As a Project Manager or Program Support Coordinator at the University Systems of Georgia, your daily responsibilities will center on driving institutional initiatives from conception through closure. You will act as the central hub for project communications, ensuring that all team members are aligned and that roadblocks are proactively cleared. This involves defining project scopes, creating detailed work breakdown structures, and maintaining comprehensive documentation.

On any given day, you will collaborate closely with academic affairs, student support divisions, information technology departments, and external vendors. You will facilitate regular project check-ins, manage risk registers, and report progress metrics to executive sponsors and campus leadership. Your ability to translate administrative goals into clear, actionable tasks for project teams is vital to keeping initiatives on track.

Beyond administrative tracking, you will also play a key role in change management. Implementing new software, updating academic policies, or launching student support programs requires careful training, documentation, and campus outreach. You will design and coordinate workshops, draft user guides, and gather post-implementation feedback to ensure that new processes are successfully adopted by the campus community.

To be competitive for this position, candidates must demonstrate a strong mix of professional project management capabilities and soft skills tailored to a collaborative, academic environment.

• Must-have skills – Proven experience managing projects using structured methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid), proficiency with project management tools (such as MS Project, Planner, or Smartsheet), and exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Nice-to-have skills – Project Management Professional (PMP) or CAPM certification, experience working within a higher education institution or state government agency, and familiarity with university systems like Banner or academic CRM platforms.
• Experience level – Typically requires 3 to 5 years of professional project management or program coordination experience, with a demonstrated track record of leading cross-functional teams and managing projects with multiple external stakeholders.
• Soft skills – High emotional intelligence, active listening, patience, adaptability, and a collaborative, service-oriented mindset that aligns with the mission of supporting student and faculty success.

Q: How difficult is the Project Manager interview process at USG? A: Candidates generally rate the difficulty as average. While the technical project management questions are straightforward, the challenge lies in navigating the extensive panel interviews and presenting your ideas clearly to a large group of diverse stakeholders.

Q: What should I focus on for the 5-minute presentation? A: Focus on structure, clarity, and time management. Choose a project example that highlights your stakeholder management skills, keep your slides clean and visual, and practice delivering your presentation within the strict time limit to show respect for the panel's time.

Q: Is prior higher education experience required? A: While prior experience in academia or state government is highly valued and can give you a competitive edge, it is not always a strict requirement. Candidates from corporate or non-profit backgrounds can succeed by demonstrating strong transferable skills in stakeholder management, consensus building, and mission-driven project delivery.

Q: What is the work culture like for project managers at USG? A: The culture is highly collaborative, human-centric, and values-driven. While processes can move more slowly than in the private sector due to the need for consensus, the environment is supportive, and there is a strong collective focus on student success and public education.

To maximize your chances of success, keep these practical, insider tips in mind as you prepare for your interviews with the University Systems of Georgia.

• Emphasize the "Why": Academic panels are highly mission-driven. When discussing your past projects, don't just explain what you did; make sure to highlight the positive impact your project had on students, faculty, or the broader community.

• Prepare for the Marathon: Final-round interviews can be long, sometimes spanning several hours or even a full day of back-to-back meetings. Pace your energy, stay hydrated, and treat every interaction—including informal lunches—as an active part of the evaluation process.
• Research the Specific Campus: USG encompasses a wide variety of institutions. Tailor your answers based on whether you are interviewing for a system-level role, a major research institution like Georgia Tech, or a state community college, as their operational cultures and student demographics differ significantly.
• Use the STAR Method: Frame your behavioral answers using the Situation, Task, Action, and Result framework. In academia, pay special attention to the "Action" step to explain how you collaborated with others, and the "Result" step to demonstrate reflection and continuous learning.

Preparing for a Project Manager or Program Support Coordinator interview at the University Systems of Georgia is an opportunity to showcase both your organized, methodical approach to execution and your collaborative, human-centric leadership style. By focusing your preparation on stakeholder management, structured communication, and the unique dynamics of higher education, you can position yourself as an exceptional fit for this rewarding public sector role.

As you finalize your preparation, take time to refine your project portfolio, practice your 5-minute presentation, and outline your key behavioral stories using the STAR method. Remember that the hiring team is looking for a colleague who will not only keep projects on track but also enrich their collaborative campus culture. With focused preparation and a clear understanding of USG's mission, you can enter your interviews with confidence and poise. For additional insights, real candidate interview reports, and compensation details to guide your negotiation, explore the resources available on Dataford.

The compensation data above reflects the typical salary range for program coordination and project support roles within the system. When reviewing these figures, keep in mind that public sector compensation packages at USG often include excellent state benefits, generous retirement contributions, and tuition assistance programs that significantly enhance the overall value of your offer. Use this data as a benchmark to align your expectations with state-level administrative structures.