Senior IT Project Manager

Brandeis University - Waltham, MA

Full-time - Mid Level

Waltham, MA

Educational Services

About the position

Brandeis University is excited to announce a career opportunity for a Senior IT Project Manager within the IT Department. This role is ideal for individuals seeking to work in a beautiful suburban campus environment that offers numerous perks, including free parking. Brandeis University provides competitive benefits and compensation packages, which encompass medical, dental, and life insurance, along with generous paid time off. For those looking to advance their careers, the university offers tuition remission as part of its commitment to employee development. Additionally, the 403b retirement savings plan includes a generous matching contribution, ensuring that employees can save effectively for their future. The Senior IT Project Manager will oversee critical, large, or complex projects throughout all phases of the project lifecycle. This position involves performing administrative and organizational management duties to support the Senior Leadership of Information Technology Services (ITS) in the development and deployment of technology projects and services. The Senior Project Manager will evaluate related methods, practices, and procedures of the projects undertaken by ITS, ensuring they align with the needs of the Brandeis community. In this role, the Senior Project Manager will identify necessary improvements and provide both administrative and technical assistance to achieve these enhancements. The position requires the application of standard project management methodologies while collaborating with diverse project teams across multiple functional areas to meet project goals. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional multi-tasking abilities, strong oral and written communication skills, and the capacity to adapt approaches based on stakeholder needs at all levels. A strong problem-solver, the Senior Project Manager will be expected to make timely and effective decisions, reporting directly to the PMO Manager of ITS, and collaborating with other members of the IT Planning & Operations group to help Brandeis achieve its technology-related objectives.

Responsibilities

• Direct the multi-functional effort in liaising between relevant Brandeis constituencies for technology-centric projects.
• Identify the organization's needs and determine the appropriate strategy and plan of action with the Brandeis project sponsor.
• Provide expert counsel and leadership on both the technical strategy and potential risks.
• Communicate effectively with clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions.
• Manage client expectations and scope changes effectively.
• Create and execute project work plans and revise as appropriate to meet changing needs, requirements, and budget.
• Write, review, and edit requirements, specifications, processes, and recommendations related to proposed solutions.
• Manage completion of functional specifications and design specifications.
• Ensure issues are identified, tracked, reported on, and resolved in a timely manner.
• Develop and execute communication plans in partnership with change management and communications teams to engage all stakeholders.
• Prepare regular status communications to stakeholders of all levels.
• Manage multiple technical projects within schedule and budget, directing various multi-functional team members.
• Determine project priorities in collaboration with ITS leadership and following University governance protocol.
• Lead initiation, planning, execution, and close-out phases by enforcing consistent and appropriate project management standards.
• Identify resources needed and assign individual responsibilities.
• Manage day-to-day operational aspects of a project's scope.
• Analyze and manage project stakeholders effectively.
• Review deliverables prepared by team members.
• Minimize exposure to and manage project risk.
• Follow and contribute to the practices of the ITS Project Management Office (PMO) for governance oversight, project and portfolio management, and service delivery management.
• Suggest areas for improvement in internal processes along with possible solutions.
• Continually define ways to increase the community's satisfaction with ITS and deepen relationships across the University.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred.
• 7-10 years of total work-related experience required.
• Strong analytical skills for managing complex technology-centric opportunities and issues.
• Ability to recommend process changes and manage large or complex projects as given.
• Strong technical skills in a variety of applications and web tools.
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to be an effective communicator with technical staff, Brandeis departments and faculty, and external entities.
• Ability to work with various constituencies and facilitate collaboration between them.
• Extensive experience required with complex technology systems, managing diverse and challenging multifunctional teams, bringing groups to a common understanding and delivering successful outcomes.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in higher education technology projects.
• Familiarity with project management software and tools.
• Certification in project management (PMP, Agile, etc.).

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Generous paid time off
• Tuition remission
• 403b retirement savings plan with generous match