The Senior Information Technology Project Manager is a seasoned, results-oriented professional responsible for the overall planning, management, and execution of complex, enterprise-level IT projects. This individual leads cross-functional teams to deliver specified project outcomes on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with the organization's strategic objectives. The Senior IT Project Manager is adept at navigating complex technical and organizational landscapes, managing senior stakeholder expectations, and rigorously controlling project scope, risk, and quality. They serve as the authoritative source for all project information, from initial concept through final deployment and closeout, ensuring transparent communication and successful delivery of IT initiatives such as infrastructure upgrades, software development and deployment, cloud migrations, and cybersecurity initiatives.
Typical Task List
Project Planning and Scoping:
• Develop and finalize the Project Charter and Project Management Plan (PMP), including defining scope, objectives, success criteria, and deliverables.
• Create and manage the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), project schedule, and associated cost estimates.
• Lead the development of the resource management plan to identify and secure the necessary personnel and equipment.
• Establish a comprehensive Risk Management Plan, including risk identification, analysis, and mitigation strategies.
Project Execution and Control:
• Direct and lead all day-to-day project activities, ensuring the project team stays on task and on schedule.
• Implement and manage a formal change control process to handle any deviations from the agreed-upon scope, schedule, or budget.
• Monitor and control project work by tracking performance against the project baseline using metrics like Earned Value Management (EVM), schedule variance, and cost variance.
• Proactively identify and resolve project issues and impediments, escalating to governance bodies when necessary.
Stakeholder and Communications Management:
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all project-related communications, ensuring a consistent and accurate flow of information.
• Develop and execute a Communications Management Plan to keep all stakeholders, from technical team members to executive leadership, appropriately informed.
• Prepare and present regular, formal project status reports, gate reviews, and executive-level briefings.
Quality and Vendor Management:
• Develop and implement a Quality Management Plan to ensure all project deliverables meet or exceed technical and business requirements.
• Oversee the work of any third-party vendors or subcontractors involved in the project, ensuring their performance adheres to contractual obligations and quality standards.
• Facilitate project closeout activities, including a formal lessons-learned session, final report generation, and the transition of the solution to the operational support team.
Minimum Qualifications / Requirements
Experience:
• A minimum of ten (10) years of dedicated IT project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience successfully managing at least three (3) enterprise-level IT projects, each with a budget exceeding $1 million and a duration of at least one year.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams in a government or military environment is required.
Certifications (Required):
• Must possess a current Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Certifications (Baseline - Highly Desired):
• An Agile certification (e.g., Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), SAFe Agilist) is highly desired.
• A baseline cybersecurity certification that meets DoD 8140 requirements for IAM Level I (e.g., CompTIA Security+ CE) is also highly desired.
Skills:
• Expert proficiency with project management software (e.g., MS Project, Jira).
• In-depth knowledge of various project management methodologies (e.g., Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid).
• Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budget management and, preferably, Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Solid technical understanding of IT infrastructure, software development lifecycle (SDLC), and cybersecurity principles.