Senior IT Project Manager

$130,000 - $152,500/Yr

The Los Angeles Times - El Segundo, CA

Full-time - Senior

El Segundo, CA

About the position

The Senior IT Project Manager at The Los Angeles Times is responsible for leading and overseeing various projects across business units. This role serves as a key liaison between business stakeholders, IT teams, and third-party vendors, ensuring successful project delivery through comprehensive planning, resource management, and risk mitigation. The Senior PM will also contribute to process improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing project efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project management activities, overseeing the full project lifecycle from initiation to closure.
• Develop and implement comprehensive project plans, including scope definition, work breakdown structures, resource allocation, and risk management strategies.
• Monitor and track project expenses, ensuring alignment with approved budgets, and communicate any critical path impacts to stakeholders.
• Assess, communicate, and mitigate risks, implementing contingency plans to address potential issues.
• Oversee the implementation of new solutions, feature enhancements, bug fixes, and operational reporting.
• Report on project progress to stakeholders and executives, providing both detailed and high-level summaries.
• Lead regular meetings with cross-functional teams to facilitate decision-making and gather feedback.
• Manage vendor relationships, including request for proposal (RFP) processes and legal compliance assessments.
• Coordinate and manage change orders and ensure alignment with company standards.
• Develop and execute change management documentation and communication plans for end-users.
• Secure acceptance and approval of deliverables from the project sponsor and stakeholders.
• Conduct post-project reviews and document lessons learned.
• Drive long-term efficiencies through strategic planning and process improvements.
• Resolve escalated project issues and risks.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience working on software development projects.
• At least 5 years of experience in project/program management roles, preferably within consulting, media, or entertainment firms.
• Proven ability to lead projects using both Agile and Waterfall methodologies.
• Extensive experience in creating and managing project budgets, including monthly forecasts and expenditure tracking.
• Proficiency in project management tools like Jira for backlog grooming and tracking bugs.
• Demonstrated proficiency in using Smartsheet for project plans, including advanced formula usage and automation workflows.
• Advanced skills in MS Excel/Google Sheets, including writing complex formulas and creating charts.
• Proven track record of developing executive-level reports and presentations using PowerPoint/Google Slides.
• Ability to create logical data models and process flows using tools like DrawIO or Microsoft Visio.
• Demonstrated ability to perform fit-gap analysis by comparing business requirements with system capabilities.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Experience working with business stakeholders to gather and document requirements.

Nice-to-haves

• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications.
• Experience with HRIS systems like Dayforce.
• Knowledge of CRM systems such as Zoho and marketing applications like Sailthru.
• Experience with ERP systems, particularly Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401k plan
• Paid holidays
• Flexible scheduling
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee discount programs