CMU Online is experiencing significant growth and seeks a strategic program leader responsible for comprehensive program management of multiple (10+) online graduate programs across 5 schools/colleges with significant nterdisciplinary collaboration across internal and external departments and partners.
The Director will independently lead the overall program management strategy to ensure an exceptional student experience, maintain the quality and reputation of CMU Online and meet retention/revenue goals. They will develop strategies, systems and processes to support these goals.
In addition, they will work collaboratively across the university with academic departments, enrollment services, computing services, registrar and financial aid to successfully manage the complexity of a central unit supporting programs that span multiple schools and colleges.
Finally, the Director will play a key role in the development and launch of multiple new programs annually, independently directing all aspects of operationalizing a new program in various systems in coordination with the academic department and across university partners.
This role is ideal for a highly experienced program management leader with experience managing all aspects of multiple programs while successfully collaborating with various stakeholders and partners. They will have strong critical thinking skills, expertise managing significant complexity
and have good judgement to independently resolve exception cases.
Core Responsibilities include:
Program Strategy & Operations
Direct all aspects of program strategy and operations for CMU Online's growing portfolio of 10+ online graduate programs across multiple academic departments.
Manage significant complexity across student needs, academic requirements and operational standards to support effective program delivery, strong student outcomes, and continued portfolio growth.
Evaluate operational challenges and exception cases, exercise independent judgment , and determine appropriate courses of action across multiple programs and university stakeholders. ● Act as the principal subject matter expert on university-wide policies and processes, CMU Online policies and processes, program specific curriculum, academic requirements and policies.
Proactively identify operational risks, gaps, and opportunities; determine appropriate solutions and lead their implementation to increase program efficiency, consistency, accuracy, and scalability.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Lead interdisciplinary coordination across multiple schools and colleges, aligning academic departments, university administrative units and CMU Online staff to ensure effective program operations and student services.
Develop and maintain strategic working relationships with university partners, including the University Registrar's Office, Student Financial Services, Financial Aid, Computing Services, Student Academic Success Center, and Graduate Student Affairs.
Lead the resolution of complex cross-functional issues requiring coordination among multiple university stakeholders, exercising judgment to reconcile competing requirements, address exceptions, and determine appropriate solutions.
Represent CMU Online in university committees, cross-functional working groups, and stakeholder meetings; present program priorities, operational challenges, recommendations, and decisions to academic and administrative audiences.
Collaborate with CMU Online marketing and recruiting leadership to align program operations, enrollment planning, student communications, and new program implementation.
Student Success & Retention Strategy
Direct student success and retention strategy to ensure students have a world-class experience for students and that retention/revenue goals are met.
Lead the planning and execution of a complex onboarding process including ~300 new students across 10+ programs with 4+ schools/colleges over three starts per year. Ensure successful…