Software Project Manager

This role leads a strategic, company-wide Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) transformation, replacing a legacy PLM platform with a Salesforce-based Propel solution in a manufacturing and engineering-focused environment. The Software Project Manager serves as the primary implementation leader on the client side, driving structure, governance, stakeholder alignment, and vendor accountability to ensure a successful go-live, smooth integrations with surrounding systems, and a sustainable post-implementation operating model. Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end PLM implementation project, serving as the primary technical project owner on the client side.
• Manage the implementation partner and vendor relationships, ensuring alignment to scope, schedule, features, deliverables, and statements of work.
• Hold vendors accountable for meeting project timelines, delivering committed functionality, and adhering to agreed-upon implementation plans.
• Develop and coordinate the overall migration strategy for product data, including planning, execution, and validation of data transition activities.
• Oversee ERP and other enterprise system integrations associated with the new PLM platform, ensuring smooth and reliable connectivity.
• Create and deliver executive-level project reporting, including status updates, risk and issue summaries, and decision-ready information for leadership.
• Drive stakeholder alignment across engineering, IT, and other cross-functional teams, facilitating clear communication and collaborative decision-making.
• Establish and maintain project governance structures, including decision-making processes, escalation paths, and accountability frameworks.
• Manage project budgets, financial tracking, and documentation to ensure transparency and adherence to agreed financial parameters.
• Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including plans, requirements, design decisions, testing outcomes, and transition materials.
• Ensure a successful go-live for the new PLM platform, including readiness assessments, cutover planning, and post-launch support coordination.
• Develop and execute a transition and handoff plan that enables sustainable post-implementation ownership and ongoing system stewardship.
• Provide implementation best-practice guidance in a Waterfall methodology environment, helping to shape how the transformation is executed.
• Influence project approach and execution beyond basic schedule tracking by introducing structure, governance, and disciplined program management.
• Coordinate workstreams across engineering-heavy stakeholder groups and IT, aligning activities to critical milestones within the first three months.

Budgeting Timelines Visionary Leadership Governance Innovation Salesforce Coordinating Communication Accountability Data Migration Decision Making Data Management Self-Discipline Vendor Management Project Management Financial Tracking Project Governance Systems Integration Project Documentation System Implementation Waterfall Methodology New Product Development Artificial Intelligence Engineering Design Process Software Project Management Product Lifecycle Management Enterprise Resource Planning Vendor Relationship Management Enterprise Application Software Milestones (Project Management) Cutover Planning And Management Product Software Implementation Method, * Proven technical project management experience leading complex software implementation initiatives.

• Enterprise software implementation experience, ideally in environments involving multiple integrated systems.
• Prior experience with PLM implementations, with a strong preference for Salesforce-based Propel PLM platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional stakeholders across engineering, IT, and other business functions.
• Hands-on experience with data migration, including planning, executing, and validating product data transitions.
• Background working in manufacturing, product development, or engineering environments.
• Strong vendor management skills with the ability to lead systems implementation partners and hold them accountable.
• Experience managing ERP and related system integrations within a structured project framework.
• Executive-level communication skills, including the ability to present clear, concise status updates and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Ability to establish and maintain project governance, including decision-making processes and accountability structures.
• Experience working in a Waterfall methodology environment and providing implementation best-practice guidance.
• PMP certification strongly preferred, reflecting formal training in project management methodologies and practices., * Experience working in a manufacturing or design-focused organization with an engineering-heavy stakeholder group.
• Familiarity with PLM concepts, data management practices, and system integration patterns.
• Ability to create structured executive reporting frameworks that highlight progress, risks, and business outcomes.
• Comfort operating in organizations without a mature PMO, bringing self-directed structure and discipline to project execution.
• Demonstrated capability to own strategic technology transformation initiatives from initiation through go-live and handoff.
• Skill in coordinating multiple workstreams, vendors, and internal teams toward clear, measurable business outcomes.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, ensuring comprehensive records for implementation and post-implementation support.

Work Environment

This position operates within a manufacturing and design-focused organization that relies heavily on engineering and IT stakeholders. The project runs in a Waterfall methodology environment, with ERP programs already structured in Waterfall and the new PLM implementation following similar best practices. The role offers high visibility to senior engineering and IT leadership and a high degree of autonomy due to the absence of a formal PMO structure. The work location is in Fort Collins, CO, with an onsite presence required five days per week initially, transitioning to a hybrid schedule of three days per week onsite as the engagement progresses. The assignment is initially planned for six months, with the possibility of extension, and includes critical milestones within the first three months tied to implementation progress, system integration, and readiness for go-live. The environment centers on collaboration with engineering and IT teams, close coordination with implementation partners, and use of enterprise systems such as ERP and a Salesforce-based PLM platform to drive a strategic technology transformation. Job Type & Location, Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors., Budgeting Dashboard Timelines Visionary Operations Leadership Governance Innovation Salesforce Coordinating Data Quality Communication Collaboration Accountability Data Migration Decision Making Vendor Management Project Schedules Project Management Project Governance Systems Integration Project Documentation Organizational Skills Waterfall Methodology Stakeholder Management New Product Development Artificial Intelligence Sustainability Planning Engineering Design Process Software Project Management Product Lifecycle Management Enterprise Resource Planning Vendor Relationship Management, Budgeting Timelines Visionary Leadership Governance Innovation Salesforce Coordinating Communication Accountability Data Migration Decision Making Data Management Self-Discipline Vendor Management Project Management Financial Tracking Project Governance Systems Integration Project Documentation System Implementation Waterfall Methodology New Product Development Artificial Intelligence Engineering Design Process Software Project Management Product Lifecycle Management Enterprise Resource Planning Vendor Relationship Management Enterprise Application Software Milestones (Project Management) Cutover Planning And Management Product Software Implementation Method +0

Google Project Management

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.