Principal IT Project Manager

Kovan Technology Solutions; North Carolina; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kovan Technology Solutions in North Carolina seeks an experienced Principal IT Project Manager to lead end-to-end delivery of complex, enterprise-scale technology programs. You will own planning, governance, budgets, schedules, risk management, and stakeholder alignment to ensure predictable delivery and measurable business outcomes.

The role requires strong executive engagement, matrixed team leadership across Product, Engineering, Architecture, Security and Operations, with a track record in

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise IT projects with multiple workstreams.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and executive reporting.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, schedules, and risks.
• Experience with cross-functional teams in matrixed orgs.
• Ability to work independently and handle ambiguity.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of large-scale IT projects within scope, schedule, budget.
• Develop integrated project plans with milestones and dependencies.
• Establish governance, reporting, and change control processes.
• Manage risks, issues, dependencies, and escalations.
• Engage executives with status reports and forecasts.
• Coordinate Product, Engineering, Architecture, Security, Ops and vendors.
• Monitor budgets, forecasts, and benefits realization.
• Ensure documentation and audit trails meet governance standards.
• Support portfolio planning and resource prioritization.
• Mentor and coach junior PMs.

Skills

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Risk management

Ambiguity handling

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

PM certifications preferred

Tools

Jira

Azure DevOps

MS Project

Smartsheet

ServiceNow

MS Excel

Job description

Principal IT Project Manager (US Citizen only)

Job Title: Principal IT Project Manager

Job Type: Full-Time / Contract

Experience Level: Senior / Principal

Job Description:

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Principal IT Project Manager to lead the end-to-end delivery of complex, enterprise-scale technology projects. The role is responsible for project planning, governance, budget, schedule, risk management, and stakeholder alignment to ensure predictable delivery and measurable business outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in enterprise IT project management, cross-functional delivery, executive stakeholder engagement, and managing multiple workstreams within complex, matrixed organizations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of large-scale, complex IT and technology projects, ensuring delivery within agreed scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.
• Develop and manage integrated project plans, milestones, dependencies, resource requirements, and delivery forecasts.
• Establish project governance, reporting frameworks, decision logs, and change control processes.
• Manage project risks, issues, dependencies, and escalations; develop mitigation and recovery plans.
• Engage senior business and technology stakeholders, providing executive-level status reports, forecasts, and recommendations.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams across Product, Engineering, Architecture, Security, Operations, and external vendors.
• Drive scope management, prioritization, issue resolution, and delivery decisions to achieve business objectives.
• Monitor project budgets, financial forecasts, resource utilization, and business benefits.
• Ensure project documentation, approvals, and audit trails comply with organizational governance standards.
• Support portfolio planning, dependency management, and resource prioritization across major initiatives.
• Mentor and coach Project Managers, promoting consistent delivery standards and best practices.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Proven experience managing complex, enterprise-scale IT projects or technology programs with multiple workstreams and dependencies.
• Strong expertise in Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid project management methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in matrixed organizational environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management, executive communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Strong capabilities in risk, issue, dependency, scope, schedule, budget, and change management.
• Experience with project management and delivery tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, MS Project, Smartsheet, or ServiceNow.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and benefits tracking.
• Experience with project governance, delivery assurance, decision logs, and audit-ready documentation.
• Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, resolve escalations, and deliver under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Life Sciences, Clinical Research Organizations (CROs), or other regulated industries.
• Knowledge of GxP validation and regulated technology environments.
• Experience managing third-party vendors, enterprise technology integrations, and cross-project dependencies.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PgMP, PfMP, MSP, or SAFe.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Relevant project or program management certifications are preferred.