Manager, Program Management Office

Department Overview

The University of Colorado System Administration office is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where employees can thrive, feel valued, and contribute meaningfully to higher education. Serving multiple campuses and the Office of the President, this centralized office advances education, research, and community service through collaborative efforts.

Position Summary

The Office of Advancement at CU System supports fundraising and engagement efforts via advancement operations including data management, business intelligence, technical infrastructure, gift administration, marketing, and IT. The Program Management Office (PMO) operates as the technical delivery arm responsible for leading complex projects, business analysis, and management of systems. This Manager role leads the PMO team of project managers and business analysts, accountable for delivering critical initiatives on the CU Ascend (Salesforce) platform and related systems, evolving agile methodologies, and connecting multiple stakeholders to deliver comprehensive solutions.

Work Location and Schedule

This is a primarily remote role with a "flexibility first" hybrid approach, requiring occasional in-office presence at the CU System Office in Denver, Colorado. The position includes up to four "callback" weeks annually during which onsite attendance is mandatory—typically two weeks in spring and fall.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive end-to-end project delivery managing a portfolio of business-critical initiatives to ensure proactive, predictable progress.
• Advance and adapt agile delivery methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, flow) to suit project needs and enhance operational rigor.
• Maintain delivery standards through current work status updates, visibility of near-term tasks, and early blockage identification and resolution.
• Facilitate agile ceremonies such as backlog refinement, planning sessions, stand-ups, and retrospectives, and mentor the team to execute them effectively.
• Define and utilize metrics (workflow efficiency, work aging, release progress) to monitor and improve delivery health.
• Lead and expand the business analysis discipline by eliciting requirements, analyzing processes, and clarifying business needs for technical teams.
• Develop BA capacity and cross-train to enhance the team's analysis capabilities.
• Act as product owner for work-management tools (e.g., Monday.com), establishing governance, standards, and configurations to ensure transparency and consistency.
• Address system and integration issues in collaboration with development teams to support smooth delivery.
• Manage, coach, and develop a team of project managers and business analysts, enhancing ownership, judgment, and interdisciplinary skills.
• Monitor team dynamics, resolve obstacles, and promote effective collaboration.
• Coordinate with Service Delivery, Training & Outreach teams, linking technical delivery with governance, training, and adoption efforts to achieve holistic solutions.
• Represent PMO interests in leadership meetings and governance decisions, and manage vendor relationships, budgets, and procurement activities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience matched year-for-year.
• At least five years of experience leading technical project or program delivery, including managing large, cross-departmental initiatives.
• Proven ability to facilitate planning among executive leadership, managers, and project teams.
• Hands-on experience with agile delivery methods such as Scrum and Kanban in enterprise application settings.
• Minimum of one year in a supervisory role with responsibilities for managing and mentoring staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Seven or more years in delivery leadership roles related to technical project management.
• Certifications in Agile methodologies (CSM, PMI-ACP, SAFe, Kanban) or business analysis (IIBA/CBAP).
• Experience coaching teams on core delivery and analysis skills.
• Familiarity with Salesforce ecosystem and higher education, non-profit, or government IT environments.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong expertise in agile project delivery with the flexibility to tailor methodologies.
• Leadership in business analysis practices or strong proficiency in these disciplines.
• Competence in managing and configuring work-management platforms to promote transparency and efficiency.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills bridging technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Effective decision-making and problem-solving abilities amidst evolving priorities and concurrent tasks.
• Understanding of complex budgetary structures and vendor management processes.
• Understanding of advancement or development operations is advantageous.

Benefits

• Access to a variety of health plans including medical, dental, disability, life, and vision insurance, some with fertility assistance.
• Multiple retirement savings options including employer contributions to a 401(a) plan.
• Pre-tax flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care.
• Generous paid time off, including sick leave, vacation, at least 12 holidays plus a dedicated winter break week.
• Six weeks of parental leave.
• Tuition benefits for employees and dependents.
• Complimentary EcoPass for public transit and free onsite parking at Denver office.
• Additional perks through the CU Advantage program.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit a cover letter addressing minimum qualifications and interest in the role, along with a detailed resume reflecting relevant experience, through the official University application system.