Sr. Project Manager - DCF

IO Datasphere, Inc.; Madison (WI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

IO Datasphere, Inc. is seeking a seasoned Implementation Manager for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families project.

The role focuses on guiding planning, procurement, and SaaS-based modernization across multiple years, aligning IT leadership with business stakeholders, and delivering strategic outcomes. The candidate will shape scope, coordinate stakeholders, manage vendor engagements, and drive governance structures to ensure successful implementation and accountability.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of project management experience on large-scale initiatives.
• 10+ years of procurement planning experience.
• 12+ years experience developing project artifacts (plan, charter, status reports).
• PMP or similar certification preferred.
• Experience with government program systems and SaaS procurements.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate modernization roadmap and implementation strategy with executive stakeholders.
• Define scope, assess current-state needs, and identify risks and critical decisions.
• Develop procurement strategies and draft RFIs/RFPs/SOWs; support contract negotiations.
• Advise leadership on vendor selection, contracting approaches, and governance structures.
• Establish governance, reporting processes, and escalation protocols for the program.

Skills

Project management

Procurement planning

PM artifacts

MS Project

PM certification

Tools

MS Project

Procurement documents

Job description

Client Name Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF)

Requisition 167433

Location Madison, WI

Duration 1+ years

Due Date 11/03/2026

C2C Possible Yes. Rate depends on experience

Interview Method Webcam

NOTE: WI residency required. Must be WI resident or willing to relocate at own expense. Position is mostly remote but can require staff to come onsite as necessary with sufficient notice. Onsite work is not likely, but candidate should be prepared to come onsite if required. Project management certification or successful completion of a recognized project management curriculum is required at time of submission. We can accept H1b, H4, TN and other valid work visas for IT. However we cannot accept OPT or CPT visas at this time.

Description:

Our client seeks a highly experienced individual to serve as the Child Care Systems Modernization Implementation Manager. This individual will provide strategic guidance and direct execution during the planning, procurement, and implementation phases of a multi-year child care systems modernization initiative with a SaaS vendor.

The Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring IT leadership and stakeholders stay informed at all points of the transformation effort while working closely with the business area Strategic Consultant to ensure all parties involved remain aligned. Candidate will assist in defining scope, coordinating stakeholders, developing roadmaps, managing SaaS vendor engagements, and coordinating IT resources and leveraging established governance, planning, and operational structures to ensure successful implementation.

The contractor will be expected to directly produce work products and deliverables rather than relying on dedicated project staff. Success in this role requires both strategic management and direct execution.

Tasks:

• Coordinate with the Strategic Consultant to develop and maintain an overall modernization roadmap and implementation strategy.
• Assess current-state business needs, technology systems, organizational readiness, and modernization needs.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and critical decision points requiring executive engagement.
• Recommend phased approaches for implementation, organizational change management, and business transformation.
• Collaborate in the development of procurement strategies and supporting documentation.
• Draft and coordinate Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and related procurement materials.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and support contract negotiations.
• Advise agency leadership on vendor selection, contracting approaches, and governance structures.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures for future vendors and implementation partners.
• Coordinate activities across business, policy, finance, procurement, and technology teams.
• Facilitate executive decision-making and ensure alignment among partners and stakeholders.
• Develop governance structures, decision frameworks, reporting processes, and escalation protocols.
• Prepare executive briefings, status reports, and strategic recommendations.
• Identify resource needs and recommend future staffing and contractor support models.
• Develop foundational project artifacts, including charters, workplans, risk registers, issue logs, and implementation frameworks.
• Support development of business requirements, process improvement opportunities, and future-state operating models.
• Establish structures necessary for transition from planning into implementation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Experience facilitating executive-level decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Skills Required

• Significant experience Leading large-scale technology modernization or digital transformation initiatives with a SaaS vendor
• 15+ years - Project management experience of large initiatives
• 10+ years - Experience with procurement planning
• 15 years - Experience with the development of Project Artifacts (plan, charter, status reports, etc.)
• 10 years - Experience preparing written Reports
• 12 years - Experience preparing executive Briefings
• 12 years - Experience with MS Project or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing complex technology procurements
• Experience with vendor selection, contract negotiation, and multi-vendor environments.
• Strong knowledge of project management, organizational change management, and systems implementation methodologies.
• PMP cert or similar
• Experience with government program systems
• Experience modernizing legacy systems to a SaaS platform.
• Solid understanding of cloud-based platforms, modular procurement strategies, and agile delivery approach
• Experience coordinating between internal teams and SaaS vendors.
• Experience establishing governance structures for large-scale modernization initiatives.