Associate, Higher Education Strategy and Program Management

Job Description

Associate, Higher Education Strategy and Program Management

Location: Remote (U.S.-based)

Type: Full-Time, Salaried

Compensation: $75,000 base salary, annual bonus, comprehensive benefits package

Start Date: Flexible, target July 2026

Research indicates that men tend to apply for jobs when they meet just 60% of the criteria, while women and people from other marginalized groups only apply if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about T3 Advisory's mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role even if you don't check all the boxes, please apply. We'd appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

About T3 Advisory

T3 Advisory is a higher education consulting firm working at the intersection of student success, data, process, and technology. We partner with community colleges, four-year institutions, state systems, national intermediaries, and philanthropic foundations to translate research into institutional change. Our work spans AI adoption, institutional transformation, change management, and the development of public-good tools and frameworks that help higher education serve students more effectively.

T3 is a small, tight-knit firm in a growth phase. We combine original research, practical tool-building, and implementation support in ways that most advisory firms do not. Our clients choose us because we bring rigor, clarity, and follow-through to hard institutional problems.

The Role

The Associate is a primary partner on T3's most complex engagements. You will manage project coordination across multiple workstreams, draft client-facing materials, contribute to research and publications, and help shape the growth of our AI and change management practices for higher education. This role sits at the center of our work: reporting to our directors to learn how advisory strategy is built and close to our institutional and funder partners. You will be able to develop your own voice in the field.

This is an execution-and-coordination role suited for a professional with program-management instincts and who is passionate about the applied use of AI to make an impact on organizational development. We are looking for someone who thrives between strategy and delivery: keeping projects moving, supporting product development, and translating what they learn in the field into resources institutions can use.

We are seeking candidates with strong project management instincts, higher education experience, and a demonstrated interest in the applied use of AI. We do not expect expertise; we expect the willingness to learn quickly.

Work Hours & Expectations

This is a full-time, exempt position with a 40-hour workweek. The schedule is flexible, but the expectation is that the Associate will be available for meetings and collaborative work during business hours (East Coast time). Some evening and weekend work may be required to meet client deadlines and project needs.

• ~35 billable client hours per week when fully ramped, across one or more projects

• ~5 hours per week for internal work: team meetings, professional development, business development support, and contributing to T3 infrastructure and resources

What You Will Do

Project Management

Own day-to-day coordination across multiple concurrent engagements, including timelines, stakeholder communications, and deliverable tracking

Maintain project documentation, status updates, and clear communication rhythms for multi-stakeholder work

Manage meeting logistics, follow-up, and scheduling across institutional partners, foundation staff, and the T3 team

Synthesize research and work notes/transcripts into clear recaps, action items, and follow-up communications, particularly after partner and stakeholder convenings

Support proposal development and scoping for new opportunities

Client and Partner Engagement

Partner with Directors on the delivery of institutional and system-level engagements, contributing to research, deliverables, and strategy development

Draft and refine client-facing materials including memos, frameworks, convening agendas, research briefs, and presentations

Support communications with foundation partners, institutional leaders, and research collaborators

Provide administrative and logistical support for communities of practice, peer learning cohorts, focus groups, and convenings (including Zoom setup, in-session tech support, and participant coordination).

AI Practice and Strategy

Contribute to our AI practice, including applied research, client strategy engagements, and external positioning

Contribute to research and publications on AI in higher education, including data synthesis, secondary research, and writing

Support institutional AI strategy engagements, including readiness assessments, stakeholder interviews, and roadmap development

Stay current on AI tools, applications, and emerging practices relevant to higher education

Support the day-to-day operation of T3's proprietary AI tools, including debugging, troubleshooting, and routine fine-tuning of instruction language

Manage user enrollment, permissions, and onboarding training for new AI tool users

Product and Service Line Development

Support the launch and growth of T3's proprietary tools and programs, including pilot coordination, content development, and institutional onboarding

Contribute to the development of new service lines as the firm grows, including framework development and early client engagement

Help build and maintain scoping templates and contracting documentation that account for the differing processes of institutional partners

Research and Public Goods

Contribute to T3's research publications, toolkits, and frameworks, which are shared as public goods with the higher education field

Maintain communication plans for public announcements of products and services on platforms including but not limited to Hubspot, LinkedIn, and the T3 Advisory blog.

