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Director Project Management Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

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Director Project Management information

See Madison, WI salary details

$18.1K

$125.3K

$184.4K

How much do director project management jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for director project management in Madison, WI is $125,347.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $101,800.00 and $148,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director of Project Management, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Project Management, you need deep expertise in project management methodologies, leadership, budgeting, and a proven track record of delivering complex projects, often backed by a bachelor’s or master’s degree and PMP or similar certification. Familiarity with project management software (like MS Project, Jira, or Asana), resource planning tools, and risk management systems is typically required. Outstanding communication, strategic thinking, and negotiation skills help you lead teams, manage stakeholders, and drive organizational goals. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives.

How does a Director of Project Management typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure project success?

A Director of Project Management plays a pivotal role in facilitating communication and alignment between various departments, such as engineering, marketing, and finance. They often lead regular meetings, set clear expectations, and help resolve interdepartmental conflicts to keep projects on track. Collaboration tools, status reports, and dashboards are commonly used to maintain transparency and ensure all stakeholders are informed. By fostering a culture of open communication and accountability, Directors help teams work efficiently toward shared project goals.

What is the difference between Director Project Management vs Project Manager?

AspectDirector Project ManagementProject Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple projects, strategic planning, and department leadershipManages individual projects, coordinates tasks, and ensures project delivery
Required CredentialsTypically requires PMP, PMI-SP, or PgMP certifications; extensive experienceOften requires PMP or CAPM certification; relevant experience
Work EnvironmentExecutive-level, strategic, often in corporate or large organizationsOperational, team-focused, often in various industries
ScopeBroader organizational impact, long-term planningSpecific project deliverables, short to medium term

The main difference between a Director Project Management and a Project Manager lies in scope and responsibilities. The Director oversees multiple projects and strategic initiatives, while the Project Manager focuses on executing individual projects. Both roles often require PMP certification and experience, but the Director's role is more strategic and leadership-oriented.

What does a Director of Project Management do?

A Director of Project Management oversees all project management activities within an organization, ensuring that projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget. They lead project management teams, develop and implement project management policies and methodologies, and align projects with organizational goals. This role often involves resource allocation, stakeholder communication, risk management, and mentoring project managers. The Director also monitors project performance and provides strategic guidance for continuous improvement.

What Does a Project Management Director Do?

The responsibilities of a project management director involve the development of a strategy on behalf of a company or organization. They determine the scope of each project, including goals, timeline, budget, and objective. During the planning process, they often collaborate with people in each department. Other duties include overseeing teams assigned to different projects and encouraging development in certain areas on behalf of the organization. Qualifications to become a project management director include a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, IT, or a related field as well as experience. Voluntary professional certifications are available.

More about Director Project Management jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Project Management jobs in Madison, WI? The most popular types of Project Management jobs in Madison, WI are:
What are popular job titles related to Director Project Management jobs in Madison, WI? For Director Project Management jobs in Madison, WI, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Director Project Management jobs in Madison, WI look for? The top searched job categories for Director Project Management jobs in Madison, WI are:
What cities near Madison, WI are hiring for Director Project Management jobs? Cities near Madison, WI with the most Director Project Management job openings:
Infographic showing various Director Project Management job openings in Madison, WI as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $121,858 per year, or $58.6 per hour.

Program & Project Management Associate Director

Wisconsin

Madison, WI • Hybrid

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.Job Category:LimitedEmployment Type:RegularJob Profile:IT Director I (Inst)Job Summary:

Are you passionate about leading large-scale initiatives and building high-performing teams? Join our team as the Associate Director of Program and Project Management and play a key leadership role in advancing the university's critical technology, cybersecurity, and transformational changes.

As a member of the Portfolio and Project Management Office (PPMO) leadership team, you will lead a team of professionals responsible for delivering complex, enterprise-wide programs and projects. This role advances program and project management capabilities, strengthens enterprise planning practices, and helps ensure the university's strategic investments deliver meaningful outcomes for students, faculty, researchers, and staff.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Practice Leadership: Playing a pivotal role in driving our organization's objectives by overseeing the program and project management practices. Your expertise in these functions will be essential to leading the team to deliver the intended value of our portfolio.

  • Team Management: Managing a diverse and talented team of professionals will be at the heart of your responsibilities. Your strong leadership and motivational skills will foster collaboration, excellence, and a positive work culture.

