Project Manager / Engagement Manager - Higher Education

Avaap is seeking a Workday Engagement Manager with deep Higher Education industry experience to lead complex Workday implementation projects for colleges and universities. This individual will serve as the primary project leader responsible for planning, executing, monitoring, and successfully delivering Workday implementations while ensuring projects remain on schedule, within budget, and aligned with client expectations.

The ideal candidate brings demonstrated expertise leading enterprise software implementations within Higher Education and possesses a strong understanding of institutional governance, stakeholder management, and the operational complexities unique to colleges and universities. This role partners closely with client project leadership, Avaap consultants, and internal delivery teams to ensure exceptional project outcomes while fostering trusted client relationships throughout the engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the successful delivery of complex Workday implementation projects for Higher Education clients from project initiation through deployment and stabilization. Develop and maintain detailed project plans, schedules, milestones, resource plans, budgets, and project documentation. Manage project scope, schedule, budget, risks, issues, assumptions, dependencies, and change requests throughout the engagement lifecycle.

Facilitate project governance, executive steering committee meetings, project status meetings, and client communications. Drive accountability across project teams to ensure deliverables are completed on time and meet Avaap's quality standards. Coordinate cross-functional Workday consulting teams across functional, technical, integrations, reporting, data conversion, testing, organizational change management, and training workstreams.

Partner with client project sponsors, PMOs, and functional leadership to proactively identify challenges, remove roadblocks, and support timely project decisions. Collaborate with Client Executives, Practice Leadership, Resource Management, and Delivery Leadership to ensure successful project execution and appropriate resource allocation.

Monitor project financial performance, including forecasts, budget tracking, utilization, and overall engagement health. Prepare and deliver executive-level project reporting, including project status, financial updates, risk assessments, and mitigation strategies. Ensure adherence to Avaap's delivery methodology, project management standards, and implementation best practices.

Foster a collaborative, high-performing team environment while mentoring consultants and promoting continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Workday PM Certification, preferred but not required. Demonstrated expertise leading enterprise Workday implementation projects within a consulting environment, ideally including Workday Student. Deep Higher Education industry experience with a strong understanding of institutional operations, governance, and business processes.

Proven ability to manage multiple project workstreams while balancing competing priorities and delivering exceptional client service. Experience managing project financials, schedules, budgets, scope, and resource planning. Exceptional leadership, communication, facilitation, and organizational skills. Ability to effectively communicate with executive sponsors, project stakeholders, and cross-functional consulting teams.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate project risks and develop effective mitigation strategies. Ability to travel based on client and business needs. Pay Transparency Compensation for roles at Avaap varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific business unit, team, role, skillset, and level of experience.

As required by law, Avaap provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired. Base Salary Range is $140,000 to $180,000 plus an additional 25% variable compensation is available for this specific role. At Avaap it is not typical to be hired at the top of the base salary range. During the interview process, alignment to level will be determined and should level differ from position applied for, a new compensation range will be provided for the appropriate role.

Minimum Qualifications

Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills along with the ability to communicate effectively. Must be able to perform work indoors and remain stationary at a computer. Ability to work in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment. Passion for exceptional customer service and collaboration. Ability to work remotely or out of one of Avaap's physical office locations.

Current permanent U.S. work authorization required. Featured Avaap Benefits Open PTO Competitive vision, dental, and medical, including fertility coverage Paid parental leave 401(k) match Company-paid disability and life benefits Employee Assistance Program, including behavioral health services Fitness stipend