Project Manager (contract)

Xcel Energy; Minnesota; Remote; USD 76,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcel Energy is seeking a highly motivated project delivery leader to steer cross-functional, IT-facing initiatives from initiation through closure. You will own scope, schedule, budget, and resources, coordinating vendors and leadership to ensure predictable outcomes.

You will connect business partners, delivery teams, and governance bodies, driving accountability and disciplined delivery across all phases. Strong communication and stakeholder management are essential.

Qualifications

• Project leadership for IT/business initiatives with strong governance.
• Prefer PMP and Agile/Scrum certifications.
• Ability to translate outcomes into actionable plans and roadmaps.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage project scope, milestones, delivery timelines, and dependencies
• Develop and maintain project plans, work breakdowns, and delivery roadmaps
• Own project forecasting, budget tracking, and variance management
• Coordinate internal and external resources to support delivery commitments
• Facilitate working sessions, status reviews, and decision forums across IT and business teams
• Serve as the primary liaison between business partners, delivery teams, vendors, and leadership
• Identify, track, and drive resolution of risks, issues, and cross-team dependencies
• Proactively upscale when delivery, scope, or financial targets are at risk
• Provide clear and concise status reporting to leadership and stakeholders
• Ensure decisions, actions, and next steps are well documented and clearly owned
• Ensure alignment with established project management standards and governance frameworks
• Drive accountability for commitments and delivery outcomes across all project stakeholders
• Manage vendor relationships and support vendor coordination throughout the project lifecycle

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Budget forecasting

Stakeholder management

Vendor management

Project scope management

Communication skills

Facilitation

Risk management

ServiceNow SPM familiarity

Education

PMP certification or equivalent

Agile/Scrum certifications

Tools

ServiceNow SPM

Job description

Open to Candidates in Minneapolis, Denver, or Remote.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to lead cross-functional, business- and IT-facing initiatives from initiation through closure. This individual will serve as a functional delivery owner accountable for scope, schedule, budget, and resource coordination across multiple teams and stakeholders. The role demands a skilled facilitator and collaborator who can translate desired outcomes into clear, actionable plans while ensuring consistent and predictable delivery. Operating within a supportive and collaborative environment, this person will act as the connective tissue between business partners, delivery teams, vendors, and leadership, driving accountability and governance across all project phases during standard full-time corporate hours.

Responsibilities

• Define and manage project scope, milestones, delivery timelines, and dependencies
• Develop and maintain project plans, work breakdowns, and delivery roadmaps
• Own project forecasting, budget tracking, and variance management
• Coordinate internal and external resources to support delivery commitments
• Facilitate working sessions, status reviews, and decision forums across IT and business teams
• Serve as the primary liaison between business partners, delivery teams, vendors, and leadership
• Identify, track, and drive resolution of risks, issues, and cross-team dependencies
• Proactively upscale when delivery, scope, or financial targets are at risk
• Provide clear and concise status reporting to leadership and stakeholders
• Ensure decisions, actions, and next steps are well documented and clearly owned
• Ensure alignment with established project management standards and governance frameworks
• Drive accountability for commitments and delivery outcomes across all project stakeholders
• Manage vendor relationships and support vendor coordination throughout the project lifecycle

Skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated leadership and team management capabilities across cross-functional groups
• Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities
• Strong stakeholder management skills with experience engaging both technical and non-technical audiences
• Solid financial management skills including budget tracking, forecasting, and variance analysis
• Vendor management experience including coordination and performance oversight
• Core project management competencies including scope management, scheduling, risk management, and dependency tracking
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously
• Experience with ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) is a plus
• Familiarity with End User Services environments is a plus

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of project management experience leading IT and business-facing initiatives
• Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional projects from initiation through closure
• Experience working across multiple IT teams and with business end users in a collaborative environment
• Background in End User Services is advantageous

Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent is preferred
• Agile, Scrum, or related delivery framework certifications are a plus

Joining this team means stepping into a high-visibility role where your ability to lead, organize, and drive results will have a direct and meaningful impact on the success of critical initiatives. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with talented professionals across IT and the business, building relationships and influencing outcomes at every level of the organization. If you thrive in a dynamic, team-oriented environment and take pride in delivering with discipline and clarity, this is an exceptional opportunity to make your mark.

The closing date for applications for this job posting is 7/12/2026.

Should you require any accommodations in responding to this job posting or at any stage during the application process, kindly e-mail : [e-mail]

Pay Rate Range

55.38 - 73.85 USD hourly