ArtCenter College of Design is searching for an experienced Project Manager (Marketing + Communications Division) to join our team.
The salary range for this position: $80,000.00 - 95,000.00 per year
Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.
About ArtCenter
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education and has had an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Every position at ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the cultural values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes upholding and cultivating an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
Reporting to the executive director, production and planning, the project manager leads end‑to‑end project management for a wide range of Marketing and Communications initiatives. The incumbent plays a critical operational role in leading projects through each phase of the production lifecycle while coordinating across teams, stakeholders, and departments to meet key milestones. Projects may include marketing campaigns, brand and creative assets, print and digital deliverables, email communications, newsletters, and event-related materials.
This is a full-time position. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed hybrid with the expectation of at least 3 days in the office. The demands of this work may include weekends or evenings. The college reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.
Essential Functions
Project Management & Workflow Coordination — 60%
- Lead the intake, planning, and execution of a broad range of Marketing and Communications projects from request through completion
- Collaborate with stakeholders across departments to clarify project goals, scope, timelines, and resource needs
- Partner with stakeholders to define project teams, clarify roles and responsibilities, and support shared accountability
- Develop and maintain project schedules, coordinating across teams to align deliverables with deadlines, capacity, and budget considerations
- Lead regular project status meetings to monitor progress, surface risks, and realign timelines or resources as needed
- Track project budgets and coordinate with internal teams, vendors, and contractors to ensure deliverables meet quality, budget, and timeline expectations
- Facilitate documentation, routing, and feedback processes to support timely approvals and milestone completion
- Track and support change requests in partnership with stakeholders and production teams
- Proactively monitor active projects to anticipate and resolve challenges related to schedules, workflow, and dependencies
- Facilitate standardized project tracking, job documentation, and archival practices in alignment with division workflows
- Assist with vendor coordination, including routing approvals, reviewing deliverables, and supporting invoice and purchase order processes
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Production Support — 25%
- Serve as a liaison between Marketing and Communications and campus partners including Admissions, IT, academic departments, and external vendors
- Support designers and content creators by clarifying requirements, coordinating reviews, and streamlining approvals
- Ensure deliverables align with marketing goals, enrollment timelines, and institutional brand standards
- Support production planning and trafficking at key milestones to ensure timely feedback and approvals
- Participate in regular production meetings to review timelines, deliverables, and cross-functional dependencies
Process Improvement & Operational Support — 10%
- Partner with the Executive Director of Production and Operations to support the refinement and standardization of workflows and project management practices
- Maintain project templates, documentation standards, and reporting processes
- Contribute to post-project reviews and retrospectives to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, quality, and collaboration
Non-Essential Duties — 5%
- Maintain awareness of emerging project management, workflow, and collaboration tools relevant to marketing and creative production
- Maintain general awareness of web- and digital-related tools, platforms, and best practices to support effective collaboration and project coordination
- Serve on College-wide committees, working groups, or task forces as requested
- Attend College events and activities as needed, which may occasionally require evening or weekend availability
- Perform other related duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, project management, business, or a related field from an accredited college or university; or any equivalent combination of training and experience
- Minimum of four years of project management experience in a marketing, communications, or creative environment, including managing multiple timelines and delivering projects on time and within budget
- Demonstrated experience coordinating cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders and deadlines
- Strong understanding of project management lifecycle, tools, and approaches; including plan, design, coordination, resource management and delivery
- Experience creating and maintaining detailed project documentation
- Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments and external partners
- Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects while adapting to shifting priorities
- Ability to handle all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of ArtCenter business
- Demonstrated experience in and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within ArtCenter’s diverse communities
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in higher education or within an in-house marketing, communications, or creative team
- Familiarity with creative and marketing production workflows across print and digital channels
- Experience using project management tools and collaborative workflow systems
- Project management certification or formal training (e.g., CAPM®, Agile, or equivalent)
Physical Demands and Working Environment
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
This is a full-time position. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed hybrid with the expectation of at least 3 days in the office. The demands of this work may include weekends or evenings. The college reserves the right to modify schedules as needed to meet the business needs with appropriate notice.
Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of time viewing computer monitor; interactions with other individuals. Due to the nature of the work environment, there is regular exposure to fumes, dust and noise.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 20 pounds); to operate modern office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Regular and consistent attendance are required for most positions.
Vision: Must be able to have the visual capacity to perform activities such as preparing and reading reports, viewing a computer terminal and other normal office work with or without correction.
Hearing: Must be able to communicate effectively in the course of normal office communication or exchange ideas with or without correction.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this job; they do not purport to describe all functions. Employees may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may be changed from time to time as necessary.
Diversity Statement
ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging not only in vision but in practice. Our path forward is predicated on our belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems are essential to academic and creative excellence. We strive to learn more about difference while respecting the rich diversity in our world, attending to important questions about racial injustice and decolonizing our curriculum. Our campus environment must be vigilant in supporting the full participation of students, faculty, and staff of every race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic status and political viewpoint.
Equal Opportunity Employer
ArtCenter is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants on the basis of race (including hair texture and protective hairstyle), color, religion (includes religious dress and grooming practices), sex/gender (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and/or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition (genetic characteristics, cancer, or a record or history of cancer), military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability (mental and physical, including HIV/AIDS, cancer, and genetic characteristics), genetic information, request for family care or medical leave, age (over 40), criminal background (Fair Chance Act), reproductive health decision-making, off-duty and off-premises cannabis use, or any other actual or perceived characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including without limitation, recruitment, hiring, upgrading, learning and professional development, promotion, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of ArtCenter and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of ArtCenter. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Employee Experience and Engagement at (626) 396-2470.
Applicant Rights (Prior Cannabis Use)
ArtCenter will not request information from an applicant relating to the applicant’s prior use of cannabis. ArtCenter will not use information obtained from a criminal history about an applicant or employee’s prior cannabis use, unless ArtCenter is permitted to consider that information under applicable law.
Employment At-Will
All employment with ArtCenter is for an unspecified term and is “at-will.” Employees are free to resign at any time, with or without reason, and with or without prior notice. Similarly, ArtCenter has the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. This “at-will” employment, which includes the College’s right to transfer, discipline, demote, or change the conditions of employment with or without cause and with or without prior notice, cannot be modified, amended or waived by any oral or implied agreement, and may be modified or altered only by an express individualized written employment agreement signed by both the employee and the College president
ArtCenter Employees have a Mandatory Duty to Report
All employees who know or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter’s Title IX Policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking shall promptly inform the , Title IX Coordinator or designee, or the Associate Dean of Students or designee. Faculty, who have a mandatory duty to report, are required to disclose all information including the names of the parties, even where the person has requested their name remain confidential.
Pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), all employees who know of or have reason to suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 shall promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.
