Project Manager, Advancement Information Services

Project Manager, Advancement Information Services

University Advancement is seeking a technical Project Manager to join its Advancement Information Services team. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President, Advancement Information Services, the Project Manager will lead the planning, execution, and delivery of initiatives that support fundraising operations, with a focus on CRM systems, data management, data integration, and data engineering projects. This role is pivotal in aligning technology solutions with advancement goals, ensuring systems are efficient, scalable, and support data-driven fundraising strategies. 

This is a hybrid position under our current work arrangement plan, with the expectation of on-site presence in our downtown Los Angeles office (USC Tower) and some travel to main campus (University Park Campus) as needed.

University Advancement is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all, where all advancement staff and our stakeholders have the opportunity to connect, belong, and grow while supporting the University of Southern California’s mission, values, and goals.

Responsibilities

• Manage full project lifecycles for University Advancement’s CRM (Salesforce), as well as system migrations, data integrations, and data architecture improvements.

• Create and manage project plans and timelines, as well as coordinate product demos quotes, and benchmarking analyses. 

• Manage relationships with internal and external resources for projects.

• Facilitate meetings focused on gathering requirements, addressing system enhancements and bug fixes, and performing user acceptance testing.

• Translate business needs into technical requirements and project deliverables and collaborate with project stakeholders to define pipelines and business rules/logic.

• Ensure solutions support prospect/donor lifecycle management, campaign tracking, and advancement stakeholder workflows.

• Proactively identify project risks, issues, and dependencies; develop mitigation strategies when necessary.

• Manage change communications and organize training related to new tools or workflows.

• Assist with the establishment and maintenance of project standards, governance processes, and documentation.

• Act as a liaison between and among project stakeholders from advancement services, alumni relations, development, and third-party vendors.

• Network with internal and external peers and stay informed about industry trends and technology advancements.

• Assist with the proactive exploration of new and innovative technologies, including but not limited to artificial intelligence.

• Perform other duties as assigned, contributing to the broader success of university initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree.

• Combined experience/education as a substitute for minimum education.

• 5+ years of project management experience in IT, data, and/or fundraising technology environments.

• Proven experience managing multi-faceted technical projects, especially those involving data integrations or data engineering efforts.

• Experience with Agile, Scrum, and/or Waterfall methodologies.

• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Wrike, Jira, Asana, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project).

• An enterprising spirit with strong communication, project management, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, who embraces new ideas, provides and receives feedback well, and fosters professional growth among colleagues.

• The ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.

• A passion for excellent customer service, commitment to exceptional quality, and the ability to inspire colleagues toward accomplishing common objectives and goals in a dynamic, high-performing, fast-paced environment.

• Demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP or other relevant project management certification (e.g., CSM, CSPO).

• Familiarity with SQL, APIs, ETL tools, and data warehousing concepts.

• Practical knowledge of the systems development lifecycle and rapid application development.

• Strong familiarity with fundraising operations, CRM platforms, and advancement technology.

• Previous experience in non-profit, higher education, or healthcare fundraising environments.

Required Documents

Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.

Compensation and Benefits

The budgeted salary range for this position is $95,000 – $150,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer alignment, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

To support faculty and staff well-being, USC provides benefits-eligible employees with a broad range of benefits and perks to help protect their and their dependents’ health, wealth, and future. These benefits are available as part of the overall compensation and total rewards package. You can learn more about USC’s comprehensive benefits here.

Minimum Education: Master's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 5 years, Combined education/experience as substitute for minimum experience Minimum Field of Expertise: Directly related education and project administration experience in specialized field represented by project