Senior Project Strategist

PG194998EP

No

Senior Project Strategist

Commensurate with experience and education

Monday - Friday; 8a - 5p and other hours as needed to fulfill the duties of this position; flexible work arrangement available.

Raleigh, NC

Development Communications and Stewardship

North Carolina State University was founded in 1887 with the purpose of creating economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina. Today, NC State is the largest university in North Carolina, with more than 40,500 high-performing students, more than 10,000 preeminent faculty and staff and more than 310,000 dedicated alumni. NC State is a Research One (R1) university known for its leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. We’re also at the forefront of teaching and discovery in agriculture, business, design, education, humanities and social sciences, natural resources, textiles and veterinary medicine. NC State is consistently named as one of the best values in higher education, and many of our programs are ranked at the top of their respective disciplines. We take a great deal of pride in our collaborative, supportive and collegial team culture. All staff are provided opportunities for training and professional development, with an eye to personalized career growth.

The mission of University Advancement at NC State is to amplify the university’s local and global impact by nurturing lifelong relationships, championing philanthropy and strengthening the Wolfpack community. The division is composed of six teams — Advancement Services; Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving; Finance, Administration and Talent Management; Principal Gifts Program; University Development; and University Special Events and Experiences — that build relationships across the university and beyond to ensure a best-in-class experience for alumni, friends and donors.

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!
  
  

Working with partners within University Advancement and across campus, the senior project strategist will provide both project management and strategy with primary project manager responsibilities including client and vendor relations, scheduling, budget and cost tracking. The position functions as the program expert, managing communications, marketing and stewardship projects, campaigns and services that support fundraising, donor engagement and stewardship efforts.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Project Coordination & Execution

• Coordinate projects throughout the full lifecycle, from initial concept and planning through implementation and completion.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, timelines, milestones and deliverables for multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks or bottlenecks, and proactively coordinate solutions to keep projects on schedule.
• Ensure clear communication and accountability among project team members and stakeholders.
• Maintain project documentation, meeting notes, status reports and action items.
• Prioritizes and manages multiple high-level projects with complex processes and timelines.
• Cultivates professional relationships with partners at all levels of University Advancement to ensure that outcomes meet requirements of university brand and expectations/needs of campus partners.
  
  

• Serve as the primary coordinator among University Advancement departments, campus partners, vendors and other stakeholders.
• Organize and facilitate project meetings, ensuring agendas, follow-up items, and deliverables are clearly documented and communicated.
• Coordinate reviews, approvals, and production schedules across multiple partners.
• Build collaborative relationships that support efficient project execution and continuous communication.

• Coordinate the development and execution of integrated marketing and communications initiatives that support fundraising, donor engagement and stewardship efforts.
• Assist with organizing and maintaining marketing content, campaign assets, editorial calendars and project resources.
• Coordinate production schedules for all communication channels.
• Ensure marketing materials remain current, organized and aligned with University branding and messaging standards.
• In-depth knowledge of marketing principles, including expertise in developing and executing successful, strategic, integrated communications, marketing and stewardship plans; audience analysis and segmentation; CMS, CRM and other engagement strategies.
• Background with e-mail lead generation campaigns, and customer journey mapping.
• Experience working with print collateral and external vendors, with a solid understanding of the printing process from concept through production.
• Business Intelligence tools, such as Excel, Tableau, and/or Power BI
• Google Analytics/Adobe Omniture
• Proven track record of collaborating with videographers, photographers, and designers to establish project timelines and deliverables, ensuring initiatives remain on track and on schedule.
• Marketing automation tools Pardot, Marketo, Eloqua, Acoustic and/or Salesforce Marketing Cloud.
• Thinking creatively about optimization opportunities, digital marketing testing techniques and opportunities for consistent improvement.
• CRM tools (Salesforce, MS Dynamics, Oracle, etc.)
• Exceptional project management skills.
• Knowledge of paid social media strategies to support digital campaigns.
• Strong analytical background.

• Coordinate logistics for departmental initiatives, strategic projects and campaigns.
• Support leadership by tracking departmental priorities and monitoring progress toward project goals.
• Assist in developing standardized project management processes, workflows, and documentation to improve operational efficiency.
• Prepare project updates, dashboards, and reports for leadership and project teams.

• Coordinate activities with external vendors, consultants, freelancers and campus partners as needed.
• Monitor project schedules and resource allocation to support timely completion of deliverables.
• Help ensure consistency across projects through effective planning, communication and documentation.
• Does not supervise any full-time staff, but will coordinate the work of peers on departmental project teams. May supervise volunteers, interns, freelancers or temporary staff.

• Perform other duties as required or assigned. May require attending an evening event once or twice a year.

• Bachelor’s degree in a discipline related to the area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across teams and stakeholders, ensuring outcomes align with organizational goals, priorities, and established brand standards.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience coordinating complex projects involving multiple contributors and deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering high-quality work.
• Ability to anticipate needs, identify challenges and implement practical solutions.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Knowledge of marketing, communications, content development or campaign management principles.

• Experience coordinating marketing, communications, or creative projects.
• Experience working in higher education, nonprofit, or advancement environments.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and workflow management systems.
• Experience supporting integrated marketing campaigns or donor engagement initiatives.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing competing priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 2 two years or greater of related professional experience.

N/A

No

No

10/26/2026

Open until filled

In addition to your application, please submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for at least three professional references.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship.

00102979

EPS/SAAO

1.00

12 Month Recurring

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

082080 - Development Communications and Stewardship

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.