Advancement Operations and Project Manager

Located in Bostons historic Fenway area Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Bostons only womens undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all.

Youre joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six-school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities addition we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. Youll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace.

As a university that values diversity equity and inclusion Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating developing promoting and enhancing inclusive hiring practicesat all levels for all positionsensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty staff student body and curriculum.

JOB SUMMARY

The Advancement Operations and Project Manager provides operational and administrative support to the Vice President of Advancement and the Advancement Office at Simmons University. The position requires discretion sound judgment and professionalism in all interactions with internal and external stakeholders. This role is critical in ensuring the efficiency of the Advancement Office by: Managing the Vice Presidents schedule and daily priorities Serving as primary liaison between the Advancement Office and the Office of the President Coordinating travel and meetings for both the Vice President and Advancement activities Overseeing budgetary processes and financial tracking for the department and supporting departmental operations and project management.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Administrative & Calendar Management

• Manage and maintain the Vice Presidents complex daily calendar including scheduling meetings appointments and events.

• Prioritize and resolve scheduling conflicts to ensure efficient use of the Vice Presidents time.

• Serve as a primary point of contact for the Vice President screening calls correspondence and requests.

• Support the administration and tracking of the Vice Presidents fundraising portfolio.

Advancement Liaison to the Presidents Office

• Coordinate all advancement-related meetings and travel for the President in collaboration with the Vice President for Advancement.

• Partner with Advancement staff to manage travel arrangements ensuring alignment with donor visits cultivation events and institutional priorities.

• Oversee the preparation collation and timely delivery of briefing materials guest lists and event details for the Presidents advancement activities.

• Ensure seamless communication and collaboration between the Offices of the President and Advancement to support strategic fundraising and engagement goals.

Travel & Meeting Coordination

• Arrange domestic and international travel including transportation lodging itineraries and related logistics.

• Plan and execute meetings retreats and special events for the Advancement Office including agenda preparation materials catering and follow-up.

• Coordinate logistics and materials for advancement department and interdepartmental meetings.

Financial & Budget Oversight

• Track reconcile and process the Vice Presidents expenses and departmental purchases in accordance with college policies.

• Provide oversight of the Advancement budget including monitoring expenditures generating budget reports and assisting with forecasting.

• Serve as liaison with the Finance Office on budgetary matters.

• Manage internal resources and procedures for third party vendors including contract management and approvals and budget operations.

Operational Support

• Support Advancement staff with project kick-offs and cross-department coordination as needed.

• Develop and maintain efficient office systems for information management in collaboration with Advancement Services.

• Serve as project manager on cross-departmental projects as needed and identified by the Vice President.

• Ensure the confidentiality of sensitive information related to the Vice Presidents work and Advancement initiatives.

• Implement onboarding and offboarding activities for Advancement staff.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• Minimum of 3-5 years of operational support preferably in higher education nonprofit or advancement/development settings.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word Excel Outlook PowerPoint) and familiarity with budget management systems.

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws effective October 29 2025 Simmons University is committed to pay equity transparency and clear communication throughout the hiring process. The hourly or annual salary range for this position is:

This is benefits eligible position.

Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience education skills equity and external market benchmarks that help guide compensation decisions. Our compensation philosophy is centered around a comprehensive package that includes pay health benefits and retirement savings offerings that can be seen here as well as work-life balance initiatives such as flexible hours and remote work opportunities. We are committed to offering a package that empowers individuals to thrive in their roles contribute meaningfully and lead with confidence.

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv cover letter writing sample teaching philosophy etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 (My Experience) of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individuals community experience. As a university committed to diversity equity and inclusion Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating developing promoting and enhancing inclusive hiring practicesat all levels for all positionsensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty staff student body and curriculum.