Senior IT Project Manager

National Opinion Research Center - NORC; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 138,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Retirement program

Group life insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

NORC at the University of Chicago seeks an experienced IT Senior Project Manager to oversee planning, implementation, and production support for NORC systems projects. This leader will manage multiple IT projects of moderate to high complexity, delivering quality outcomes that meet scope, schedule, and cost objectives.

The role partners with internal business units and external clients while leading IT full-stack development teams to meet project goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience; Master's preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in project management with 5+ years leading IT projects.
• Agile Scrum Master experience; Waterfall SDLC experience a plus.
• Knowledge of project management processes, budgeting, and risk management.
• Experience leading full-stack development teams (Java, SQL Server).
• Experience with third-party IT implementations; vendor coordination.

Responsibilities

• Develop IT project plans including scope, schedule, and budget.
• Hands-on management of IT teams across multiple projects and budgets.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation plans; manage project issues.
• Lead complex projects and provide technical guidance to teams.
• Prepare solution descriptions and cost estimates for new IT components.
• Report project status to IT leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

Scrum Master

Full stack

Java

SQL Server

Vendor management

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Project

MS Office

SharePoint

Salesforce

ServiceNow

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking an experienced IT Senior Project Manager to manage the planning, implementation, and production support for NORC systems projects. This leader will plan and manage multiplemediumtolarge sizedIT systems development projects of moderate to high complexity, ensuring that project results contribute positive business value and meet agreed upon scope,scheduleand costobjectives. At NORC, Project Managers lead a variety ofdifferent typesof projects including large scale survey data collection and management systems implementation, internal initiatives and systems, new product and service launches, large-scale application development, systems integration, operational efficiency improvements, and infrastructure upgrades and deployments.

The IT Senior Project Manager willestablishand maintain a collaborative partnership with internal business units (research and operations staff) as well as externalclientswhile leading IT full stack development teams to meet projectobjectives. They will bring creative approaches to problem solving andidentifyinginnovative solutionsin order toproduce quality deliverables supportingbusinessneeds.

Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Location: This is a hybrid role based in either our Chicago Loop or downtown Washington, DC office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office. Remote work status may be considered for outstanding candidates.

DEPARTMENT

NORC's Secure Computing Systems and Operations provide technology services to our staff and clients. Given the critical role technology plays in our day-to-day lives, we are committed to providing professional, high-quality solutionsin order tofurther our collective goal of advancing social science research.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Development of the IT project plan, and managing its scope, schedule, resources,budgetand risk. Applies advanced project management methods and techniques to execute project goals.

• Hands on management of IT team resources, tasks, and deliverables on multiple projects and projects with significant budgets and risks.

• Risk identification and mitigation planning and control. Issue management including tracking, assignment, and closeout of all project issues.

• Leads the effort in creative approaches to problem solving, especially for most complex projects; confers with project personnel toprovidetechnical advice and resolve problems; works with project stakeholders, department management, IT senior management and NORC senior management to ensure company initiatives and projectobjectivesare being met.

• Leads the preparation of solution descriptions and cost estimates for the significant new IT components on projects and may contribute to NORC new business proposals.

• Solves complex technical and business problems; takes a broad perspective toidentifyinnovative solutions.

• Works independently; receives minimal guidance. Contributes to performance reviews for team members.

• Interprets internal or external business issues and recommends best practices and is expected to take a lead in improving procedures for the IT PMO.

• Report regularly to IT management on the status of all assigned projects. Report project delays and changes in requirements to the Project Director and IT management ona timelybasis.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Scienceor similar field required, or equivalent experience. Master'sdegree preferred

• 10+ years of overall experience, with at least 5 years of current hands-on project management experience, leading projects that result in delivery of products and data

• Agile Scrum Master experiencerequired, Waterfall SDLCmethodologyexperience a plus

• Extensive knowledge of project management processes, projectfinancial management, systems development methods, change management concepts and business process improvement methods

• Management of full stack systems development teamsrequired, withdemonstratedmanagement of Java, SQL Server, and other portal technology projects

• Experience leading third-party implementations and version upgrade projects, coordinating vendors, managing integration risks, and supporting testing and cutover activities.

• Experience with SharePoint development projects, Salesforce implementations, and ServiceNow a plus

• PMP and CSM certification preferred

• Ability to work on multiple concurrent projects with shared resources

• Intermediate to advanced skills with project management tools including Microsoft Project, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Strong project management skills with hands-on experience managing and deploying application development projects, portals, and other complex IT systems

• Strong planning, organizational, and leadership skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to make effective presentations to clients and senior management

• Strong meeting facilitation skills

• Strong business judgment

• Ability to hands-on direct the work of systems development staff in a team environment

• A passion for consulting;capable of stretching and applyingskills in an open, entrepreneurial environment

• A flexible approach and attitude; you are not afraid to take on a challenge and be as hands-on as you are strategic.

• Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

The pay range for this position is $138,000-$160,000.

This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC's comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment

• Dental and vision insurance

• A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program

• Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance

• Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

NORC is committed to equity and transparency in its pay practices. We publish salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate's placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs. This role is bonus eligible. Bonus payment is contingent upon program terms and individual performance.

WHAT WE DO

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.

WHO WE ARE

For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we're known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.

EEO STATEMENT

NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.

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