Senior Project Manager

The Senior Project Manager provides leadership in the execution of university-wide technology projects. This position provides direction and coordination of both functional and technology tasks to complete projects within scope, on time, and within budget. This includes developing project charters and project plans, leading technical and functional project personnel, coordinating with vendors, evaluating and revising processes, and participating in change management in support of university goals. The position oversees moderate and large system implementations and business process improvement efforts for several concurrent, complex, and impactful technology projects involving collaboration across technical and functional business teams.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Project Planning & Execution: Participates in vendor evaluation process and training; Develops detailed project plans/roadmaps (scope, budget, and timelines).
• Manage projects by applying proven project management methodologies related to Integration, Scope, Schedule, Quality, Resource, Communication, Risk, Procurement, and Stakeholders
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Builds partnerships to collaborate and use influence without authority to gather business requirements; Collaborates closely with project owners, ensuring that the product queue is well-defined, prioritized, and aligned with stakeholder expectations
• Resource Management: Partners with internal customers and vendors to assemble appropriate project team (staffed correctly) and provide ongoing motivation to drive projects to completion
• Risk Management: Identifies potential project risks and develop mitigation strategies; Leads task management, defines showstoppers, make sure bugs are triaged, and ensure issues are resolved or mitigated
• Quality Assurance: Oversees all project deliverables and works with internal customer to document business processes and make improvements when necessary. Coordinates user acceptance testing to verify that a project meets defined requirements.
• Metrics & Reporting: Tracks and communicates project metrics to monitor project progression and ensure project transparency. Coordinates project status communications.
• Project Leadership: Serves as an advocate for sound project management practices, ensuring adherence to established practices. Work with functional and technical teams to ensure work is completed as planned and follow analytical methods for task execution/tracking and budget/timeline tracking
• Partner/Vendor Relationship Management: Closely manages partner/vendor relationships and coordinate with university functional and technical staff to ensure project milestones are met.
• Leads and facilitates project meetings and presentations; establishes and executes a project communication plan to maintain project alignment
• Facilitates regular status meetings with stakeholders and develops reports
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in computer science, information systems management, project management or related field, preferred
• Experience in or a strong aptitude for project management, agile methodologies, advanced knowledge of project management software, preferred
• 5 years of experience in leading/managing technology projects. Experience in higher education and/or experience in ERP system implementation, highly preferred
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or ability to obtain and maintain certification required (must be able to test & obtain certification within 1 year of employment)
• Active PMI membership is desirable.
• Must have valid driver's license, motor vehicle liability insurance and personal injury insurance; or have a self-reliant source of transportation to conduct business on a daily basis
• Must clear and maintain a favorable background investigation and clearance
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule
• Must have the ability to demonstrate advanced skills in MS Office 365 Suite and project management software
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong public relations and customer service skills with an ability to implement diplomacy and discretion at all times; an ability to work effectively with communities across the university.
• Proficient in communicating ideas and opinions in