Support the synthesis of insights from engagements into resources institutions can use

Conduct targeted secondary research to support active engagements

Serve as a second set of ears in client sessions, focus groups, and interviews: surface thematic patterns, flag emerging areas of content or business opportunity, and translate observations into draft resources for the team

What We're Looking For

Required

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., education administration, organizational development, instructional design, educational technology, public policy, or a related discipline)

Relevant experience accepted in lieu of education.

Two to four years of professional experience in a campus-based program management, staff or organizational development, strategy office, instructional or educational technology, or program operations role within a college or university (or comparable experience in higher education consulting, foundation-funded work, or a related sector)

Strong project management instincts: organization, attention to detail, and ability to drive work forward across multiple stakeholders

Familiarity with higher education institutional contexts, including community colleges, four-year institutions, or higher education systems

Demonstrated applied interest in AI, with concrete evidence of self-directed learning and application: for example, building your own GPT or agent, contributing to AI implementation in a prior role, or maintaining a current view of AI developments in higher education.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including comfort with client-facing and funder-facing deliverables

Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable materials

Ability to listen actively in research and strategy sessions, identify thematic patterns, and translate what was heard into clear written outputs

Comfort operating in ambiguity and structuring work in a fast-paced, small-firm environment

Proficiency with modern productivity and collaboration tools (Google Workspace, Notion, Asana or equivalent)

Preferred

Master's degree in higher education administration, organizational development, leadership, instructional design, or a related field, ideally accompanied by experience presenting at professional conferences (an indicator of research and synthesis capability)

Experience on a college campus, in units including but not limited to groups like Institutional Effectiveness, Center for Teaching and Learning, undergraduate program office, library, instructional technology unit, and organizational development functions

Active engagement with relevant professional communities (e.g., POD Network, EDUCAUSE, NASPA)

Experience with foundation-funded or philanthropic work

Experience working with or within community colleges, minority-serving institutions, or equity-focused organizations

Background in AI adoption, digital transformation, or educational technology in any sector

Experience with change management frameworks, student success initiatives, or guided pathways

Facilitation experience in communities of practice, workshops, or peer learning environments

Research and analysis experience, including qualitative and quantitative work

What We Offer

Meaningful, high-visibility work with national foundations, higher education systems, and institutional partners

Direct mentorship from a senior team, with real exposure to strategy, business development, and firm-building

Early involvement in the growth of T3's proprietary tools, programs, and service lines

A clear growth trajectory: we are actively building pathways for growth as the firm scales

Remote-first culture with strong collaboration rhythms and genuine team cohesion

A mission-driven firm committed to equity-centered institutional transformation and student success

Competitive benefits package including health insurance, paid time off, professional development stipend, and retirement plan contribution

How to Apply

Submit the following through our application portal:

A current resume

A short cover letter (under one page) describing your interest in the role

Written responses to the screening questions below

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Please apply by May 20th for priority consideration.

AI Policy:

While setting up productive AI workflows is a skillset in this position, our focus is to understand your independent reasoning skills. If you do choose to use AI for any component of your response, please submit the relevant AI conversation log(s) as well. AI usage includes the use of large language models (LLMs) for ideation, creation (written or analytical), or refinement of your response. The primary purpose of the conversation log is for us to understand how you seek AI assistance and for which tasks.

Equal Opportunity

T3 Advisory is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the institutions and communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those who have been historically underrepresented in higher education consulting.

Note: Please submit all files (resume and cover letter, and if used, AI conversation logs) as a single PDF file. Please email with any questions.Company Description

At T3 Advisory, we believe in the power of sustainable, affordable, and practical change. Our mission is to guide higher education organizations through the trees, helping them stay focused on the big picture while addressing the critical details that lead to success and equitable outcomes.

We understand that higher education institutions are navigating a complex and dynamic landscape. With hands-on experience and deep expertise in change management, data, and technology, we provide customized, co-designed strategies that drive real-world impact. As passionate advocates for AI literacy and equitable design, we leverage the latest innovations to create inclusive solutions for all stakeholders.

Full-time

Hybrid remote