  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders will be key to achieving our desired outcomes. Your effective communication and negotiation skills will drive successful project delivery and stakeholder satisfaction at its core.

  • Continuous Improvement: Championing a culture of continuous improvement. You will inspire and empower the team to identify opportunities to optimize our practices, enhance operational efficiency, and achieve excellence in our practices and the outcomes we deliver.

  • Coaching and Mentoring: Empowering team members to reach their full potential will be a rewarding aspect of your role. Your passion for mentoring and coaching individuals will contribute to their professional growth and career success.

This position resides within the Portfolio and Project Management Office (PPMO), a department within the Division of Information Technology (DoIT). The PPMO comprises more than 20 professionals providing portfolio management, program management, project management, business analysis, and organizational change management services. The PPMO oversees strategic and high-value IT programs and projects sponsored by DoIT, UW-Madison, and Universities of Wisconsin partners.

The candidate selected for this position may perform a combination of on-site and remote work subject to an approved flexible work arrangement (FWA), which is reviewed and approved annually. Remote work requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer. Per University policy, transportation between home and assigned work location is not payable/reimbursable and will be at the expense of the employee.

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) is an exciting and dynamic work environment grounded in organizational principles that include family and personal life/work balance; an inclusive, respectful, and supportive work environment; professional development opportunities; innovation; and alignment with the campus's teaching, learning, and research missions. DoIT provides core IT infrastructure services to the university, develops and implements services for the university and in some cases, for the Universities of Wisconsin, plays a major role in managing the state-wide higher education network and regional networks.

Key Job Responsibilities:
  • Servesas aliaisonrepresenting the interestsof the institution to internal and external stakeholders
  • Advisesinstitutional or divisional leadership on information technology operations and business models
  • Mayperform manager functions
  • Directs strategic information technology planning initiatives and establishes objectives for the institution to ensure appropriate use of financial, administrative, staffing resources in alignment with the strategic plan
  • Developsoperating policies and procedures to comply with regulations, institutional policies, andunit objectives
  • Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees
Department:

Division of Information Technology, Portfolio & Project Management Office (PPMO)

The IT Portfolio & Project Management Office (PPMO) is a collaborative team of program and project managers, business analysts, change managers, and portfolio professionals. In partnership with stakeholders across the university, we play a pivotal role in delivering strategic projects that advance the university's mission and vision.

Compensation:

Starting salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Well qualified applicants can anticipate to earn between $150,000 - $160,000, with final salary based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. Benefits information can be found at (https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/).

Required Qualifications:
  • Progressively responsible experience in project, program, and portfolio management, including operational leadership responsibilities.

  • Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional initiatives and cultivating strong relationships with leaders, stakeholders, and business units to achieve strategic outcomes.

  • Proven experience leading the development and enhancement of business processes, service practices, and program and project management frameworks that support organizational effectiveness, change readiness, and continuous improvement.

  • Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, developing, and supporting professional staff, including managing multiple direct reports and fostering high-performing environments.

  • Demonstrated commitment to the professional principles of project management and delivery competencies, as evidenced by a Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP), certification or equivalent.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience managing team workloads, resource allocation, and prioritization across concurrent initiatives, including environments utilizing cost-recovery or chargeback funding models.

  • Experience leading the successful completion of large-scale enterprise programs and initiatives, demonstrating an understanding of IT organizational structures, staffing models, and diverse technology domains.

  • Experience working in higher education, research, government, healthcare, or other complex shared governance environments.

Education:

Bachelor's Degree Preferred Minimum

How to Apply:

Click on the "Apply" button to start the application process.

You will be prompted to upload the following documents:

-Resume
-Letter of Qualifications

Applicants should attach a letter of qualificationsand resume detailing their training and experience relating to the required and preferred qualifications referencedabove. The application reviewers will be relying on written application materials to determine which qualified applicants willadvance in the recruitment process.

Please note that successful applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship, on or before the effective date of appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

This position has been identified as a position of trust. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.

Contact Information:

DoIT Human Resources, doit-hr@doit.wisc.edu, 608-263-1790

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. SeeRELAY_SERVICEfor further information.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.


The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal OpportunityEmployer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.


To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodationfor any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR)in the division you are applying to.Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.


Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.