Senior IT Project Manager

The job leads diverse IT projects typically involving multiple groups in the IT Function. Uses deep knowledge of IT processes, leadership skills, and breadth of experience to manage budgets, resources, and schedules. Coordinates work of IT staff and to resolves complex issues to ensure project goals and requirements are met., * The Senior IT Project Manager serves as a strategic and tactical leader as well as subject matter expert, independently collaborating with stakeholders across the institution to define project scope, establish measurable objectives, and drive deliverables that directly align with university-wide priorities.

• Design and implement robust, comprehensive project plans, detailing timelines, optimizing resource allocation, and developing accurate budgets to ensure successful project execution.
• Direct cross-functional teams in the delivery of complex application and database development initiatives, as well as process optimization projects, driving innovation and best practices.
• Orchestrate and manage project activities, leveraging superior coordination skills to guarantee all milestones and deadlines are consistently achieved or exceeded.
• Proactively monitor project progress through key performance indicators, adeptly navigating ambiguity, uncertainty, and situations lacking clear-cut answers; swiftly resolve challenges and adapt plans to ensure continued project alignment and momentum.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks through enterprise-level strategies, ensuring sustained success and transformation across the university.
• Serve as the primary liaison between project teams, stakeholders, and executive leadership, facilitating seamless communication and collaboration to align objectives and deliverables.
• Lead requirement gathering and regular status meetings, providing transparent updates and translating business needs into actionable project plans to ensure strategic project success.
• Conduct thorough analyses of existing IT processes to identify improvement opportunities. Leverage specialized expertise to conduct rigorous process analyses, design optimized solutions, and embed best practices that elevate cross-functional effectiveness and efficiency.
• Establish and implement a comprehensive PMO project framework by defining standardized project management methodologies, intake, prioritization, and governance processes, complemented with robust templates, tools, and guidelines for project documentation and reporting.
• Lead and/or serve as a stakeholder in driving large scale, transformational projects that have broad Division and institution-wide impact in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Foster organizational excellence and continuous improvement by mentoring and training project managers and staff on PMO standards, delivering transparent and insightful reports to leadership, and meticulously tracking key performance indicators.
• May directly supervise project teams and/or technical staff, providing leadership, mentorship, and professional development, while fostering a collaborative environment to ensure successful execution of university-wide initiatives.
• Deliver insightful progress and summary reports to leadership by tracking key performance indicators for projects and PMO effectiveness.
• Champion complex problem-solving and post-project reviews to capture lessons learned, proactively enhance PMO maturity, and develop innovative solutions that ensure sustained enterprise-wide impact.
• Serves as project lead to coordinate complex information technology changes and ensures the success of enterprise-level application rollouts. Works with University units and the client community to develop detailed business requirements.
• Uses specialized depth and breadth of expertise in a specific career track to build project plans, including budgets and human resource plans. Provides expertise on managing projects. Maintains project web presence, project archives and project documentation.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification - Project Management Institute, * 7+ years of relevant software development experience, full cycle strongly preferred, including design, coding, testing, and support.

• Familiarity with Microsoft C# programming using MSSQL as database backend.
• Knowledge of web applications, REST API, and service-based architectures.
• Knowledge of application lifecycle management tools such as Azure DevOps.
• Experience with version control leveraging git.
• Familiarity with CI/CD and Agile methodologies .

Preferred Competencies

• Ability to work productively with business analysts, program managers, and business stakeholders to drive best practices, ensuring accountability for deliverables and outcomes.
• Strong debugging and trouble-shooting skills.
• Ability to take a broad plan and break it into incremental tasks, estimate the effort needed to complete them, and ensure the completion of each task, meeting the required level of quality.
• Ability to prioritize and manage workload to meet critical project milestones and deadlines.
• Ability to plan and persuade others to adopt new structures or systems in order to meet objectives.
• Ability to take and provide constructive and helpful input and feedback on technical issues.
• In-depth knowledge in all technical areas of major projects and core products.
• Ability to work in a collaborative team to ensure accountability for deliverables and outcomes.
• Understands and can maintain confidentiality related to sensitive matters such as personally identifiable, FERPA (Student), and HIPPA (Healthcare) related information.

Working Conditions

• Office environment (hybrid schedule).

$120,000.00 - $170,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

The University of Chicago biomedical enterprise houses three entities: the Biological Sciences Division (BSD), the University of Chicago Medicine (UCM), and the Pritzker School of Medicine. Collectively called UCM, we are one of the nation's leading academic medical institutions and have been at the forefront of discovery, education, and clinical care since 1927. Located 20 minutes south of downtown Chicago, our Hyde Park main campus provides a single environment for learning, world-renowned basic science and clinical research, and outstanding clinical care. The BSD is the largest academic unit within the University. The BSD is comprised of faculty from ten basic science departments, 13 clinical departments, and several Centers and Institutes. The approximately 1,300 faculty and 3,000 staff members working in the BSD collaborate across the organization to achieve our Mission, Vision, and Values (MVV): MISSION: As part of the University of Chicago, we pursue globally impactful solutions to seemingly unsolvable challenges. Through our rigorous research, innovative education, and comprehensive care and healing, we collaborate on life-changing advancements that create meaningful results for our community and the world, including a greater, more equitable future for all. VISION: Together, we elevate the human experience with knowledge and health care. VALUES: * Commit to Excellence: We contribute our exceptional talents to all we do and empower the same spirit of excellence in others .* Embrace Curiosity: We stay open to new ideas, champion diverse perspectives, and drive a culture of thoughtful risk-taking to deliver transformative innovation. * Embody Equity: We identify systemic issues and then foster change to drive a more equitable environment inclusive of diverse people, ideas, and fields of science. * Grow Together: We meaningfully collaborate with one another to create something bigger than we could ever achieve alone .* Make a Difference: We lead with heart and compassion in all our interactions. We create positive change in our areas of influence, whether expanding scientific inquiry, developing the next generation of leaders, or healing our community. * Take Ownership: We accomplish what we say we will and hold ourselves and one another accountable for our actions. The MVV serves as our True North, charting our strategic plan for the next ten years and beyond. It is an exciting time to be a part of the University of Chicago and the BSD. Our team is helping to shape the future for our learners, staff, faculty, patients, and community.