Technology Solutions Project Manager

Southwest Transit; Oak Terrace (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SouthWest Transit is seeking a Technology Solutions Project Manager to lead agency-wide technology initiatives and partner with external vendors. You will drive requirements, oversee system migrations, and ensure adoption across departments.

This hands-on role emphasizes executive communication, stakeholder alignment, and strategic evaluation of build versus buy decisions to maximize value and long-term impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of progressive project management and digital transformation work.
• Experience managing vendor-led technology implementations.
• Ability to communicate proactively with senior leadership and draft executive materials.
• Experience onboarding staff to new systems and driving adoption.

Responsibilities

• Lead project lifecycles using formal PM methodologies and artifacts.
• Manage external partner deliverables and align them with deadlines and SLAs.
• Communicate milestones, risks, and changes to executives with concise briefings.
• Oversee technology migrations, system modernizations, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Develop end-user documentation, SOPs, and training materials for new systems.
• Provide cross-department collaboration to align priorities and optimize outcomes.

Skills

Project management

Vendor management

Communication

Requirements gathering

Systems expertise

MS Office

PM tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

CRM systems

Data warehousing

Enterprise platforms

Job description

About The Role

The Technology Solutions Project Manager is a key member of SouthWest Transit's Innovation & Technology team, serving as the primary project lead and strategic partner for agency-wide technology initiatives.

This role works across departments to understand business challenges, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement practical, high-value technology solutions that deliver exceptional quality and organizational impact. A critical responsibility of this position is actively managing external partners engaged on projects within your portfolio, ensuring third-party deliverables align with agency goals while serving as a bridge to internal teams. This person serves as a proactive partner to internal teams and leadership, ensuring peer feedback shapes vendor deliverables, aligning expectations across departments, and translating vendor estimates into realistic operational timelines. Success in this position requires proactive and effective communication with management and leadership regarding project timing, vendor relationships, outputs, and unexpected changes or needs. Success also requires curiosity, collaboration, and a strategic mindset that ensures every technology investment yields maximum performance, usability, and long-term impact. This is a hands‑on project lead and solutions role, distinct from standard desktop support or network engineering.

We are looking for someone who enjoys solving complex problems, building relationships, and helping organizations work smarter. We are looking for someone who appreciates technology and digital tools and sees their potential to transform how we work and serve our community. This understanding may come from hands‑on experience helping implement solutions, or from being a highly engaged user or enthusiast who stays current with emerging tools.

The ideal candidate excels at requirement gathering through thoughtful listening and conversations, deeply understanding our agency by reviewing our comprehensive plan and speaking with staff, and advocating for what people need to succeed in their roles. They possess a deep grasp of how to evaluate build vs. buy scenarios, balancing total value against real-world usefulness, and know when to inform a hunch with data versus when to execute on a strong operational gut instinct. Above all, they become an expert in our IT systems to drive simplification, streamline processes, and leverage new technologies to their fullest potential, ensuring minimal components of any new system go to waste. They serve as the agency subject matter expert on new solutions upon implementation and comfortably guide staff through system onboarding to make adoption simple while driving maximum impact. While technology is an important part of the role, success depends equally on executive communication, vendor coordination, internal partnership, business analysis, fiscal stewardship, and the ability to guide change across the organization. Equally on communication, project leadership, business analysis, and the ability to guide change across the organization.

About SouthWest Transit

SouthWest Transit is a dynamic, award‑winning transit agency serving the southwest Twin Cities through bus, on‑demand rideshare, and shuttle services. We are building the future of public transportation by delivering safe, reliable, and innovative solutions that connect people to where they want to go. Our vision is to become the leading provider of cutting‑edge transit services that enhance livability, boost economic opportunity, and strengthen community connections across the region.

We are excited about what lies ahead: expanding autonomous service options, leveraging new technologies to create seamless mobility experiences, and continuously improving how we get people around efficiently and enjoyably. If you are passionate about transportation that matters and want to help shape a growing agency focused on innovation and real‑world impact, we invite you to join us.

Mission

We provide a premium experience for the southwest Twin Cities through safe, reliable, and cost‑effective transit that builds community and connects our customers from where they are to where they want to go.

Vision

SouthWest Transit is the leading provider of innovative transit solutions that improve livability and enhance economic opportunity in the communities we serve.

