Project Manager – Museums CMS Renewal

The University of Alberta Museums is seeking a Project Manager for the University of Alberta Museums Collection Management System (CMS) Renewal Project. University of Alberta Museums (UAM) is one of Canada’s largest academic and research museum collections with millions of objects and specimens in both the Natural Sciences and Humanities. Its 30 registered collections are housed across 11 departments and five faculties. An enterprise-level collection management system (CMS) is vital to fulfilling University of Alberta Museums’ (UAM) legal, research, teaching, and fiduciary requirements for its rare and irreplaceable collections. As leaders in online collection access, the UAM’s CMS is also cornerstone to the UAM Search Site (https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/) as well as access to UAM collections through several international aggregators such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and serves as a catalyst for object-based research, interdisciplinary collaborations, and community connection.

Department Library and Museums – University of Alberta Museums

Position Type Full Time – Trust Funded

Description

This position is part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

Location –This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just.

Position

UAM is moving from a legacy collections management system (CMS) to a new CMS. The Project Manager, Museums Collections Management System (CMS) Renewal, will analyze and assess current business processes, and provide project coordination and management to facilitate the selection and implementation of a new CMS.

Reporting to the UAM Unit Assistant Director – Collections Management, the Project Manager will coordinate closely with senior leadership, units and teams, and partnerships within and outside of University of Alberta Museums (UAM) to facilitate the planning and execution of the renewal of the UAM’s collections management system (CMS). These activities include completing and refining an environmental scan and multi-phased project plans, coordinating and facilitating the consultation process with key stakeholders, gathering business and technical requirements, synthesizing CMS selection criteria, and identifying potential solutions that align with UAM’s vision and strategic goals.

There is the possibility of extending this position for the subsequent phases of this project.

Duties

CMS Renewal Project Management

• Works collaboratively with relevant parties to review, develop and refine project plans.
• Ensures change management approaches, including appropriate stakeholder engagement, communications, learning and development, and tracking measures and benefit realization, are integrated throughout the project.
• Ensures project parameters are met (e.g., budget, timelines, risk mitigation obligations).
• Manages and documents project status and key measures.
• Identifies and resolves difficult and complex requirements or process issues; facilitates consensus.
• Ensures a focus on building and maintaining strong relationships is maintained.
• Assists to plan events celebrating project milestones.
• Potentially supervises temporary staff hired as part of the project implementation.

CMS and Migration Requirements

• Leads completion of environmental scan.
• Leads consultations and information-gathering activities among U of A’s complex network of stakeholders, including curators and collections staff for the UAM’s 30 collections, and documents and synthesizes findings.
• Analyzes and assesses business needs and processes related to UAM collection data.
• Assesses migration readiness of current collections data.
• Drafts CMS selection strategies, criteria and processes based on consultation, information gathering, and analysis.
• Working collaboratively with the CMS Selection Committee, coordinates the official RFP process with the U of A Supply Management Services Procurement Specialist.

CMS Implementation and Data Migration

• Coordinates major implementation activities including platform configuration and implementation, data integration, workflows and service migration, and validation and acceptance of the implementation, working collaboratively with U of A’s complex network of stakeholders, the migration’s functional and technical teams, and the vendor.
• Ensures vendor product and processes meet contract requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, business or a related field.
• Demonstrated project management or related experience.
• Demonstrated experience in business analysis.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating consultations.
• Working experience seeing projects through the full project lifecycle.
• Strong interpersonal skills for effective communication; ability to clarify technical information for non-technical audiences, both verbally and written.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collegially in a team environment and under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in data migration project management, especially museum data migration.
• Professional Project Management Certification such as PMP.
• Demonstrated experience in applying principles of change management.

At the University of Alberta, we are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible hiring process for all candidates. If you require accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let us know at the time of booking your interview and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.

All University employees have a responsibility to foster a workplace that prioritizes safety in all its forms—physical, cultural, and psychological. This is achieved by promoting a safe environment, adhering to all safety laws, policies and procedures, completing all required safety training, identifying hazards and implementing controls, reporting incidents, and contributing to a culture of inclusivity and respect, while endeavoring to ensure that all colleagues feel valued and safe to express their thoughts, perspectives and concerns.

The University of Alberta is committed to creating a university community where everyone feels valued, barriers to success are removed, and thriving connections are fostered. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply.