Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
About SMU
SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.
SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.
SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.
Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.
SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.
About the Department:
The Master of Arts in Design and Innovation (MADI) program is supported by both the Lyle School of Engineering and the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University and is one of the few graduate degree-granting programs in the Southern region that teaches Human-Centered Design. In a time where design is so broadly defined and applied, we differentiate ourselves by mastering the operation and application of qualitative research methods that lead to evidence-based design decisions. We also place a strong emphasis on hyper-local community engagement, where most of our classes have real-life working clients from the private and public sectors within the DFW area. Our students come from a wide range of academia and professional backgrounds and range in ages from 24 to 64. Our faculty provide specific expertise in applying a diverse set of design, architecture, business, community engagement, fabrication, and management skillsets in unexpected ways. We are a highly collaborative department that places the students' experience and success at the center of what we do. Upon graduation, our alumni successfully transition into design roles such as Design Strategist, UX Researcher, Program Manager, Design Lead, and Design Researcher in large and small, for profit and non-profit companies. We award a MA degree in Human-Centered Design and plan to grow our degree offerings in the years to come. We work directly with corporate partners and outlets that bring great design conversation and community. The primary outlet for this is through our SMU Design Council and our MADI Designer-In-Residence program. To find out more details about the program, visit us at smu.edu/madi
About the Position:
This role is an on-campus, in-person position.
A Project Manager for Design and Innovation programs at SMU brings the academic methods and practice of Human-Centered Design (HCD) out of the classroom and into the professional space in and around the DFW area. This position directly supports the Master of Arts in Design and Innovation (MADI) Program Director and faculty through the planning and implementation of design proposals, project scoping and contracts, client recruiting and development efforts, custom training seminars, workshops, and prototypes as needed. The Project Manager will be responsible for the management and production of all external design projects and project management systems with the Program Director serving as a creative director and advisor along with other program faculty when relevant. This job requires independent work, efforts, and contributions while also working collectively with the faculty and student team within the MADI program.
Essential Functions:
Managing, engaging in and completing all projects acquired following the full Human-Centered Design process. This entails gathering data, interviews, field work, prototyping, running workshops and engaging with clients and stakeholders to help inform all design decisions and project requirements.
Sourcing, recruiting, and pitching future Design and Innovation project opportunities with clients of all sizes including for-profit, non-profit, local, and outside of Dallas as needed. This job requires external funding for sustainability and growth.
Handling all aspects of the contracting processes including, but not limited to, getting items approved by legal internally and with external partners, invoicing and budget tracking. This position requires creating beautifully designed presentation decks, proposal documents, final reports of varying detail and all required project materials with thoughtful hospitality and communication.
Managing, building and maintaining internal project and program processes to help support MADI Program Director as needed. This includes attending project scoping meetings, running independent project process meetings and following all required SMU protocols for external partnerships.
Design and Innovation program representation at industry and professional events in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Overseeing and building graduate student teams of different sizes varying from project to project as needed.
Occasional travel to off-campus meetings and events that support all efforts for the MADI program.
Occasional evening hours may be required.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred. A degree in Human-Centered Design, Design Research, Design Strategy and Consulting, or Design Project Management is preferred.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience is required. Experience working in Human-Centered Design is highly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.
Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.
Candidate must be able to accurately pitch, scope, and operate a full Human-Centered Design project. This requires an ability to gather qualitative and quantitative data and information, synthesize down to meaningful insights, build and operate prototypes as needed, make robust C-level client presentations, and provide great customer hospitality throughout the entire project.
Candidate ability to produce documents and presentations that represent the extensive work done from each project is essential.
Candidate must possess the ability to manage clients and build relationships with industry partners and integrate professional facing engagements into academic outlets as needed.
Candidate must demonstrate proficiency in Microsoft Office, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Candidate knowledge of online sharing services and project management tools, including Miro, Mural, Slack and Google drive is essential.
Candidate familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
Sit for long periods of time
Bend, squat, stand
Climb, crawl, kneel
Walk for long distances
Reach above shoulders
Handle objects (dexterity)
Push/pull
Carry/lift over 25-50 lbs.
Deadline to Apply:
This position is open until filled.
EEO Statement:
SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.
Benefits:
SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.
