Senior Account Manager

Carnegie | A Career That Helps Higher Education Thrive

We partner with colleges and universities to create lasting impact—for institutions, students, and the world they’ll shape. At Carnegie, your work contributes to something bigger: advancing opportunity through higher education. We invest in people, not just positions, and build careers that grow with you.

Carnegie Life | Our People & Culture | Benefits

About the Job

As a Senior Project Lead (non-sales), you are the bridge between our higher education clients and our internal marketing, creative, and operational teams. You turn big-picture marketing strategies into real results that drive enrollment and build brand strength. By leading cross-functional teams, managing timelines, and staying ahead of risks, you make sure we deliver excellent work on time and on budget. You act as a trusted advisor to clients and a leader internally, ensuring every project hits the mark.

What You’ll Own

Client Relationships & Growth

• Act as the main strategic contact and trusted advisor for assigned higher education clients.
• Build deep knowledge of each client's goals, audiences, and market to guide our marketing solutions.
• Lead strategy sessions, performance reviews, and regular status updates with client executives.
• Partner with Account Directors to spot opportunities for account growth and secure renewals.

Project & Delivery Leadership

• Run complex, multi-track projects from start to finish, managing scope, budget, time, and quality.
• Direct cross-functional teams, ensuring clear priorities, smooth workflows, and transparent communication.
• Review creative and strategic deliverables to make sure they are accurate, on-brand, and hit the client's goals.
• Monitor project revenue, burn rates, and resource allocation to ensure accounts stay profitable.

Risk Management & Problem Solving

• Identify and fix budget, timeline, or relationship risks before they escalate.
• Navigate ambiguity and guide teams through shifting priorities, process changes, or shifting scopes.
• Keep internal leaders and clients in the loop with clear, proactive updates on project health and roadblocks.

Team Mentorship

• Guide and mentor other project leads, sharing best practices and improving how we work.
• Help interview, hire, and onboard new members of the project management team.
• Provide input on training programs and skill development for the wider team.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree and 6–9 years of experience in higher education, marketing, or an agency setting.
• At least 3 years of experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing complex client relationships.
• Strong project management skills; PMP, Agile, or equivalent certification is preferred.
• Solid grasp of integrated marketing, including how brand and multi-channel campaigns drive client goals.
• Advanced skills in Asana and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for building trust with diverse clients and internal teams.
• High emotional intelligence, self-motivation, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• A willingness to learn and use AI tools to improve workflows and the client experience.
• Strong time management skills and comfort switching between multiple tech platforms in a remote setting.
• Ability to work at a computer for prolonged periods.

Why This Role This role puts you at the center of how we deliver value to our clients. You aren't just checking boxes; you are directly influencing how universities connect with students and grow their programs. If you love solving complex problems, leading teams through change, and building lasting client partnerships, this is your chance to make a massive impact on both our clients' success and our agency's growth.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $70,000–$82,000. Your offer will reflect the experience, skills, and qualifications you bring.