Director of Project Management - IT

Kindle Energy; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Kindle Energy LLC in Princeton, NJ, is seeking a Director of Project Management - IT to serve as senior advisor and executive project leader for the VP of IT. You will oversee internal staff and providers, prioritize IT initiatives, and ensure delivery across cybersecurity, infrastructure, and applications.

You will lead governance, SLA/KPI frameworks, QBR cadences, and cross-functional collaboration with business units and external partners. MBA/PMI-ACP and PMP are strongly valued for this role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master's degree (MBA or MIS) preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) required; Agile/Scrum certification strongly preferred; ITIL Foundation certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Advisory & Prioritization — Advise VP of IT on requests and initiatives and prioritize aligned with strategy and capacity.
• IT Portfolio & Resource Management — Oversee IT project portfolio and allocate resources and budget.
• Large-Scale Project Oversight — Govern cross-functional IT projects from initiation to closure.
• Managed Services & Provider Governance — Direct MSP/MSSP, own SLA and KPI framework, QBR cadence.
• Vendor & Contract Oversight — Manage third-party vendors, SOWs, deliverables, SLAs, and renewals.
• Third-Party Risk & Compliance Alignment — Coordinate vendor due diligence and security assessments.
• PMO Governance & Standards — Improve project management methodologies and templates.
• Progress Tracking & Executive Reporting — Create dashboards and status reports for VP of IT.
• Risk & Issue Management — Identify and mitigate project and delivery risks.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication — Liaise between IT, business leaders, and external partners.

Skills

Strategic advisory

Executive communication

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Project governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/CS/BA

MBA or MIS preferred

PMP certification

Agile/Scrum (PMI-ACP, SAFe, or CSM) preferred

ITIL Foundation preferred

Tools

SLA/KPI framework

QBR cadence

Change control

Evidence retention standards

Vendor due diligence

Job description

We are problem solvers and out-of-the-box thinkers, bringing diverse perspectives to deliver creative solutions for our clients and partners in the power generation industry. The Kindle Energy team simplifies complexity, providing clear, actionable solutions to business challenges that fuel lasting success.

If you thrive in a culture that values entrepreneurial spirit and true collaboration, where obstacles are minimal and opportunities are abundant, Kindle Energy is the place for you.

Position:Director of Project Management - IT

Location: Princeton, NJ

Job Id:230

# of Openings:1

JOB TITLE: Director of Project Management - IT

REPORTS TO: Vice President IT

LOCATION: Princeton, NJ

The Director of Project Management, IT serves as the senior strategic advisor and executive project leader to the VP of IT, providing the leadership and operational oversight necessary to keep the IT organization — and its extended delivery ecosystem — running with clarity and purpose. The Director carries execution authority across internal IT staff as well as the managed service provider (MSP), managed security service provider (MSSP), technology vendors, and third-party providers that deliver on behalf of IT, ensuring all parties operate as a single, accountable delivery organization. In this role, the Director is responsible for prioritizing initiatives across the IT portfolio, allocating internal and external resources so the right teams are working on the right projects at the right time, and tracking progress against key milestones, contractual deliverables, and service-level commitments. The position sits at the intersection of strategy and execution — translating the VP's vision into structured, actionable plans while overseeing large-scale, cross-functional IT projects spanning corporate IT, cybersecurity, and regulated operational environments from inception through completion. By maintaining a clear line of sight across all internal and provider-delivered workstreams, the Director enables the VP of IT to make informed, data-driven decisions and ensures the department consistently delivers value aligned with broader organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Advisory & Prioritization — Serve as the primary advisor to the VP of IT by evaluating incoming requests, initiatives, and competing demands — originating from the business, internal teams, and the provider ecosystem — and recommending prioritization decisions that align IT efforts with organizational strategy and available capacity.
• IT Portfolio & Resource Management — Maintain a comprehensive view of the IT project portfolio, allocating internal staff, provider resources, and budget across initiatives to maximize efficiency and minimize bottlenecks or conflicts across the combined delivery organization.
• Large-Scale Project Oversight — Lead and govern high-impact, cross-functional IT projects from initiation through closure, ensuring adherence to scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards while managing stakeholder expectations across internal teams and external delivery partners.
• Managed Services & Provider Governance — Direct day-to-day delivery accountability across the MSP, MSSP, and other outsourced service providers; own the SLA and KPI framework, quarterly business review (QBR) cadence, escalation management, and service improvement plans, ensuring external delivery integrates seamlessly with internal IT and security operations.
• Vendor & Contract Oversight — Partner with procurement and legal teams to manage third-party vendors and technology contracts tied to IT projects and services — including statement-of-work development, deliverable acceptance, service credits, and renewal or transition planning — ensuring deliverables, SLAs, and budgets are met and contractual obligations are fulfilled.
• Third-Party Risk & Compliance Alignment — Coordinate vendor due diligence and security assessments with the cybersecurity function, and ensure that provider-delivered work in regulated environments adheres to applicable compliance obligations (including NERC CIP and NIS2), change-control requirements, and evidence-retention standards.
• PMO Governance & Standards — Establish, maintain, and continuously improve project management methodologies, frameworks, tools, and templates that drive consistency and accountability across all IT project work, whether executed internally or by third parties.
• Progress Tracking & Executive Reporting — Develop and manage dashboards, scorecards, and status reports that consolidate internal and provider-delivered workstreams into a single, real-time view of project health, risks, SLAs, and milestones, enabling the VP of IT to communicate effectively with senior leadership.
• Risk & Issue Management — Proactively identify, assess, and escalation project and delivery risks — including provider performance and dependency risks — work with project teams, providers, and stakeholders to, develop mitigation strategies that keep initiatives on track.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication — Act as a key liaison between IT, business unit leaders, and external delivery partners, ensuring alignment on project objectives, managing expectations, and facilitating timely decision-making across all levels of the organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master's degree (MBA or MIS) preferred.
• Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) required; Agile/Scrum certification (PMI-ACP, SAFe, or CSM) strongly preferred; ITIL Foundation certification preferred
• Experience:
  • 8–12 years of progressive project management experience, with at least 4–5 years in a senior or leadership role within an IT environment
  • Proven track record of successfully managing large-scale, complex IT projects with cross-functional teams and enterprise-wide impact
  • Demonstrated experience governing outsourced and managed services relationships (MSP and/or MSSP), including SLA and KPI management, QBRs, escalation handling, and multi-supplier coordination
  • Experience managing technology vendors and third-party providers through the full contract lifecycle — SOW development, deliverable acceptance, performance management, and renewal or transition
  • Direct experience supporting senior IT leadership (CIO, VP of IT, or equivalent)
  • Experience governing a portfolio of concurrent IT initiatives spanning infrastructure, cybersecurity, and business applications
  • Familiarity with operational technology (OT) environments and an understanding of NERC CIP requirements preferred; direct compliance ownership is not required, but working knowledge of critical-infrastructure frameworks (e.g., NERC CIP, NIS2) is a strong advantage
• Exceptional communication and executive presence, with the ability to present complex information clearly to senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders

Kindle Energy LLC provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. In addition to federal law requirements, Kindle Energy LLC complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has or operates facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, compensation, and training.