Job Details

California State University, Monterey Bay

Program Manager, Process Improvement INTERNAL RECRUITMENT

Position Number: 6723085
Location: Seaside, CA
Position Type: Administrative Vice Presidents

Program Manager, Process Improvement INTERNAL RECRUITMENT

Classification: Administrator I
Hours: Full-time / 40 hours per week
FLSA: Exempt

Anticipated Hiring Salary Range: $8,500 - $9,134* mo.
CSU Salary Schedule
*CSUMB provides pay scales representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and CSU systemwide pay for comparable jobs.

Priority Screening Date: December 4, 2025 *INTERNAL RECRUITMENT ONLY*
Recruitment Status: Open Until Filled

ABOUT CSUMB

California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California's Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation's largest four-year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year.

With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students' lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB's sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The university's Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University.

As one of the 23 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below-market-rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Chief of Staff and Director of the Administration and Finance Division, the Program Manager, Process Improvement, advances and optimizes campus processes within established strategic priorities. The role exercises independent judgment in planning and problem-solving, directs cross-functional project teams and vendors, and remains accountable for project milestones and outcomes. Key responsibilities include building partnerships, engaging stakeholders, and equipping departments to lead their own reviews and analyses through tools and training. The manager identifies integration opportunities across divisions, provides data-informed recommendations to leadership, and ensures disciplined execution of continuous improvement initiatives aligned to institutional goals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic Guidance: Assist with strategic planning to champion organizational and continuous improvement initiatives impacting all campus divisions. Participate in the assessment of existing processes, creation of actionable improvement recommendations, fostering collaboration, and driving effective implementation of improvement initiatives.
Program and Project Oversight Directs, assigns, and evaluates the work of professional staff and project teams engaged in process improvement initiatives; establishes work priorities, reviews performance, and ensures quality of deliverables that significantly impact student engagement and financial stability. Employs project management principles to ensure initiatives are aligned with organizational goals, adhere to timelines, and achieve measurable, high-impact results.
Collaborative Problem-Solving: Facilitate effective collaboration with campus community members and stakeholders to address and resolve complex challenges. Develop and synchronize solutions to drive process enhancements and operational efficiency.
Action Plan Formulation: Develop and implement comprehensive action plans to ensure timely and strategic completion of improvement initiatives. Monitor progress and adjust strategies as necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
Capacity Building & Coaching: Develop the program and train campus staff to conduct their own reviews and sustain continuous improvements. Provide tools, templates, and accountability, advise on methods and best practices, and transition ownership to departments to maintain long-term gains.
Best Practices and Methodology: Apply best practices and Lean Six Sigma methodologies to ensure compliance and enhance the effectiveness of process improvement efforts. Drive the adoption of these practices across all relevant initiatives.
Scope and Deliverables Management: Define and manage the program's scope and deliverables in collaboration with consultants and stakeholders. Oversee the documentation, communication, and development of migration strategies to mitigate risks related to schedule, scope, resources, budget, and quality.
Policy and Program Formulation: Exercise significant responsibility in the formulation and administration of policies and programs. Demonstrate considerable discretion in job performance, extending beyond mere adherence to policy. Provides leadership and direction to staff in carrying out university policies and procedures and ensures consistent application across improvement initiatives.
Operational Management: Oversee day-to-day program activities and serve as the primary resource for the senior program manager, as well as, consultants, and campus stakeholders. Ensure effective coordination and communication among all parties involved. Exercises independent judgment in assigning, evaluating, and, when appropriate, recommending personnel actions for assigned staff.
Change Management Communication: Implement and deploy change-management communications developed by the department team for each identified initiative. Coordinate rollout across divisions, stakeholders, maintain feedback loops, and provide day-to-day direction to project contributors to ensure effective adoption.
Policy and Procedure Evaluation: Assess and recommend updates to policies and procedures based on the outcomes of process improvement programs and related initiatives. Ensure policies remain relevant and effective in supporting organizational goals.
Training and Development: Provide training and coaching in program management and Lean techniques to build staff capabilities. Manage training plans for unit staff and oversee their professional development in process improvement and continuous learning.
Program Tracking and Reporting: Tracking and reporting of program activities, including status updates, resource allocation, milestone achievements, and benefits realized from process improvements. Develop performance metrics by utilizing key performance indicators to measure and report on progress and outcomes.

Other Functions:

Perform other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.
Occasionally drive on university business

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, CSUMB and CSU policies and procedures, to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations and executive orders as they are related to the CSU.
Knowledge of organizational structures; higher education current issues, best practices and benchmarking.
Ability to interact effectively and work collegially and respectfully with diverse perspectives and personalities; plan, organize, set priorities and effectively coordinate responsibilities; work independently or as a member of a team; exercise diplomacy, confidentiality, good judgment and discretion; be aware of the President's, Vice President's and departments priorities at all times.
Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to facilitate open discussions, collaborate with and respond to multiple constituencies both on campus and off campus, and write clear and concise reports.
Ability to utilize problem-solving techniques to evaluate complex problems, understand and apply applicable rules and regulations. Knowledge and ability to develop and implement effective and efficient processes, procedures and solutions.
General knowledge of the principles of personnel management and supervision and ability to effectively utilize management skills.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and integrate complex data and information to formulate appropriate courses of action and initiatives.
Ability to analyze complex problems from a future-oriented and broad interactive perspective to create solutions and effectively engage stakeholders and organizations.
Knowledge of process improvement, project management, and change management strategies and the ability to effectively implement identified complex process improvement programs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or equivalent experience.
Experience:
At least four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in project management, process improvement, or related organizational development work.
Experience leading multiple programs, projects, or teams and working with cross-functional stakeholders.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in a higher education environment, particularly in a public, four-year institution.
Familiarity with administrative, governance, personnel, and budget processes in higher education.
Certification or formal training in Lean Six Sigma, process improvement, or project management.
Technical fluency with Oracle/PeopleSoft, CSU Common Management System, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Workspace.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND POSITION DESIGNATIONS:

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).
The person holding this position will have a duty to report to the Campus Title IX Officer information pertaining to discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order EO 1095, EO 1096, and EO 1097 as a condition of employment.
The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). The position is required to participate in training at the direction of the Clery Director and must also promptly report allegations of reportable crimes according to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, its accompanying regulations; the California State Education Code, Chapter 15.5, of the Donahoe Higher Education Act, Section 67380; and the California State University system-wide policy, Code EO 1107.
This position has been designated as a sensitive position with:
- responsibility or access/possession of building master or sub-master keys for building access
- control over campus business processes, either through functional roles or system security access
This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). The position is required to participate in training at the direction of the Clery Director and must also promptly report allegations of reportable crimes according to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, its accompanying regulations; the California State Education Code, Chapter 15.5, of the Donahoe Higher Education Act, Section 67380; and the California State University system-wide policy, Code EO 1107.
Must possess and maintain a valid license to drive in the State of California, pass the Defensive Training Class, and be insurable under the University's liability coverage.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

Office environment with standard equipment and tasks. The position requires working at a computer and desk for extended periods of time. May require travel between campus offices and off-campus locations.

The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. While on campus, students, faculty, staff, and the community will be expected to follow all campus safety mandates.

BENEFITS/PERKS:

This is a management-level position with an attractive benefits package, which includes: a vacation accrual rate of 16 hours per month; an excellent choice of medical, dental, and vision insurance; long-term disability coverage; life insurance; educational incentives; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS); and 14 paid holidays a year. For further information, please visit Employee Benefits Summary. The University Corporation at Monterey Bay also provides access to affordable housing near main campus. The allocation of housing is subject to several factors, including availability, eligibility criteria, and specific program guidelines. For more information, visit: https://csumb.edu/corporation/employee-housing

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

For full consideration, applicants must complete the required online application prior to the priority screen date found at Careers at CSUMB. Application submissions received after the application screening date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University. Materials submitted become the property of CSUMB and will not be returned.

CSUMB is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Human Resources at (831) 582-3389 or emailing humanresources@csumb.edu. All employees must be eligible for employment in the U.S.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

CSUMB hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States and is an E-Verify employer. In compliance with federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics, you can view the notice of availability and access the Cal State University, Monterey Bay annual security and fire safety reports at https://csumb.edu/clery/asr-and-fsr-notices-availability/.

CSUMB is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

CSUMB is an Equal Opportunity employer seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value and celebrate diversity in all its forms and strive to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. We consider qualified applicants for employment for their anticipated contributions and without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

To apply, visit https://careers.csumb.edu/en-us/job/553274