Vanderbilt University · 1 month ago
Senior Director of Special Projects
Nashville, TN, United States
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
8+ years expVanderbilt University is seeking a Senior Director of Special Projects to lead strategic initiatives within Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) during a period of growth and transformation. The role involves working with senior leaders to tackle complex challenges, manage project lifecycles, and enhance organizational effectiveness through strategic planning and execution.
E-LearningEducationHigher Education
Responsibilities
Lead planning, development, and execution of division-wide and institutionally significant projects
Translate leadership vision into actionable plans with milestones and success indicators
Align people and resources to support project goals and maximize impact
Manage project lifecycles to ensure progress, accountability, and strategic alignment
Serve as a central liaison among DAR leaders, university partners, and cross-functional teams
Identify risks and insights and present decision-ready recommendations
Conduct research and develop reports, white papers, and executive communications
Develop templates, dashboards, and tracking tools to support transparent, data-driven execution
Identify and mitigate risks; maintain timelines, quality, and consistency
Ensure adherence to institutional policies, branding, and strategic priorities
Demonstrate impact and ROI through clear metrics and reporting
Identify opportunities to strengthen efficiency, communication, and collaboration across DAR
Promote best practices in project management and organizational effectiveness
Serve as a thought partner to the Chief of Staff on division-wide planning and prioritization
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, is required
8–10+ years of experience in project management, strategic planning, or operational leadership, or the equivalent, is required
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional, high-visibility projects
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Demonstrated ability to translate complex, abstract, and conceptual ideas into clear, compelling visual narratives using PowerPoint
Expertise with project management tools and methodologies
Experience with systems integration, process optimization, and operational capability building
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
Professionalism and confidence in engaging senior leadership
Ability to work independently, take initiative, manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adapt to ever changing priorities are essential
Preferred
Advance degree is preferred
PMP preferred
Company
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Vanderbilt University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (90)
2024 (91)
2023 (87)
2022 (58)
2021 (62)
2020 (65)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$28.55MKey Investors
Mark AbkowitzNational Science Foundation
2018-11-07Grant· $4.5M
2018-04-18Grant· $0.55M
2015-07-10Grant· $12.8M
Leadership Team
B
Bharat Bhuva
Professor
Bill Blot
Professor
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