Project Manager

Role Description

IAHSJ is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and mission-aligned Project Manager to support the coordination, implementation, and advancement of IAHSJ initiatives. This role works closely with the Founding Director and is responsible for the management of the Institute, including operations and strategic priorities across funded programs, including:

• Prison Arts Collective (PAC)
• Valuing Incarcerated Scholars Through Academia (VISTA)
• Holistic Learning in Higher Education in Prisons (HLHEP)

The Project Manager supports the coordination and implementation of IAHSJ operations by:

• Maintaining systems, tracking budgets and administrative requirements.
• Supporting onboarding processes and personnel tracking to ensure consistency and accountability.
• Supervising program leads, part-time staff, interns, and IAHSJ communications.

This role prioritizes oversight and coordination based on grant requirements and funding commitments to support timely, compliant, and well-resourced implementation.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of program management and multi-site program coordination.
• Knowledge of staff supervision, team leadership, and organizational operations.
• Knowledge of budgeting and grant-funded program administration.
• Ability to translate strategic goals into operational systems and practices.
• Ability to supervise and mentor staff while fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Ability to coordinate work across teams, sites, and partner institutions.
• Ability to analyze program information to support decision-making and improvement.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse partners and stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report and presentation preparation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining strong organization and follow-through.

Requirements

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs.
• 5 years of progressively responsible experience performing varied or specialized administrative and analytical duties and/or service as a program administrator.

Preferred Qualification & Special Skills

• Proven leadership in nonprofit, higher education, public sector, or mission-driven organizations.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
• Advanced degree in arts administration, public administration, nonprofit management, education, or related field.
• Experience working within higher education or large institutional environments.
• Experience working in or in partnership with correctional institutions or justice-impacted communities.
• Experience with arts programming, arts education, or Arts in Corrections initiatives.
• Experience managing grant-funded programs and coordinating reporting requirements.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams of staff, artists, students, or volunteers.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, access, and community-centered arts engagement.
• Candidates with lived experience of the criminal justice system will be strongly considered.

Additional Applicant Information

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).