Western Governors University
Project Manager III
SCRUM
Sigma
Six Sigma
Edtech.com's Summary
WGU Academy is hiring a Project Manager III to lead complex academic program initiatives from start to finish. The role involves close collaboration with academic and operational stakeholders to ensure projects align with departmental goals, timelines, and standards, while managing all project phases and supporting change management efforts.
Highlights
- Manage all phases of assigned projects including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, controlling, and closure.
- Keep stakeholders and leadership informed about project status, risks, and issues impacting schedules.
- Maintain accurate project management records and produce timely reports.
- Develop realistic project plans by analyzing dependencies and resource requirements.
- Ensure compliance with organizational standards, policies, and procedures.
- Apply and monitor change management strategies in projects.
- Provide mentorship and training to other project managers.
- Experience with project management tools such as Asana, JIRA, or similar.
- Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree and five years of project management experience with change management application.
- Preferred qualifications include Scrum/Agile, Lean Six Sigma, higher education experience, and PMP certification.
- Competitive salary range from $97,100 to $145,600.
- Full-time, in-office position in Salt Lake City with occasional travel up to 20%.
Project Manager III Full Description
If you're passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you're committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.
Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.
At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
Grade: Professional 311Pay Range: $97,100.00 - $145,600.00
Grade: Professional 311Pay Range: $97,100.00 - $145,600.00
Job Description
WGU is hiring a Project Manager III to support high‑impact work within WGU Academy, managing complex initiatives from inception through completion in Academic Programs. This role partners closely with academic and operational stakeholders to deliver projects that are tightly aligned to departmental priorities, timelines, and standards.
WGU is hiring a Project Manager III to support high‑impact work within WGU Academy, managing complex initiatives from inception through completion in Academic Programs. This role partners closely with academic and operational stakeholders to deliver projects that are tightly aligned to departmental priorities, timelines, and standards.
Primary Responsibilities
- Manage all phases of assigned projects, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing
- Keep stakeholders and leadership informed of project status, including milestone achievements, toll‑gate progress, risks, and issues impacting schedules
- Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date project management records and systems
- Produce timely and accurate reports as directed
- Develop realistic project plans and schedules by analyzing dependencies, resource requirements, work breakdowns, and departmental priorities
- Ensure projects are managed in accordance with organizational standards, policies, and procedures
- Document project deliverables, outputs, and decision rationale
- Understand departmental strategic priorities and influence project team efforts in alignment with those priorities
- Apply and support change management strategies within assigned projects and monitor outcomes
- Provide input to refine project management processes and improve efficiency
- Provide thought leadership, mentorship, and training support to project managers and associate project managers
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong project management expertise
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience using project management systems and tools (e.g., Asana, JIRA, or similar)
- Working knowledge of change management methodologies and practices
- Ability to influence without authority and motivate cross‑functional partners
Work Location & Travel
- Full‑time, in‑office position in Salt Lake City, UT
- Must reside in or relocate to the Salt Lake City area within 90 days of offer acceptance
- Onsite four (4) days per week with the option to work remotely on Fridays, per department scheduling
- Occasional travel up to 20%, including required attendance at company summits (typically one to two per year)
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree
- Five (5) years of experience as the assigned project manager with responsibility for project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure
- Experience applying change management methodologies within projects
- Ability to use tools such as Asana, JIRA, or similar PM system tools.
Preferred Qualifications
- Scrum or Agile experience
- Lean Six Sigma or process improvement experience
- Experience in higher education or academic environments
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent
Visa Sponsorship
WGU is not able to provide visa sponsorship for this role.
What to Expect in the Interview Process
- Introductory call with recruiter (30 minutes)
- First‑round interview (45 minutes)
- Second‑round interview (30 minutes)
- Team interview / stakeholder conversation (30 minutes)
Benefits
Comprehensive healthcare, retirement savings, wellbeing programs, discounted WGU tuition for you and your family, flexible PTO and sick time, 11 paid holidays, and additional paid leaves, including parental leave.
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Position & Application Details
Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.
Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.
How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.
Additional Information
Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It's not all-inclusive.
Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at recruiting@wgu.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.
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