Creative Services Project Manager - Temporary

About the Job

As part of the Communications and Creative Services team, the Project Manager serves as a project manager on a temporary basis for University design and digital media projects; coordinating and managing all project aspects to produce high-quality print and digital design projects; ensuring that all assigned projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget; and communicating with all relevant stakeholders regarding project details. This role is also responsible for the proper creation of content and management of communication/creative projects with the team.

This person should demonstrate strong communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills as a major aspect of the role is the fostering and development of relationships with clients and stakeholders throughout the University. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in a fast-paced, team-centered, deadline-driven environment with competing demands across departments while maintaining and amplifying University branding and messaging.

Job Location
 
Remote - must reside and work legally in the U.S. All work must be performed within the U.S.

About CCU

Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit university is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.

Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU’s motto is grace and truth. This motto comes from John 1.14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth,” (ESV). 

CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.

Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.

CCU embraces an educational model that was present at the foundation of many of the great Western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars — competence, character, and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.

A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2% of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had 11 consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master’s granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

CCU offers more than 200 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its two colleges — the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 17,000 students attend the University on the main campus, online, and through CCU Academy.

What is most appealing about working at CCU?

1. Faith-friendly: CCU’s culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
2. Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, His kingdom and the truth of God’s Word.
3. Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
4. Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic Priorities.

We’re looking for candidates who have:

1. A bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, business, journalism, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience, is required.
2. Outstanding time-management and organizational skills are essential, as well as professional knowledge of higher education, an understanding of marketing communications in print, digital, and social media environments, and a willingness to learn style rules, including Associated Press (AP) style.
3. A solid commitment to building and fostering collaborative relationships with internal clients, designers, project managers, vendors, and other CCS staff.
4. A strong work ethic, self-motivated, and able to work well independently and with teams.
5. Strong attention to detail, organization, quality, multi-tasking, and customer service.
6. Proficiency with Microsoft Office products, general design principles, and internet-based research.
7. Excellent creativity and prior experience in communications, copywriting, or another marketing role that requires daily interaction/collaboration with graphic designers and other creative talent.
8. Strong writing, editing, proofreading, and interviewing skills.
9. Ability to work under tight deadlines while providing excellent customer service and maintaining brand/quality standards.
10. Ability to meet immediate and changing deadlines, work with multiple clients, and meet the highest professional standards.

Key Job Duties:

1. Contributes to CCU’s mission: Christ-centered higher education transforms students to impact the world with grace and truth. The Project Manager advances this mission by overseeing creative projects from concept through production, ensuring all deliverables reflect CCU’s mission, values, and brand.
2. Serves as the primary point of contact for internal clients engaging Creative Services and meets regularly with the Art Director to assess incoming work orders, prioritize projects, and assign work based on project scope, designer expertise, availability, impact, and urgency.
3. Manages project timelines and deliverables from initiation to completion, ensuring clear communication of expectations with clients and internal team members.
4. Tracks milestones and proactively monitors deadlines, sending timely reminders and updates to keep all stakeholders aligned and projects on schedule.
5. Assists designers with obtaining print quotes from third-party vendors and works collaboratively with designers and clients to understand project specifications, including paper, production, finishing, quantity, and other printing needs.
6. Oversees all print project invoicing, collaborating with third-party vendors, university accounting, and internal clients to ensure accurate billing and timely payment from appropriate budget lines.
7. Participates in all Creative Services meetings, helping to unify internal communications and support consistency across digital, print, and multimedia platforms.
8. Executes tactical and ad hoc assignments, working independently with limited supervision to develop efficient solutions aligned with Creative Services' best practices.
9. Collaborates with designers on departmental initiatives, contributing to client meetings and overseeing the planning, execution, and delivery of side projects.
10. Communicates and enforces brand standards, ensuring adherence to CCU’s branding guidelines and institutional processes across all materials and platforms, escalating concerns to leadership as needed.
11. Coordinates complex projects that span print and digital mediums, balancing competing deadlines, resource availability, and program objectives.
12. Works extensively within the university’s digital asset management (DAM) system, serving as a subject matter expert to ensure proper organization, retrieval, and governance of branded assets across departments.
13. Completes additional projects as assigned by leadership in Communications and Creative Services and assists with departmental administrative needs.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Colorado Christian University expects all faculty and staff to become a part of the University community by participating in activities and events that occur on the campus throughout the year, which may occur during evenings and weekends.

What we offer our employees:

Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process.

Colorado Christian University’s pay philosophy is based on internal and external data for pay equity; along with budgetary considerations for effective stewardship. Pay will be assigned based on relevant experience at a range of $25.00 - $27.00 per hour. We reserve the right to pay an equitable rate that we believe is within our salary structure or that may fit a candidate’s qualifications or experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage range for a job offer. CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations to attract the best possible talent. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.

Application Deadline:

Applications will be accepted until position is filled.