Project Manager, University Relations

Job Summary:

The Project Manager provides high-level administrative, operational, and project management support to the Vice President, University & Government Relations for a veterinary organization with more than 1,000 animal hospitals across the United States and Canada.

This role serves as a key partner in coordinating strategic initiatives, managing cross-functional projects, supporting grassroots advocacy campaigns, and executing programs designed to educate and engage hospital and support center teams. The position requires exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, communication abilities, and the capacity to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

The Project Manager plays an important role in supporting governance activities, university engagement initiatives, advocacy operations, leadership communications, and stakeholder engagement efforts across the organization.

Must be a team player with an enthusiastic attitude and strong service orientation. Professional, self-motivated, and capable of managing their workload and prioritizing tasks in a fast-paced corporate environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management & Strategic Coordination

• Support planning, execution, and tracking of strategic initiatives related to governance, advocacy, and university relations.
• Coordinate cross-functional projects and ensure timelines, deliverables, and communications remain on track.
• Develop project plans, timelines, status reports, and follow-up actions for key organizational initiatives.
• Assist with budgeting, vendor coordination, and operational support for programs and events.

Grassroots Advocacy & Team Engagement

• Assist in executing grassroots advocacy campaigns designed to mobilize hospital and support center teams around legislative and policy priorities.
• Coordinate advocacy communications, action alerts, educational materials, and engagement initiatives.
• Support the development and execution of strategies that educate team members

on the importance of advocacy and public policy engagement.

• Help organize advocacy events, legislator meetings, hospital tours, and stakeholder engagement opportunities.

University Relations Support

• Coordinate university engagement activities, student outreach initiatives, and academic partnership programs.
• Support collaboration with Talent Acquisition, Mentorship and House Officer Program teams on university-focused initiatives.
• Assist with planning and logistics for veterinary school visits, conferences, externship programs, and educational presentations.

Communications & Presentation Development

• Create and edit presentations, reports, communications, and educational materials for internal and external audiences.
• Assist with development of executive communications and organizational messaging related to governance, advocacy, and university engagement.
• Maintain organized documentation, databases, contact lists, and project tracking

systems.

Administrative Support

• Prepare agendas, presentations, briefing materials, reports, and meeting summaries for executive leadership, governance team, and external stakeholders.
• Coordinate logistics and materials for leadership meetings, conferences, university events, advocacy activities, and hospital visits.
• Manage confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.

Key Deliverables/Outcomes:

• Executive & Administrative Project Support
• Project Management & Strategic Coordination
• Grassroots Advocacy & Team Engagement
• University Relations Support
• Communications & Presentation Development

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of experience in government relations, advocacy, public affairs, political strategy, association management, or project management.
• Experience working with PACs, legislative affairs, or political engagement initiatives preferred.
• Strong organizational, project management, and multitasking skills.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication abilities.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Teams.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with strong attention to detail.
• Experience coordinating events, communications, and stakeholder engagement initiatives preferred.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Experience in veterinary medicine, higher education, or multi-site organizations preferred.
• Ability to travel occasionally within the U.S. and Canada.