Senior IT Project Manager

NORC at the University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

15h • $138,000 - $160,000 • Remote

About The Position

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking an experienced IT Senior Project Manager to manage the planning, implementation, and production support for NORC systems projects. This leader will plan and manage multiple medium to large sized IT systems development projects of moderate to high complexity, ensuring that project results contribute positive business value and meet agreed upon scope, schedule and cost objectives. At NORC, Project Managers lead a variety of different types of projects including large scale survey data collection and management systems implementation, internal initiatives and systems, new product and service launches, large-scale application development, systems integration, operational efficiency improvements, and infrastructure upgrades and deployments. The IT Senior Project Manager will establish and maintain a collaborative partnership with internal business units (research and operations staff) as well as external clients while leading IT full stack development teams to meet project objectives. They will bring creative approaches to problem solving and identifying innovative solutions in order to produce quality deliverables supporting business needs. The successful candidate can work at NORC’s headquarters, one of our regional offices, fully remote, or flexibly hybrid. NORC's Information Technology program provides technology services to our staff and clients. Given the critical role technology plays in our day-to-day lives, we are committed to providing professional, high-quality solutions in order to further our collective goal of advancing social science research.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or similar field required, Master’s degree preferred
• 10+ years of overall experience, with at least 5 years of current hands-on project management experience, leading projects that result in delivery of products and data
• Agile Scrum Master experience required, Waterfall SDLC methodology experience a plus
• Extensive knowledge of project management processes, project financial management, systems development methods, change management concepts and business process improvement methods
• Management of full stack systems development teams required, with demonstrated management of Java, SQL Server, and other portal technology projects
• Experience leading third-party implementations and version upgrade projects, coordinating vendors, managing integration risks, and supporting testing and cutover activities.
• PMP and CSM certification preferred
• Ability to work on multiple concurrent projects with shared resources
• Intermediate to advanced skills with project management tools including Microsoft Project, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Strong project management skills with hands-on experience managing and deploying application development projects, portals, and other complex IT systems
• Strong planning, organizational, and leadership skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to make effective presentations to clients and senior management
• Strong meeting facilitation skills
• Strong business judgment
• Ability to hands-on direct the work of systems development staff in a team environment
• A passion for consulting; capable of stretching and applying skills in an open, entrepreneurial environment
• A flexible approach and attitude; you are not afraid to take on a challenge and be as hands-on as you are strategic.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with SharePoint development projects, Salesforce implementations, and ServiceNow a plus

Responsibilities

• Development of the IT project plan, and managing its scope, schedule, resources, budget and risk.
• Applies advanced project management methods and techniques to execute project goals
• Hands on management of IT team resources, tasks, and deliverables on multiple projects and projects with significant budgets and risks
• Risk identification and mitigation planning and control.
• Issue management including tracking, assignment, and closeout of all project issues
• Leads the effort in creative approaches to problem solving, especially for most complex projects; confers with project personnel to provide technical advice and resolve problems; works with project stakeholders, department management, IT senior management and NORC senior management to ensure company initiatives and project objectives are being met
• Leads the preparation of solution descriptions and cost estimates for the significant new IT components on projects and may contribute to NORC new business proposals
• Solves complex technical and business problems; takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions
• Works independently; receives minimal guidance.
• Contributes to performance reviews for team members
• Interprets internal or external business issues and recommends best practices and is expected to take a lead in improving procedures for the IT PMO
• Report regularly to IT management on the status of all assigned projects.
• Report project delays and changes in requirements to the Project Director and IT management on a timely basis.

Benefits

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
• Dental and vision insurance
• A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
• Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
• Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level