Project Manager, STEP

Position Function:

The Project Manager will serve as the central coordinator of the Skilled Workers Empowerment Program (STEP), a federally funded workforce development initiative housed within Mississippi State University's College of Professional and Continuing Studies (CPCS). Funded through a 4-year U.S. Department of Education FIPSE grant (Award No. P116J250140), STEP is a 10-week non-credit certificate program designed to prepare early- to mid-career skilled trades workers for supervisory advancement. The Project Manager will be responsible for day-to-day program management, coordinating timelines and deliverables across staff, employer partners, and participants, and ensuring the program meets all federal performance and reporting requirements. This position reports directly to the Project Director/Principal Investigator.

Salary Grade:  15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Coordinates day-to-day program operations, including timelines, staff communication, and deliverable tracking to ensure the program runs on schedule and within scope across all four program years.
2. Manages participant enrollment, cohort scheduling, and credential tracking through Canvas (LMS) and Modern Campus; ensures accurate and timely records for all 60-80 annual participants across multiple cohorts.
3. Maintains real-time performance dashboards monitoring enrollment, module completion rates, credential attainment (OSHA 30, MindEdge, MSU STEP Certificate), and supervisory advancement outcomes.
4. Supports monthly budget tracking and expenditure reconciliation, identifying and escalating budget variances exceeding 10% to the Project Director with proposed reallocations.
5. Facilitates weekly operations meetings with the Workforce Advisor and Faculty Facilitator to monitor participant progress, address barriers, and review Canvas analytics.
6. Coordinates logistics for weekend/evening intensive sessions, including space reservations, equipment, participant communications, and materials distribution.
7. Serves as the primary point of contact for participant logistics, including stipend and wraparound support coordination in partnership with the Workforce Advisor.
8. Manages internal and external program communications, including outreach to employer partners, community college liaisons, and advisory council members.
9. Maintains comprehensive program documentation including meeting minutes, implementation records, milestone tracking, and files required for federal grant compliance and reporting.
10. Supports the preparation of federal performance reports, annual progress reports, and any data requests from the U.S. Department of Education.
11. Activates early warning protocols when program metrics fall below targets (e.g., enrollment below 20, completion risk below 80%), escalating to the Project Director as outlined in the program management plan.
12. Coordinates with CPCS units (Center for Continuing Education, Center for Distance Education, Center for Innovation in Teaching Excellence) to leverage institutional infrastructure for program delivery.
13. Assists with dissemination activities, including preparation of practitioner materials, conference presentations, and toolkits for program replication.
14. May supervise graduate assistants supporting program operations and assist in onboarding and training of program staff.
15. Performs other duties as assigned by the Project Director.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Master's degree in education, public administration, organizational leadership, business, or a closely related field.
2. Two years of experience in program coordination, project management, or a related administrative role.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Experience coordinating federally funded grants or workforce development programs.
2. Familiarity with learning management systems, particularly Canvas, and non-credit student management platforms such as Modern Campus.
3. Three or more years of experience in higher education, continuing education, or adult workforce programming.
4. Knowledge of skilled trades industries (construction, manufacturing, energy) and their workforce development needs.
5. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or active pursuit of PMP certification is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to track multiple concurrent workstre