Project Manager

Wayne State University; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Wayne State University in Detroit is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead large, enterprise-wide technology and process-improvement initiatives from initiation through delivery, ensuring alignment to scope, schedule, and budget.

You will coordinate cross-functional teams, partner with executive leadership and external vendors, manage risk, and champion PMO standards to deliver measurable outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; degrees in CS, IT, information systems, business administration, or related field preferred.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience managing large-scale, customer-facing IT and process-improvement projects.
• Higher education experience and experience with university environments preferred.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project execution including scope, schedule, budget, resources, risk, and quality management.
• Coordinate cross-functional project teams and external partners to achieve objectives.
• Define project objectives with stakeholders and translate business needs into actionable plans.
• Manage communications with executives and governance bodies; provide clear status reports.
• Support development and adherence to PMO standards, methodologies and knowledge sharing.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional teamwork

Stakeholder communication

Risk management

Process improvement

Strategic thinking

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree

CS / IT / IS / Business Admin related field

Job description

Project Manager

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced ProjectManager at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university locatedin the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from allbackgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Ourdeep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity,diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educationalopportunities which prepare students for success in a globalsociety.

Essential functions (job duties):

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Senior Director of Project Management, the ProjectManager leads large, complex, enterprise-wide technology,data/information, and process improvement (digital) initiatives insupport of the University’s strategic goals. This role isresponsible for managing the full project lifecycle, frominitiation through delivery, while ensuring alignment to scope,schedule, budget, and measurable outcomes. The Project Managerpartners with executive leadership, cross-functional teams, andthird-party vendors to drive successful delivery andmaintaineffective stakeholder engagement, communication, and riskmanagement.

Essential Functions

(Essential functions are the primary duties/major jobresponsibilities that an employee must be able to perform, withorwithout reasonable accommodation. The essential functions arelisted in order of importance.)

• Lead end-to-end project execution, including scope, schedule,budget, resources, risk, and quality management. Ensure projectsare delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment withUniversity standards and stakeholder expectations.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional project teams, fosteringcollaboration, accountability, and effective execution. Buildstrong relationships across business and academic units, unitswithin digital strategy and operational excellence (IT,Institutional Research and Data Analytics,Operational Excellence,Administration & Finance) and external partners to achieveproject objectives.
• Partner with executive leadership, business units, and technicalteams to define project objectives, gather requirements, and ensurealignment with organizational strategy. Translate business needsinto actionable project plans and support the design of digitalsolutions.
• Manage communication across stakeholders, including executiveleadership and governance bodies. Provide clear status reporting,facilitate project and steering committee meetings, and escalaterisks and issues as needed.
• Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvementof PMO standards, methodologies, and project management practices.Contribute to process improvement efforts, technical documentation,knowledge sharing, and end-user/customer training.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Bachelor's degree in computer science, business informationtechnology, information systems, business administration, orrelated field.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may beaccepted.
• Experience: Specialist (minimum 5 years of job-relatedexperience)
• Minimum five (5) years of experience managing large-scale,high-level customer-facing IT and process improvement projectsleveraging best-in-class methodologies for successfulexecution.
• Higher education or experience working in similar sized and complexorganizations is preferred.
• Significant experience in higher education businessprocesses.
• Experience managing large-scale, customer-facing initiatives withmultiple stakeholders and dependencies.
• Experience supporting process improvement and digitaltransformation efforts preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the abilityto effectively engage diverse audiences, including executiveleadership and external stakeholders.
• Proven leadership experience leading large, cross-functional teamsin complex, enterprise environments.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across businessand academic units, technology, data, and business analysis teams,and external partners, often without direct authority, to drivealignment and achieve results.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the abilityto evaluate impacts, assess alternatives, and align projects toorganizational goals and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to lead problem-solving, process improvement, and digitaltransformation initiatives in complex, large-scaleenvironments.
• Highly adaptable and resilient, with the ability to manageambiguity, competing priorities, and high-pressuresituations.

Preferred qualifications:

• School/College/Division: H2520 - Enterprise Applications
• Primary department: H2520 - Enterprise Applications

Employment type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Staff/Administrative

Funding/salary information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary
• Hourly rate:
• Salary minimum:
• Salary hire maximum:

Working conditions:

Hybrid/Minimum 3 Days in Office

Job openings:

• Number of openings: 1
• Reposted position: No
• Reposted reason: None (New Requisition)
• Prior posting/requisition number:

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offeredemployment to undergo a background check, including a criminalhistory check, before starting work. If you are offered employment,the university will inform you if a background check isrequired.