Project Manager, One- Degree Programs

Department:
Harris School Faculty and Academic Affairs

Policy with real impact doesn’t evolve from ideology or intuition, or even experience. At the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, developing effective public policy is a science, based on data and measurable impact. Addressing today’s interconnected, global challenges requires rigorous inquiry. It also requires innovative people who will face the facts, gather data, and understand why current policies exist to improve them.

For more than 30 years, the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has been steadfastly committed to serving society by advancing analysis- and evidence-informed policy. Guided by this exacting mission, our community of faculty, students, and alumni from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors are taking on the world’s most important problems by using the latest tools of social science.

Harris Public Policy offers a full range of degree and executive education programs and is the academic home to research centers, institutes, and labs that study and engage the public on areas such as conflict, democracy and effective government, economic and political development, education, energy and environment, health, municipal finance, public safety, social policy, and urban policy.

The Project Manager will lead the planning, coordination, and implementation of two new one-year degree programs at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. Reporting to the Chief of Staff and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and working closely with the faculty program directors, this role will serve as the central point of coordination across academic, administrative, and student-facing functions to ensure the successful launch and ongoing management of both programs.

The position requires strong project management skills, exceptional organizational ability, and the capacity to work collaboratively across multiple University offices and stakeholders. The Project Manager will help establish program infrastructure, coordinate academic operations, support admissions and student onboarding, and ensure a high-quality student experience from recruitment through program completion for two 11-month degree programs:
Master in Science Data Analytics (MSDAP) and Policy and Master of Science in Finance and Policy (MSFP). The new programs are designed as intensive, rigorous programs for students seeking specialized training at the intersection of policy and quantitative analytics. MSDAP will prepare students for roles at the intersection of data analytics, machine learning, and public policy. MSFP will prepare students for leadership roles at the intersection of institutional finance and public policy, including careers in central banks, finance ministries, banking regulation, municipal bond markets, ratings agencies, regulatory compliance, and other finance-related sectors.

• Work directly with faculty leads for each degree program to ensure effective program launch and implementation, including curriculum execution and academic planning.
• Manage program setup across key University offices such as the Bursar’s Office, Graduate Financial Aid, Registrar’s Office, Office of International Affairs, and Office of the Provost.
• Coordinate with the admissions team to support recruitment efforts, provide timely application updates, and ensure effective communication throughout the admissions cycle.
• Oversee curriculum setup, course scheduling, and academic program logistics in partnership with the University Registrar.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures for each degree program to support efficient operations and long-term sustainability.
• Manage program budgets and conduct financial planning for both degree programs.
• Maintain and regularly update program websites and related communications platforms to ensure information remains accurate and current.
• Create communication schedules for incoming students in each degree program and plan, organize, and execute new student orientation, including coordination of pre-enrollment academic support programs.
• Develop resources…