WI-Sr. Project Manager

AiQualTest LLC; Kentucky; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks a highly experienced Child Care Systems Modernization Implementation Manager to guide planning, procurement, and SaaS-based modernization across multiple years. The role requires hands-on delivery, governance, and stakeholder alignment to ensure timely artifacts, roadmaps, and vendor engagements are produced and executed.

This position supports a largely remote work model with occasional onsite as needed; WI residency is required,

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Strategic Consultant to develop modernization roadmap and implementation strategy.
• Assess current-state business needs and technology readiness for modernization.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and critical decisions requiring executive engagement.
• Recommend phased approaches for implementation and organizational change.
• Develop procurement strategies and supporting documentation for vendor engagements.
• Draft RFIs, RFPs, SOWs and related procurement materials.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and support contract negotiations.
• Advise leadership on vendor selection, contract approaches, and governance structures.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability with vendors and partners.
• Coordinate activities across business, policy, finance, procurement, and technology teams.
• Facilitate executive decision-making and alignment among stakeholders.
• Develop governance structures, decision frameworks, and escalation processes.
• Prepare executive briefings and strategic recommendations.
• Identify resource needs and staffing/contracting models.
• Create foundational artifacts like charters, workplans, risk logs, and implementation frameworks.
• Support business requirements and future-state operating models.

Skills

Executive stakeholder management

Written & verbal communication

Project management leadership

SaaS vendor engagement

Governance and roadmapping

Education

PMP certification (or equivalent)

Tools

MS Project

Procurement documentation

Vendor negotiations

Job description

Client Name Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF)

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.