Senior IT Project Manager – Enterprise Software Implementation

Per Sé Group; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Per Sé Group is seeking an experienced Senior IT Project Manager to lead a large-scale, multi-year enterprise software modernization initiative for a major utility organization. This is a hands-on delivery leadership role, not a project administrator.

You will manage design through implementation, coordinate vendors, and report to executives. Preference for candidates in Wisconsin or Iowa, with primarily remote work and occasional on-site as needed, aligned to Central Time business hours.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of IT/Technology Project Management experience; 10+ years preferred.
• Proven success delivering large, complex enterprise software implementations.
• Significant experience with COTS software and vendor management.
• Strong experience with Waterfall SDLC, stage-gate governance, and executive reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead a large-scale, multi-year enterprise technology implementation from design through implementation and closeout.
• Develop and approve the implementation business case and manage integrated, resource-loaded schedules.
• Coordinate work across IT teams, business stakeholders, architects, vendors, consultants, and partners.
• Establish baselines, track delivery by workstream, and manage risks, issues, and changes.
• Drive decisions, remove obstacles, and ensure accountability across vendors and teams.

Skills

IT/Technology Project Management

Waterfall SDLC

Stage-gate governance

Microsoft Project

Vendor management

Executive reporting

Stakeholder management

Risk and issue management

Cross-functional leadership

Contract & vendor coordination

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Senior IT Project Manager – Enterprise Software Implementation

Remote/Hybrid | Central Time Zone | Wisconsin/Iowa Preferred

If you’re the project leader people turn to when the technology is complex, the stakeholders aren’t aligned, and the project still has to move forward…keep reading.

Per Sé Group is seeking an experienced Senior IT Project Manager to lead a complex, large-scale, multi-year enterprise software modernization initiative for a major utility organization.

This is not a project-administrator role. We’re looking for a hands‑on delivery leader who can take ownership of a high‑visibility technology initiative, navigate organizational complexity, challenge assumptions, hold vendors and stakeholders accountable, and drive decisions when competing priorities threaten progress.

If COTS implementations, Waterfall SDLC, stage gates, resource‑loaded schedules, vendor management, system conversions, cutovers, and executive reporting are already part of your world, we should talk.

What You’ll Do

• Lead a large‑scale, high‑dollar, multi‑year enterprise technology implementation from design through implementation and project closeout.

• Bring the current design phase to completion and support development and approval of the implementation business case.

• Build and manage integrated, resource‑loaded project schedules covering tasks, dependencies, milestones, critical paths, baselines, forecasts, and resource constraints.

• Lead project execution using structured Waterfall SDLC and stage-gate governance.

• Coordinate work across IT teams, business stakeholders, architects, vendors, consultants, system integrators, and implementation partners.

• Establish measurable delivery baselines and track performance by workstream and deliverable.

• Identify schedule, resource, technical, and organizational constraints before they impact major milestones.

• Manage project scope, schedule, cost, resources, risks, issues, dependencies, and changes.

• Drive decisions and remove obstacles when projects encounter competing priorities, unclear ownership, or stalled work.

• Challenge assumptions and facilitate difficult conversations when necessary to keep execution moving.

• Hold vendors, project teams, and stakeholders accountable for commitments and delivery outcomes.

• Manage third‑party vendors, consulting partners, system integrators, and contract resources.

• Maintain disciplined decision, issue, risk, dependency, and escalation processes.

• Prepare concise project status, risk, performance, and decision information for executive leadership.

• Coordinate implementation readiness, cutover activities, training, and transition to operational teams.

• Support contract administration, RFPs, vendor evaluation, negotiations, and project financial management as required.

What You’ll Bring

• Minimum 5 years of IT/Technology Project Management experience; 10+ years strongly preferred.

• Proven success delivering large, complex, multi-year enterprise software implementation, modernization, upgrade, or conversion projects.

• Significant experience managing commercial/vendor‑built software (COTS) rather than primarily custom software‑development projects.

• Strong experience with Waterfall SDLC, stage-gate governance, scope management, risk management, and executive reporting.

• Demonstrated ability to independently create and manage detailed, resource‑loaded project schedules.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Project.

• Strong vendor and system‑integrator management experience.

• Demonstrated ability to drive execution, remove obstacles, and hold teams accountable.

• Strong risk, issue, dependency, change, and escalation‑management skills.

• Experience coordinating multiple IT teams, vendors, and business stakeholders.

• Technical fluency sufficient to work effectively with architects, system owners, technical teams, vendors, and business users.

• Ability to translate complex technical information into clear business decisions and executive communications.

• Strong leadership, organizational, interpersonal, and stakeholder‑management skills.

• Ability to operate independently in complex and sometimes ambiguous environments.

Previous GIS or ArcGIS project experience is beneficial but not required. Experience managing other complex enterprise software conversions or implementations involving significant integrations, data migration, technical dependencies, operational readiness, and cutover activities can translate well.

Candidates whose project‑management background is limited primarily to Agile software development will not be a fit for this particular assignment.

Work Arrangement

This position offers the potential for a primarily or fully remote arrangement. Candidates located near an office should have flexibility to work onsite occasionally as needed.

Preference will be given to candidates residing in Wisconsin or Iowa, although finding the right candidate takes priority over location.

Candidates must be available and fully dedicated during Central Time business hours, approximately 8:00 AM–5:00 PM CT.

If you’re comfortable walking into a complicated technology initiative, creating clarity where there isn’t any, and getting teams and vendors moving toward the same outcome, we should talk.

About Per Sé Group

Per Sé Group is a leading technical and professional recruiting firm specializing in the power generation, renewable energy, utilities, oil & gas, chemical, manufacturing, and construction industries. We connect talented professionals with industry‑leading organizations on contract, contract‑to‑hire, and direct hire opportunities across North America.

Whether you’re looking for your next project or your next long‑term career move, Per Sé Group is committed to helping you achieve your professional goals while providing exceptional service throughout the hiring process.

Per Sé Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Questions? Contact the Per Sé Group recruiting team at [e-mail].