Senior Project Manager

USC Human Resources is currently searching for exceptional team members to help us fulfill our mission: Developing individuals and society as a whole through the cultivation and enrichment of the human mind and spirit.

USC Human Resources is evolving to a newly imagined, world-class HR function through a high-impact service delivery model, that will elevate the employee experience through the enhancement of HR services. We aim to instill efficiencies through re-designed processes and policies, innovative tools, and industry-leading systems. ​

The University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world’s leading private research universities. A global center for arts, technology, and international business, USC is also the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles.   ​

This role enables the high priority, strategic projects in critical areas which support our multi-year ongoing transformational work. 

Job Summary 

The Senior Project Manager will lead and organize complex strategic HR projects for core HR functions. This role will proactively manage project resources and provides guidance and support during the execution of all project activities. This person will oversee the implementation of multiple large, complex projects and continuous improvement activities, providing leadership to junior team members. This role will help enable USC’s vision while championing USC’s culture and values. 

Minimum Qualifications 

• The candidate for the position of Senior Project Manager must meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Psychology, Communications, or another related field.

• Seven or more years of experience in one or more of the following fields: project management or business administration.

• Experience effectively managing large-scale projects, providing oversight and guidance to junior team members. 

• Ability to develop positive working relationships and a strong rapport with team members and senior managers. 

• Proven ability to manage through influence in complex organizational structures. 

• Exceptional organizational skills. 

• Demonstrated ability to manage concurrent projects, prioritizing competing assignments and working under pressure with tight deadlines and frequent interruptions. 

• Sound judgment in making decisions with minimal supervision and discretion with confidential information.

• Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across departments. 

• Experience managing diverse, cross-functional teams. 

• Excellent diagnostic skills and the ability to think strategically and creatively.

• Experience with varied project management methodologies (e.g., agile, Kanban, Scrumban).

• Experience with project portfolio management tools. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., MS Project, Visio). Excellent written and oral communications skills.

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate for the position of Senior Project Manager has the following qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Business, Communications, Psychology, or another related field.

• Ten or more years of experience in one or more of the following fields: project management or business administration.

• Certified Associate in Project Management, Project Management Professional, Change Management, Prosci and/or similar certifications.

• Experience in leadership, management, and people-building roles, providing direction to junior staff/team members.

• Proven interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building abilities.

• Demonstrated data-driven mindset and instinct for extracting insights from metrics to generate informed decision-making.

• Experience using various data management systems and tools.

• Manages employees (varied levels) across departments on a project basis.

Job Responsibilities

The candidate for the position of Senior Project Manager will be responsible for:

• Managing varied programs and projects, leading team efforts and activities, driving outcomes, solving for short-term challenges, and sustaining long-term plans for HR. Defining project success criteria and business benefits. Maintaining open lines of communication with all relevant stakeholders, sharing project/program roadmaps with diverse groups both in and out of HR (e.g., project teams, senior leadership).

• Conducting performance management analyses for large, complex projects or portfolios. Evaluating investment performance (e.g., cost, schedule) against planned accomplishments through coordinated project audits and reviews. Delivering project reports to articulate progress and performance of initiatives to a broad range of HR stakeholders. Managing expectations and driving accountability across projects, building, and presenting business cases and risk assessments.

• Managing staff to accomplish project objectives, including planning, and evaluating team activities. Leading regular status meetings to monitor updates, gather change requests, and discuss risks and issues across project teams. Diagnosing challenges and designing rational solutions in response. Identifying and addressing risks in projects and escalating to leadership as appropriate. Coordinating appropriate organizational change management strategies for complex project/program initiatives. Monitoring and reporting regularly on change efforts and progress.

• Facilitating innovation and continuous improvement by maintaining currency with latest industry knowledge and new project/program management methodologies, frameworks, tools, and technologies. Providing insights from management experience to influence development of future strategic roadmaps. Leading discussion with stakeholders to define key performance indicators and closely tracking metrics to evaluate realized benefits for HR.

• Providing expertise and leadership around project execution and value optimization. Communicating HR goals and tasks to team members to direct their work. Coaching junior staff to develop leadership capabilities. Demonstrating, through words and actions, alignment to USC’s strategic plan and the HR organization’s strategic plan.

• Collaborating with peers and leadership to demonstrate the culture and values of the university and the HR organization. Leading by example and developing trusting, credible relationships through demonstrated ethical judgment, behavior and practiced confidentiality. Promoting an environment that fosters inclusive relationships and creates unbiased opportunities for contributions through ideas, words, and actions that uphold principles of the USC Code of Ethics.

• Performing other related responsibilities as requested and when necessary. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

The University of Southern California is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree Minimum Experience: 7 years Minimum Field of Expertise: Bachelor's degree in business, psychology, communications or related fields. Experience effectively managing large-scale projects, providing oversight and guidance to junior team members. Ability to develop positive working relationships and a strong rapport with team members and senior managers. Proven ability to manage through influence in complex organizational structures. Exceptional organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to manage concurrent projects, prioritizing competing assignments and working under pressure with tight deadlines and frequent interruptions. Sound judgment in making decisions with minimal supervision and discretion with confidential information. Ability to work strategically and collaboratively across departments. Experience managing diverse, cross-functional teams. Excellent diagnostic skills and the ability to think strategically and creatively. Experience with varied project management methodologies (e.g., agile, Kanban, Scumban). Experience with project portfolio management (PPM) tools. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (e.g., MS Project, Visio). Excellent written and oral communications skills.