Our Mission

We in Boston University Development & Alumni Relations (DAR) harness the power of philanthropy to make an excellent education accessible and welcoming to all, and to advance BU’s global leadership in research, scholarship, artistic creation, and professional practice. To support our work, we have built—and are continuing to build—an outstanding team of dynamic, mission-driven advancement professionals who constantly strive to create an environment where everyone belongs. Where it’s not just about a job, but a career and a community.

Now, our Development Communications team is looking for a Project Manager who will be responsible for project management, digital asset management, technology services, and administration/operations for the Development Communications department within Development & Alumni Relations.

Development Communications at Boston University

Development Communications (DevCom) is an award-winning communications-services department within Development & Alumni Relations (DAR). DevCom helps DAR colleagues create marketing tools in a variety of print and digital media. We are especially committed to helping our front-line fundraisers do their jobs effectively and efficiently. Our work includes print materials, web design, branding, writing, editing, video production and editing, and events management and scripting.

Project Manager

Overseeing the project management function for a team of 10 creative professionals and reporting to the Associate Director, the incumbent will be responsible for setting up, monitoring, and closing out all team projects, which average about 400 per year and range from straightforward, linear print projects to multi-media deliverables to complex strategic initiatives. This will require close collaboration with all team members and selected contracted vendors, oversight of project management systems with an eye on proactively improving those systems following analysis and leveraging a strong familiarity with project management tools, methodologies, and best practices. Taking an active role in vetting and testing new technologies and digital platforms, including migrating content to new platforms and shepherding team members in best practices. Diligent attention to detail and ease with translating complex technologies for full staff adoption.

The project manager will also collaborate as necessary with vendors, BU Sourcing, and BU Accounts Payable to manage the creation of vendor contracts and ensure the timely payment and documentation of all vendor invoices and other business expenses. The position will also support scheduling for the Director and Executive Director and help with coordinating travel, processing reimbursements, and handling all other general administrative tasks of the team.

Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Develop detailed project plans to monitor and track progress, leveraging project management software
• Define DevCom projects scope and timelines
• Oversee team project management systems by creating new projects on project management platform, updating status, and closing out projects with appropriate filing
• Manage changes to project scope and timelines with team’s verification
• Partners with Director of Development Communications on setting agendas and managing weekly team Production Meetings
• Support and take minutes at project intake meetings and team meetings, including the preparation and circulation of meeting agendas and documentation
• Measure project performance using appropriate analytics and other digital tools

Technical Software/Hardware Evaluation and Integration

• Knowledge of current project management software.
• A demonstrated practice of researching and evaluating emerging project management technology hardware and software options, with a keen eye toward integrating emerging technologies with current ones.
• Facility with Digital Asset Management tools and platforms—including migration and best practices for upkeep—for Basecamp, Teams, Widen Flickr, and Vimeo.
• Survey team’s experiences with tools and platform and make adjustments and recommendations accordingly.
• Serve as a liaison with DAR IT and Boston University’s Information Services & Technology.

Administrative Support and Vendor Management

• Make travel arrangements, process reimbursements, and complete other administrative tasks as needed
• Process departmental paperwork, including ISRs, disbursements, and invoices, promptly and accurately to ensure that vendors and clients are paid and charged appropriately and on time
• Oversee inventory, order supplies, and manage the departmental P-Card
• Ensure that departmental business processes adhere to BU’s preferred practices, negotiating with BU Sourcing and BU Accounts Payable as necessary to move payments through the process in a timely manner
• Work with vendors and appropriate BU offices to initiate and complete vendor contracts

Required Skills

A cover letter is required for consideration.

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3-5 years of relevant experience
• Extensive administrative and project management experience, as well as a command of MS Office tools, agility with digital platforms
• Experience working in support of a large, complex organization
• Highly developed professional and interpersonal skills appropriate to a public office environment, the ability to learn new skills quickly, and the ability to appropriately handle confidential information and customer/vendor service issues.
• Excellent written communications, clerical skills, collaboration, and project management skills are required
• Strong computer, organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to prioritize the workload
• Resourcefulness in finding appropriate solutions to problems and initiative in presenting alternatives and implementing solutions to ensure effective change
• Ability to anticipate problems and take necessary action to eliminate or mitigate potential negative effects.

But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect , because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion , and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
• Continuous growth and improvement , both as individuals and as a team.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign—and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional— we encourage you to apply. **** If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application as well.

To learn more about Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the DAR Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/dar-talent/.

Please note all newly hired staff and faculty will need to be in compliance with Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirement within 30 days of date of hire. You must upload your vaccine documentation or request a medical or religious exemption ( instructions ). For further information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Resources site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.

Required Experience

A cover letter is required for consideration.

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3-5 years of relevant experience
• Extensive administrative and project management experience, as well as a command of MS Office tools, agility with digital platforms
• Experience working in support of a large, complex organization
• Highly developed professional and interpersonal skills appropriate to a public office environment, the ability to learn new skills quickly, and the ability to appropriately handle confidential information and customer/vendor service issues.
• Excellent written communications, clerical skills, collaboration, and project management skills are required
• Strong computer, organizational and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to prioritize the workload
• Resourcefulness in finding appropriate solutions to problems and initiative in presenting alternatives and implementing solutions to ensure effective change
• Ability to anticipate problems and take necessary action to eliminate or mitigate potential negative effects.

But that’s not all we’re looking for; we want someone who embodies our values:

• Teamwork, transparency, and mutual respect , because we value every member’s contributions and know that leadership can come from anywhere.
• Diversity, equity, inclusion , and a commitment to ensuring that each of us knows we belong here.
• Integrity in how we work and how we treat one another.
• Strategic thinking and curiosity in the relentless pursuit of fresh approaches and measurable results.
• Continuous growth and improvement , both as individuals and as a team.
• Joy and shared appreciation for working hard toward goals that matter.

If this resonates with you and you want to help us in our ambitious next campaign—and maybe do some of your best work as an advancement professional— we encourage you to apply. **** If you are hesitant to apply because you have not previously performed every responsibility listed in the description, but you do possess transferable skills and the defined qualifications, we still want to hear from you and welcome your application as well.

To learn more about Development & Alumni Relations at Boston University, and other job opportunities, please stop by the DAR Talent website: https://www.bu.edu/dar-talent/.

Please note all newly hired staff and faculty will need to be in compliance with Boston University’s COVID-19 Vaccination and Booster Requirement within 30 days of date of hire. You must upload your vaccine documentation or request a medical or religious exemption ( instructions ). For further information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please visit the COVID-19 Resources site.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to complete the employment application process, please contact the Equal Opportunity Office at 617-358-1796.