Senior Infrastructure Project Manager

Senior Infrastructure Project ManagerLocation: Hybrid 2-3 days onsite in Milwaukee, WIDuration: 6 months of contractThe Senior IT Project Manager leads and coordinates infrastructure, security, and operations initiatives at Herzing University, blending traditional project management with program-level oversight across multiple concurrent efforts. This role shares ownership of the full lifecycle of technical projects with the Directors of IT Infrastructure and Security and IT Operations and Help Desk, from initiation through deployment and transition to steady-state operations, while also introducing and modeling sound project management practices for a team with limited prior experience in formal project management. The Senior IT Project Manager partners closely with the Directors and their teams to align project outcomes with the university's operational stability, security posture, and strategic goals. This position reports to the Vice President of IT Operations and Governance.Primary Duties and Responsibilities:Full Project and Program Lifecycle Ownership: Lead the full lifecycle of infrastructure, security, and operations projects, from initiation through deployment and transition to steady-state operations, sharing ownership with the Directors of IT Infrastructure and Security and IT Operations and Help Desk, while managing a portfolio of related initiatives as an integrated program.Portfolio Coordination: Oversee multiple concurrent infrastructure, security, and operations initiatives, sequencing dependencies and resources so individual projects support shared program objectives.Stakeholder Engagement: Partner with the Directors of IT Infrastructure and Security and IT Operations and Help Desk, and their teams, to clarify goals, requirements, and priorities.Project Planning & Tracking: Develop, monitor, and share project and program plans using approaches suited to a technical team new to formal project management; track progress and communicate status in clear, practical terms.Performance Measurement: Establish lightweight, practical metrics and reporting to measure project and program performance without adding unnecessary overhead.Budget Management: Support budget planning and tracking for infrastructure, security, and operations projects, and adjust plans based on financial analysis.Scope & Change Management: Define scope and objectives with stakeholders, assess technical feasibility with infrastructure and security leads, and manage changes to scope, schedule, and cost.Risk & Security Alignment: Identify and track project and program risks, including security and compliance considerations, and escalate issues that could affect the university's risk posture.Vendor & Partner Management: Coordinate with vendors and partners supporting infrastructure and security projects, including contract timelines and deliverables.Governance & Reporting: Provide concise status updates to leadership, support decision-making, and help resolve cross-functional conflicts.PM Practice Adoption & Coaching: Introduce practical project and program management practices to a team with limited prior experience in formal project management, coaching team members on planning, prioritization, and status reporting in a way that fits the team's existing workflow.Coaching and Development: Mentor team members on project and program management fundamentals and support their growth in these practices over time, in coordination with the Directors of IT Infrastructure and Security and IT Operations and Help Desk.Work creatively and analytically in a problem-solving environment, demonstrating teamwork, innovation, and excellence.Report and escalate to management as needed; continually develop leadership skills.Depending on the project, travel to Herzing University campuses and locations may be needed.Perform other duties as assignedCompetencies:Project Management and Program Management, both waterfall and agile methodologiesIT Infrastructure, Security, and Operations Domain KnowledgeVerbal and Written CommunicationCoaching and Process AdoptionPlanning and PrioritizationTracking Financials and ROIDocumentation SkillsEducation & Experience Requirements:Bachelor's Degree in appropriate field of study or equivalent work experience.8+ years of progressive experience in IT Project/Program Management.Demonstrated experience managing projects and programs involving IT infrastructure, network, systems, or security initiatives.Experience introducing or maturing project management practices within a technical team with limited prior exposure to formal PM methods is a plus.Working knowledge of IT security and compliance considerations as they relate to project delivery.Proficiency with Agile and Waterfall methodologies and tools (Jira, Azure DevOps, or similar).Experience with change management and driving adoption of new processes and technology.Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and communication skills, particularly with technical teams.Skilled in managing budgets and coordinating teams across multiple locations.Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification.