Project Manager, College & Career Pathways, Southern AZ

Job Profile:

Administrative Operations Specialist 3

Job Family:

Administrative Operations

Time Type:

Full time

Max Pay – Depends on experience:

$80,000.00 USD Annual

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary:
Supports and instructs those served by the department with complex queries, applies specialized knowledge of multiple standards, policies and procedures, and maintains accurate and detailed records.

Job Description:

The Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) seeks a Project Manager, College & Career Pathways, Southern AZ to serve as a regional lead for the organization’s Arizona Pathways to Prosperity (APTP) initiative in Pima & Pinal counties. The APTP initiative brings together industry and education sectors to collaboratively design, implement, and scale seamless college and career pathways that enable students to transition smoothly through high school, into higher education, and onto family-supporting careers. This position will play a critical role in ensuring the CFA achieves its mission to bring Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for the state.  

The Project Manager, College & Career Pathways, Southern AZ is responsible for 

partnership development and facilitating regional alignment between K-12 schools, higher education, and employers. The project manager will assist the region in implementing the Arizona Pathways to Prosperity framework which includes early career literacy and guidance, early college high school programs of study, and work-based learning. This position reports to the Senior Director, Education and works collaboratively with other members of the APTP team and affiliates of the organization.

Position Salary Range:

$70,000-80,000 per year; depends on experience

Essential Duties:

Facilitates regional collaboration among K-12, higher education, and employers to promote cross-sector collaboration and sharing of promising practices

Identifies, initiates, and sustains partnerships with K-12 districts and charter schools, institutions of higher education, and employers in their region

Identifies and implements partnerships between K-12, higher education, and employers that expand career exploration, work-based learning, and early college coursework opportunities for all students

Coordinates regional efforts and opportunities with national, statewide, and regional workforce development officials, economic development organizations, and community-based organizations

Supports strategic planning, goal setting, and progress monitoring of metrics and goals aligned to statewide and regional pathways strategic plans 

Tracks career-connected pathways milestones and deliverables for the region 

Collects data on key career-connected pathways outcomes in the region, prepares project status reports, and drafts relevant grant reports 

Develops and implements strong communication systems to ensure that regional and school-level leaders have the knowledge, tools, and information to implement and sustain robust career-connected pathways 

Plans and coordinates visits for key leaders in the region to showcase promising practices within school districts, higher education institutions, and industry partners

Supports specific grant-funded statewide and regional college- and career-connected pathways projects as needed

Represents CFA in key regional events, meetings, and community initiatives

Desired Qualifications:

Experience in or strong professional networks in Pima County K-12, higher education, workforce development, or economic/community development, or any combination thereof. Experience in or strong professional networks in Pinal County desired but not required.

Familiarity with Arizona K-12 accountability systems.

Experience contributing to cultivating a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable workplace. 

Evidence of effective written and verbal skills.

Evidence of having a track record as an implementer who thrives on effectively managing multiple streams of work and meeting several diverse deliverables concurrently. 

Experience in relationship building with a sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all internal and external partners.

Experience mentoring and developing skills in others.

Experience in being a self-starter, able to work independently and collaboratively.

Experience leading entrepreneurial and proactive approaches to problem solving. 

Experience working in a non-profit organization.

Experience in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook).

Working Environment:

This position will be based in Pima County and will work remotely