Project Manager

Job Title: Project Manager

Reports To: Senior VP of Enrollment & Project Management

Department: PMO

Location: Phoenix, AZ

FLSA Status: Exempt

About CEA CAPA

At CEA CAPA, we believe studying and interning abroad is a transformative experience. By immersing themselves in new cultures, our students gain valuable skills and perspectives that shape their futures.

We’re proud to be a recognized sector leader, known for our delivery of impactful academic, professional and cultural experiences. This is achieved through our dedicated global team who provide comprehensive guidance, instruction, support and resources to maximize the benefit of our students’ time abroad.

A sense of belonging is central to CEA CAPA’s mission. We foster a work environment that values diversity and is free from bias. Our hiring practices are based on professional qualifications, skills and competence.

With a footprint that spans 53 cities in 20 countries across Europe, Latin America and Australia our 450 strong global workforce deliver exceptional cultural experiences abroad to over 15,000 students per year.

Position Summary

The Project Manager (PM) at CEA CAPA oversees the planning, execution, and delivery of strategic initiatives across the organization. This role ensures projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business objectives, supporting CEA CAPA’s mission to empower students through global education experiences. The Project Manager will work cross-functionally with all teams within the organization with the goal of driving integration, efficiency, and innovation. The PM reports to the Head of the PMO within the organization.

Responsibilities

Project Management:

• Lead the end-to-end management of projects, from initiation through closure, ensuring clear objectives, defined deliverables, and measurable outcomes.
• Partner with business leaders and functional teams to align project goals with organizational strategy, particularly in areas of technology platform development, operational process improvement, and integration of acquired entities.
• Develop and manage project plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocations.

• Monitor risks, issues, and dependencies; proactively resolve challenges and escalate when necessary.
• Communicate project progress to stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership and the Board.

Business Adoption and Training:

• Implement and champion project management best practices, templates, and governance to support consistency across initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative team culture, driving accountability and ensuring strong stakeholder engagement.
• Train stakeholders on the adoption of the system by providing onboarding and ongoing training of the PMO software.

PMO Software Maintenance:

• Monitor software updates and releases, proactively implementing new features and training teams on improvements, using external sources where appropriate.
• Manage escalated concerns and tickets (in collaboration with IT) for troubleshooting and improvements related to the platform.
• Assign and maintain user permissions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Proven track record of delivering cross-functional projects on time and within budget.
• Experience with system implementations, process redesign, or M&A integrations strongly preferred.

Preferred Requirements

• 5–7+ years of experience in project management, ideally in higher education, technology, or global operations
• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Project Management, Information Systems, or related field (Master’s or PMP/Prince2 certification preferred)

• Project management certification

Skills & Competencies

• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience reporting to senior executives.
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Asana, Monday.com, or equivalent).
• Solid understanding of change management principles and ability to guide teams through organizational transitions.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and results-oriented mindset with a focus on delivering measurable impact.