Project Coordinator, University Relations

Project Coordinator

The University Relations division at the University of Denver speaks with a unified, authentic and resonant voice to strategically advance the university’s brand with four goals in mind: to promote and protect DU’s reputation; to inspire students to enroll and engage; to increase inclusion; and to strengthen the University. The University Relations (UR) team aims to strengthen DU’s strategic position locally, regionally and nationally through data-driven and authentic storytelling across multiple channels with focused support on the university’s value drivers: academics and research;

enrollment and admissions, athletics and advancement. Whether through public or media relations, digital strategies, social media, print, podcast, issues or crisis management, community relations or thought leadership and training, UR drives results through narratives that involve words, pictures and design. With true understanding of and connection with our diverse audiences, we aim to foster collaborative problem solving, creativity and innovation.

The Project Coordinator will serve as a core member of University Relations' inaugural project management team, independently managing projects from intake through completion and providing operational support across the division. This role is well-suited for a detail-oriented professional who thrives in a collaborative environment and is energized by helping build systems and processes from the ground up.

The Project Coordinator reports to Strategic Initiatives Support Manager and will work closely with colleagues across University Relations and campus partners.

Essential Functions

• Independently manage multiple concurrent projects from intake to completion, including defining scope, establishing timelines, assigning tasks, monitoring progress, and communicating updates to stakeholders.
• Process and triage incoming project requests through the University Relations project management system, ensuring accurate prioritization and routing.
• Maintain organized project records, status reports, and documentation within the project management platform.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration with teams both within and outside University Relations to ensure timely delivery of project components.
• Identify project risks or bottlenecks early and proactively communicate with appropriate stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of project management processes, templates, and workflows as part of an inaugural team.

Email Distribution Support

• Partner with the Internal & Executive Communications team to build, proof, test, and deploy email communications using Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
• Perform quality assurance on emails prior to deployment, checking for accuracy, accessibility compliance, and consistent branding.
• Track and report on email performance metrics, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement.

Operational and Administrative Support

• Serve as a resource for University Relations staff on project management tools and processes.
• Pull reports, maintain spreadsheets, and prepare project status updates for leadership as needed.
• Act as a brand ambassador with a customer service mindset in all interactions, representing University Relations professionally with internal and external audiences.
• Support scheduling, logistics, and coordination for meetings and initiatives as needed.

Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and proactively, taking initiative to move work forward with minimal supervision.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly to a range of audiences.
• High attention to detail, particularly in quality assurance and proofreading contexts.
• A team player who is adept at building relationships and strengthening ties across multiple departments
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and frequent interruptions.
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach with strong interpersonal skills…