Sr IT Project Manager

Smarter Hr Solutions - Houston, TX

Full-time - Senior

Houston, TX

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

About the position

The Senior Project Manager role is a hybrid position primarily focused on leading, overseeing, and ensuring the successful delivery and management of single or multiple enterprise projects. This position requires the individual to operate within defined scope, quality, time, and cost constraints, which may necessitate dynamic change management to deliver business value. The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for the creation, organization, execution, and completion of specific projects, which includes managing relevant employees, setting deadlines, and communicating with management about the state of the project. The role also involves preparing reports for upper management regarding project status, ensuring projects remain on track and within budget, and making adjustments as necessary to meet new requirements and scope changes. In this role, the Senior Project Manager will review project proposals or plans to determine time frames, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing projects, staffing requirements, and the assignment of available departmental resources to various project phases. They will identify and schedule project deliverables, milestones, and required activities and tasks, providing leadership and motivation to project team members throughout the project life cycle. The Senior Project Manager will also act as a coach to junior project managers and executives, establishing work plans and staffing for project activities, and arranging for recruitment or assignment of project personnel. Additionally, the Senior Project Manager will conduct risk assessments and mitigation, monitor project activities to ensure the quality and integrity of information, and ensure that project goals align with business objectives. They will manage relationships with clients and stakeholders, analyze PMO policies regarding customer service and efficiency, and recommend policy changes and process improvements as needed. The position requires working onsite 2-3 days a week, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and communication with various stakeholders, including project sponsors, business unit management, and external service providers.

Responsibilities

• Review project proposals or plans to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing projects, staffing requirements, and assignment of departmental resources.
• Identify and schedule project deliverables, milestones, and required activities and tasks.
• Provide leadership and motivation to project team members throughout the life cycle and confer with project staff to outline a work plan.
• Act as a coach to junior project managers, executives, and others needing assistance and advice regarding project management practices.
• Establish a work plan and staffing for project activities, iterations, or phases, and arrange for recruitment or assignment of project personnel.
• Analyze project proposals to determine time frame, funding limitations, and appropriate processes for accomplishing projects.
• Review/approve the work plan of an external service provider or consultancy contracted to execute the project.
• Implement a project communication plan.
• Conduct risk assessment and mitigation.
• Monitor project activities, ensuring the currency, quality, and integrity of information, while providing consistency in content and "look and feel" across the organization.
• Ensure that project goals are in line with business objectives and that they are achieved.
• Assign duties and responsibilities to project personnel and define the scope of their authority.
• Direct and coordinate the activities of project personnel to ensure projects progress on schedule and within budget.
• Review status reports prepared by project personnel and modify schedules or plans as required.
• Establish standards and procedures for project reporting and documentation.
• Benchmark project management performance continuously to identify potential improvements and increase capability in project and portfolio management.
• Manage the relationship with the client and all stakeholders.
• Analyze PMO policies regarding customer service and efficiency, recommending policy changes and process improvements as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business information systems (IS), computer science, or a related field, or equivalent IT experience.
• PMP Certification from the Project Management Institute or equivalent certification is desirable.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible IT experience, with sensitivity and commitment to business problem-solving.
• Five years of successfully managing complex and risky projects.
• Five or more years of Business Unit or Business Unit-facing experience, with sensitivity and commitment to business problem-solving.
• Experience in leading diverse teams.
• Ability to adapt to new circumstances in a changing business environment.
• Good understanding of current and emerging technologies and how other enterprises are using them to drive digital business.
• Knowledge of project management methodology and experience or familiarity with major, defined program management approaches (e.g., PMI, PRINCE2, agile approaches).
• Significant knowledge of project planning/scheduling tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Open Workbench), with a solid track record of practical application.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; expertise in setting and managing customer expectations.
• Effective influencing and negotiating skills in an environment where this role may not directly control resources.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of business needs, with the ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence.

Nice-to-haves

• Program manager training and certification are desirable.