The Technology Solutions Project Manager is a key member of SouthWest Transit's Innovation & Technology team, serving as the primary project lead and strategic partner for agency‑wide technology initiatives. This role drives digital transformation by recommending and implementing technology solutions that improve operational efficiency and enhance the customer experience at SouthWest Transit.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Formal Project Management & Governance: Lead project lifecycles using formal Project Management methodologies, frameworks, and deliverables. Conduct thorough requirements gathering and develop user stories through active listening and deep stakeholder alignment. Utilize core project management artifacts (including Project Charters, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), Detailed Schedule Baselines, RACI Matrices, Stakeholder Analysis, Risk Registers, and Status Reporting) to keep projects organized, transparent, and moving forward.
• Vendor Management & Internal Expectation Management: Serve as the primary liaison and relationship manager for external partners on projects within your portfolio. Manage partner deliverables, hold external teams accountable to project milestones and SLAs, and identify efficiencies to simplify processes. Serve as the voice of internal peers to ensure external partners deliver solutions that meet true operational needs, while proactively managing internal expectations around vendor timelines and scope.
• Proactive Leadership Communication & Documentation: Communicate proactively and transparently with executive management and leadership regarding project milestones, timeline shifts, vendor health, key deliverables, and unexpected changes or resource needs. Produce concise, high‑quality presentations, executive briefings, and white papers that distill complex technical initiatives into clear, actionable decision frameworks for leadership.
• Technology Implementation, Modernization & Systems Expertise: Become an expert in SouthWest Transit’s existing IT systems, actively identifying opportunities for simplification and process optimization. Oversee technology migrations, system modernizations, and digital transformation initiatives with minimal disruption and maximum benefit. Serve as the internal Subject Matter Expert (SME) on new solutions once implemented. Rigorously evaluate build vs. buy decisions, ensuring selected software and systems offer maximum capability and long‑term usability while optimizing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Distinguish when to inform an approach with data and when to act on sound operational judgment.
• Systems Architecture & Enterprise Solutions: Work on behalf of internal staff with external partners to implement enterprise platforms and operational tools, including CRM systems, farebox and point‑of‑sale technologies, and data warehousing. Oversee digital interfaces, mobile app integrations, and website enhancements to ensure third‑party tools deliver genuine operational impact, long‑term sustainability, and seamless adoption across departments. Serve as a primary point of contact for complex technical troubleshooting and issue resolution.
• User Onboarding & Adoption Support: Lead staff onboarding and facilitate hands‑on training during the rollout of new systems. Create clear end‑user documentation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and user guides that simplify complex workflows, build staff confidence, and drive long‑term tool utilization. Facilitate cross‑departmental collaboration to resolve conflicting priorities and establish
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as Business, Management Information Systems, Information Technology, or a related discipline; or Master’s degree in a related field.
• Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in technical project management, product management, solution design, or digital transformation.
• Demonstrated experience in vendor management and overseeing partner‑led technology implementations for assigned project portfolios.
• Proven track record of evaluating technology solutions for strategic impact, high usability, and performance returns.
• Proven ability to communicate proactively with senior leadership, including experience drafting concise executive presentations, summaries, or white papers.
• Demonstrated track record of serving as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for new systems and guiding end‑users through successful technology onboarding.
• Proven ability to serve as a bridge between technical vendors, internal business units, and leadership, effectively managing expectations and advocating for internal peer needs.
• Proven mastery of formal project management processes and tools (e.g., project charters, RACI matrices, risk registers, schedule tracking).
• Strong capability in active listening, formal requirement gathering, and evaluating build vs. buy technical decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to master internal IT systems, streamline workflows, and identify process efficiencies to accelerate project delivery.
• Highly inquisitive mindset with the confidence to challenge assumptions and ask "why."
• Proactive problem‑solving mindset with a focus on shared outcomes, stakeholder expectation management, and organizational flexibility.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and modern project management tools.
• Embraces the SWT values of Purpose, Integrity, Innovation, Accountability, and Belonging.

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard indoor office environment. The position requires occasional lifting of up to 30 pounds. Daily work involves prolonged periods of sitting, computer use, and handling documents. The role also requires strong attention to detail and the ability to meet deadlines in a fast‑paced setting.