution consistency, and organizational performance across External Relations. Evaluates workflows, identifies operational challenges, and implements practical improvements that strengthen coordination, efficiency, and service outcomes. Leads modernization and transformation initiatives that improve divisional capabilities, operational agility, and service delivery through redesigned workflows, more effective operating models, and implementation of improved processes and tools.
Project Accountability & Organizational Effectiveness
Supports divisional accountability for project execution by monitoring milestone completion, surfacing roadblocks, and identifying at-risk efforts that require intervention or escalation. Facilitates post-project reviews, operational retrospectives, and follow-up planning to identify lessons learned, reinforce accountability, and sustain continuous improvement across divisional initiatives. Supports organizational effectiveness efforts that improve divisional coordination, execution discipline, and operational maturity.
Reporting, Documentation & Decision Support
Prepares operational plans, project summaries, executive briefs, status reports, dashboards, and related documentation to support divisional leadership reporting and decision-making. Organizes project-related information, documents progress, and produces materials that improve visibility into divisional priorities, project health, execution risks, and operational outcomes.
Cross-Functional Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement
Builds strong working relationships across External Relations and with internal stakeholders across TSTC to support project alignment, communication, and execution. Facilitates collaboration across departments and project teams, creates forums for dialogue and issue resolution, and promotes shared understanding of priorities, timelines, roles, and responsibilities. Partners with divisional leadership and stakeholders to identify operational pain points, improve coordination, and strengthen divisional capacity.
Strategic Planning & Divisional Support
Partners with divisional leadership to support strategic planning, divisional goal setting, organizational evolution, and implementation of high-priority initiatives. Supports development of operational roadmaps, planning materials, and execution strategies that advance divisional priorities and strengthen alignment between day-to-day operations and long-range goals.
Education & Experience
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, project management, organizational leadership, higher education administration, or a related field.
Four years of experience in project management, operational improvement, organizational effectiveness, or related work involving complex cross-functional initiatives.
Two years of experience leading continuous improvement, modernization, service delivery improvement, operational transformation, or organizational effectiveness initiatives.
Experience developing project plans, roadmaps, reports, dashboards, or other tools used to support executive visibility, project monitoring, and operational decision-making.
Experience working with cross-functional stakeholders to plan, coordinate, and execute complex initiatives.
Preferred Qualifications
Project Management Professional (PMP), Lean Six Sigma, Agile, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Prosci, or other related certification.
Five years of experience in project management, operational improvement, organizational effectiveness, or related work involving complex cross-functional initiatives.
Three years of experience leading continuous improvement, modernization, service delivery improvement, operational transformation, or organizational effectiveness initiatives.
Experience in higher education, workforce development, public sector operations, or another complex multi-stakeholder environment.
Experience supporting executive-level planning, organizational change, or divisional strategy implementation.
Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree, except in cases where a specific degree is required to meet accreditation standards, licensure requirements, or other legislative or regulatory obligations. This includes, but is not limited to, certain faculty positions and staff roles governed by state or federal educational mandates.
Skills & Abilities
Ability to manage multiple projects, competing deadlines, and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to analyze operational workflows, identify performance gaps, and develop and implement process improvement strategies.
Ability to think strategically and develop innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions to operational challenges.
Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Ability to collect, analyze, and present data and metrics to measure project impact and prepare reports and recommendations for leadership.
Ability to develop project plans, implementation roadmaps, dashboards, and status reporting tools that support project execution and leadership visibility.
Ability to facilitate cross-functional collaboration, planning, and problem-solving across multiple stakeholder groups.
Ability to convey complex information clearly through written, verbal, and presentation formats to diverse audiences.
Core Competencies
Strategic Project Leadership
Independently manages complex divisional initiatives from intake and planning through execution and operational transition. Applies sound judgment to scope work, prioritize efforts, anticipate risks, and align project execution with divisional goals, timelines, and operational realities.
Operational Improvement & Innovation
Evaluates processes, identifies inefficiencies, and implements operational improvements that strengthen divisional performance, scalability, and service delivery. Applies continuous improvement principles, modern practices, and practical innovation to improve execution and organizational effectiveness.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Builds effective partnerships across functions, teams, and leadership levels to support coordinated planning and execution. Facilitates communication, alignment, and shared problem-solving in support of divisional priorities and complex cross-functional work.
Analytical Thinking & Decision Support
Uses data, reporting, and operational analysis to evaluate progress, identify trends, and support informed decision-making. Develops dashboards, summaries, and executive-ready reporting that improve visibility and help leaders assess priorities, risks, and outcomes.
Organization & Execution Discipline
Maintains strong organization across multiple projects, workstreams, deadlines, and stakeholder needs. Ensures projects...