Senior IT Project Manager

Contemporaries, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A Boston-based university is seeking a Senior IT Project Manager for a long-term hybrid assignment. The role involves managing complex IT projects, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring alignment with university strategies. Ideal candidates will have 8-10 years of IT project management experience, strong leadership skills, and a background in delivering enterprise technology projects. This position requires a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field, along with project management certification. Hybrid work involves 3 days onsite and 2 days remote.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of progressive IT project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering enterprise-level technology projects.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience engaging with business units and technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of multiple IT projects.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, budgets, and timelines.
• Serve as the primary liaison between technical teams and executive sponsors.

Skills

Stake holder experience

Team leadership

Monitoring and reporting of financial oversight

Project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile)

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field

Project management training/certification (e.g., PMP, Agile, PRINCE2)

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

ServiceNow

Jira

Job description

Our client, a Boston-based University, is in need of a contract Senior IT Project Manager for a long-term hybrid assignment, which is expected to last a minimum of 12 months. This position was created to backfill for some projects that the school has in progress.

The most important skills the Hiring Manager is looking for is:

• Stake holder experience
• Team leadership
• Monitoring and reporting of financial oversight

The position requires 3 days working onsite at the Boston campus, and 2 days working remotely.

The university’s Division of Information Technology Services (ITS) is seeking a highly experienced and motivated individual to join their team as a Senior ITS Project Manager. This role is responsible for driving the successful delivery of large-scale, complex IT projects and programs that support the university’s strategic priorities. The Senior Project Manager will lead cross‑functional teams, manage diverse stakeholder expectations, and ensure that all initiatives are delivered within scope, schedule, and budget—while aligning business value and user needs.

The ideal candidate will be a self‑starter with a proven track record of managing complex strategic IT initiatives in dynamic environments. This role requires a strategic thinker who is also hands‑on, with strong leadership and influencing skills.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Project management training/certification preferred (e.g., PMP, Agile, PRINCE2).

Experience

• 8–10 years of progressive IT project management experience, including managing large, complex, cross‑functional IT initiatives in matrixed organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering enterprise‑level technology projects, such as CRM, ERP, infrastructure, data integration, or cloud‑based systems.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience engaging with business units, technical teams, and executive stakeholders to translate business needs into actionable project plans.
• Proven ability to lead diverse project teams, set direction, communicate vision, and influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Experienced in navigating organizational change, managing competing priorities, and driving projects forward in ambiguous or evolving environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change for enterprise technology implementations including adoption and post‑go‑live stabilization.
• A strong history of using data‑driven insights to guide project planning and risk management.

Knowledge and Skills

• Expert in project management methodologies, including Waterfall, Agile, and hybrid approaches.
• Proficient with project management tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, ServiceNow, or Jira.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong system‑thinking capability to understand and manage interactions between technology and business processes.
• Ability to frame and communicate complex information clearly to drive alignment and informed decision‑making.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships, foster collaboration, and resolve conflicts across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Deep understanding of business processes and IT alignment, with the ability to deliver measurable value.
• Skilled in resource planning and budgeting for large‑scale projects.
• Self‑motivated, organized, and capable of working independently in fast‑paced environments.
• Good understanding of current and emerging technologies and how other enterprises are employing them to drive digital business.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of business needs, with the ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of multiple large and complex IT projects across departments, ensuring alignment with university priorities and strategies.
• Develop and manage detailed project plans, milestones, scope statements, budgets, timelines, and resource allocations.
• Ensure project scope and plans address technology delivery, as well as change, readiness, and operational transition.
• Conduct risk assessments and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
• Monitor project activities, ensuring the currency, quality and integrity of information, while providing consistency in content.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as the primary liaison between technical teams, business units, and executive sponsors.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Facilitate effective communication across cross‑functional teams to ensure shared understanding of objectives, progress, and changes.
• Present project updates, risks, and performance metrics to governance groups and leadership.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Provide direction and support to cross‑functional project teams, including internal staff and external vendors.
• Establish clear goals and responsibilities and promote accountability across team members.
• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation, ownership, and problem‑solving.

Monitoring, Reporting & Financial Oversight

• Track and report on project progress, milestones, risks, issues, and financials.
• Develop and publish status reports, prepare and modify schedules or plans as required.
• Ensure post‑project evaluation, lessons learned, and knowledge documentation.
• Manage project budgets responsibly, identify cost‑saving opportunities, and ensure financial accountability.