IT Project Manager

IT Project ManagerThe IT Project Manager serves as the founding leader of the university's IT Project Management Office (PMO), reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer. This position is responsible for designing the PMO's governance framework, methodology, and operational processes while simultaneously leading a portfolio of high-impact technology projects including the Workday HCM and Finance implementation, AV/IT installations for campus construction programs, and enterprise system integrations. The role directly supervises 1-2 project coordinators or analysts and builds project management capability across the IT organization.Significant duties and responsibilities include: PMO Establishment and Governance (35%) - Design, implement, and continuously improve the IT department's project management framework, including intake processes, charter templates, status reporting standards, and project lifecycle governance. Develop a hybrid Agile-Waterfall methodology tailored to the university's project portfolio, balancing predictability with flexibility across different project types. Establish portfolio-level visibility through dashboards, risk registers, and resource allocation tools that enable informed executive decision-making. Create and maintain a risk management framework across the IT project portfolio, proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks at both the project and portfolio levels. Build a PMO culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement through retrospectives, lessons learned documentation, and measurable process maturity targets. Evaluate and recommend project management tools and platforms to support consistent tracking, reporting, and collaboration across all IT initiatives.Project Delivery (45%) - Serve as institutional project manager for the Workday HCM and Finance implementation, managing the relationship with the system integrator, coordinating internal workstreams, and ensuring deliverables align with university requirements. Lead AV/IT installation projects associated with university construction and renovation programs, coordinating with facilities, architects, contractors, and academic stakeholders. Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and quality across multiple concurrent initiatives, maintaining clear communication with sponsors, stakeholders, and team members. Develop and maintain project timelines (Gantt charts), work breakdown structures, and sprint plans that keep teams aligned and leadership informed. Lead data migration planning and validation efforts, including legacy system assessment, data cleansing strategies, and conversion testing. Coordinate change management activities including stakeholder communication, training development and delivery, and user acceptance testing. Manage vendor relationships and contracts, ensuring deliverables meet quality standards, timelines, and contractual obligations.Team Leadership and Development (20%) - Directly supervise 1-2 project coordinators or analysts, providing mentorship, performance feedback, and professional development guidance. Build project management capability across the IT organization by training staff in PM fundamentals, facilitating adoption of standardized tools and templates, and coaching team leads on project execution. Prepare and present executive-level status reports, risk assessments, and portfolio dashboards for university leadership and governance committees. Collaborate with department leaders across Academic Affairs, Business and Finance, Student Affairs, Facilities, and Enrollment Management to align technology projects with institutional priorities.Required Qualifications include: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. Seven (7) or more years of progressive experience in IT project management, including at least one full-lifecycle ERP implementation. Three (3) or more years of supervisory experience, including direct management of staff or project team leads. Demonstrated experience establishing project management processes, governance frameworks, or PMO functions in organizations with limited prior PM maturity. Experience managing vendor relationships, including contract oversight, deliverable tracking, and performance evaluation.The proposed annualized salary range for this position is $78,162 - $86,432 and includes full benefits.