Project Manager, VP Community Relations - Prescott, AZ

Description of Position · ***First Review Date: 03/02/2026*** · The Project Manager for Community Relations and Legislative Affairs is responsible for planning, coordinating, tracking, and executing high-visibility initiatives that support Yavapai College's legislative strategy, ...

Job description

Description of Position

***First Review Date: 03/02/2026***

The Project Manager for Community Relations and Legislative Affairs is responsible for planning, coordinating, tracking, and executing high-visibility initiatives that support Yavapai College's legislative strategy, community engagement efforts, and external relations priorities. This position provides project management expertise for complex, multi-departmental efforts involving internal leadership, government entities, community partners, and external stakeholders.

The Project Manager ensures initiatives led by the Vice President are executed with structure, accountability, and precision while allowing the Vice President to focus on strategic leadership, advocacy, and relationship development.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Legislative and Government Relations Project Support:

• Develop and maintain tracking systems for legislative activities, deadlines, meetings, and deliverables.
• Coordinate preparation of briefing materials, reports, presentations, and background documents for meetings with elected officials and government agencies.
• Monitor legislative timelines and ensure timely responses to requests for information from internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain organized records of legislative contacts, initiatives, and outcomes.

Community Relations and Engagement Initiatives:

• Plan and manage projects related to community outreach, public events, stakeholder meetings, and College forums.
• Coordinate logistics, schedules, communications, and follow-up activities for community and public engagement efforts.
• Serve as a central point of coordination between College departments and external partners for community initiatives.

Cross-Departmental Coordination:

• Work collaboratively with the President's Office, Cabinet, Marketing and Communications, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Facilities, Campus Police, and other departments to gather information and ensure alignment of messaging and deliverables.
• Track tasks, responsibilities, and timelines across multiple departments to ensure completion of initiatives.
• Facilitate meetings, prepare agendas, document outcomes, and monitor action items.

Executive Project Support:

• Assist the Vice President by organizing and managing project timelines, priorities, and deliverables.
• Anticipate needs, identify potential barriers, and proactively resolve issues that may impact project success.
• Provide status updates and reporting to the Vice President on active initiatives.

Documentation and Process Improvement:

• Develop and maintain project plans, tracking tools, and documentation to ensure consistency and accountability.
• Establish processes that improve efficiency and coordination for legislative and community engagement work.
• Ensure compliance with records retention and documentation requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong project management, organizational, and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment.
• Skill in building collaborative relationships across departments and with external stakeholders.
• High level of discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project tracking tools.

Minimum Expectations & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, communications, political science, or related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in project management, government relations, community engagement, or executive-level coordination.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Preferred Skills & Abilities

• Experience in higher education, public sector, or government environment.
• Familiarity with legislative processes at the local, state, or federal level.
• Formal project management training or certification (e.g., PMP or similar).

Essential Functions

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and competencies listed represent the required knowledge, skill, and ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee must frequently use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. In addition, the employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.