Universal Logistics is seeking a Senior IT Project Manager to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives spanning both enterprise IT and transportation-technology systems. This role owns projects end-to-end - from charter through post-implementation review - across areas such as transportation management systems (TMS), fleet telematics, EDI/ELD integrations, and general IT application and system-integration work.
The Senior IT Project Manager operates with a high degree of autonomy on higher-risk, higher-visibility programs, selects the delivery approach (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid) appropriate to each project, and provides guidance and informal leadership to project coordinators and less experienced PMs. This is a hands-on executioner role - your engagement has immediate impact!
Reports To: Director, IT
Location: Warren, MI (fully onsite)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Direct Reports: May informally lead or mentor 1-2 project coordinators / junior PMs / Team members
Key Responsibilities Project Leadership & Delivery - Lead the full lifecycle of enterprise IT and transportation-technology projects, including software development, system integrations, and platform implementations.
- Develop project charters, scope statements, work breakdown structures, schedules, RACI, and RAID (risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies) logs.
- Select and tailor the appropriate delivery methodology (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid) based on project size, risk, and business need.
- Monitor progress against schedule, scope, and budget; identify variances early and drive corrective action.
Transportation & Logistics Systems - Lead implementations and upgrades of transportation management systems (TMS), fleet telematics, freight visibility platforms, and EDI/ELD integrations.
- Partner with operations, dispatch, safety, and compliance teams to align technology projects with DOT/FMCSA-related requirements (e.g., ELD mandate, IFTA reporting) where applicable.
- Coordinate with carriers, brokers, 3PL partners, and technology vendors on integration timelines and data exchange requirements.
Risk, Budget & Vendor Management - Identify, track, and mitigate project risks, escalating issues that threaten scope, budget, or schedule.
- Own project budgets: track expenses, forecast costs, and report variances to stakeholders and finance.
- Manage vendor and contractor relationships, including statements of work, deliverables, and performance against contract terms.
Stakeholder Engagement & Team Leadership - Serve as primary point of contact for business and IT stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
- Facilitate project meetings, steering committee updates, and executive status reporting.
- Mentor and provide day-to-day guidance to project coordinators and junior project managers; may lead a small project team on larger initiatives.
- Drive change management activities and user adoption planning for new systems and processes.
Governance & Continuous Improvement - Maintain comprehensive project documentation: plans, status reports, meeting notes, and decision logs.
- Ensure deliverables meet quality standards, business requirements, and compliance obligations.
- Conduct post-project reviews and lessons-learned sessions; drive adoption of process improvements across the PMO.
Qualifications Required - Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Project Management, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent experience.
- 7+ years of IT project management experience, including leading complex, multi-team, or multi-vendor projects.
- Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, schedules, and vendor/contract relationships.
- Strong leadership, facilitation, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience mentoring or informally leading other project staff.
- Excellent verbal, written, and executive-level communication skills.
- Proficiency with project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or similar.
- Working knowledge of both Agile and Waterfall/traditional project management approaches.
Preferred - Experience in transportation, logistics, supply chain, or trucking industries, particularly with TMS, EDI, ELD, or telematics platforms.
- Agile/Scrum certification (CSM, PMI-ACP, or similar).
- Familiarity with ITIL or other IT service management frameworks.
- Experience with DOT/FMCSA compliance systems (ELD, IFTA, safety/compliance reporting).
Work Environment This position is fully onsite at our Warren, MI headquarters. No regular travel is required.
This role sits within the corporate IT organization supporting technology initiatives across the enterprise and its transportation operations.
