IT Project Manager

Columbus State University

$78K — $86K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.
  • Seven or more years of progressive IT project management experience, including at least one full-lifecycle ERP implementation.
  • Three or more years of supervisory experience managing staff or project team leads.
  • Experience establishing project management processes or PMO functions in organizations with limited prior PM maturity.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement the IT department's project management framework and governance structure.
  • Serve as the project manager for the Workday HCM and Finance implementation, ensuring requirements are met.
  • Lead AV/IT installation projects for university construction, collaborating with various stakeholders.
  • Manage multiple projects' scope, schedules, and budgets while maintaining clear communication.
  • Supervise project coordinators or analysts, providing mentorship and guidance on project execution.

Benefits

  • Health and dental insurance options.
  • Life insurance coverage.
  • Participation in the Teachers Retirement System or an Optional Retirement Plan.
  • Paid vacation time and sick leave.
  • Tuition Assistance Program available for eligible employees.
Full Job Description
Department Information

Department of Information Technology

Job Summary

The IT Project Manager serves as the founding leader of the university's IT Project Management Office (PMO), reporting directly to the Chief Information Officer. This position is responsible for designing the PMO's governance framework, methodology, and operational processes while simultaneously leading a portfolio of high-impact technology projects including the Workday HCM and Finance implementation, AV/IT installations for campus construction programs, and enterprise system integrations. The role directly supervises 1-2 project coordinators or analysts and builds project management capability across the IT organization.

Responsibilities

Significant Duties & Responsibilities include: PMO Establishment and Governance (35%) - Design, implement, and continuously improve the IT department's project management framework, including intake processes, charter templates, status reporting standards, and project lifecycle governance. Develop a hybrid Agile-Waterfall methodology tailored to the university's project portfolio, balancing predictability with flexibility across different project types. Establish portfolio-level visibility through dashboards, risk registers, and resource allocation tools that enable informed executive decision-making. Create and maintain a risk management framework across the IT project portfolio, proactively identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks at both the project and portfolio levels. Build a PMO culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement through retrospectives, lessons learned documentation, and measurable process maturity targets. Evaluate and recommend project management tools and platforms to support consistent tracking, reporting, and collaboration across all IT initiatives.; Project Delivery (45%) - Serve as institutional project manager for the Workday HCM and Finance implementation, managing the relationship with the system integrator, coordinating internal workstreams, and ensuring deliverables align with university requirements. Lead AV/IT installation projects associated with university construction and renovation programs, coordinating with facilities, architects, contractors, and academic stakeholders. Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and quality across multiple concurrent initiatives, maintaining clear communication with sponsors, stakeholders, and team members. Develop and maintain project timelines (Gantt charts), work breakdown structures, and sprint plans that keep teams aligned and leadership informed. Lead data migration planning and validation efforts, including legacy system assessment, data cleansing strategies, and conversion testing. Coordinate change management activities including stakeholder communication, training development and delivery, and user acceptance testing. Manage vendor relationships and contracts, ensuring deliverables meet quality standards, timelines, and contractual obligations.; Team Leadership and Development (20%) - Directly supervise 1-2 project coordinators or analysts, providing mentorship, performance feedback, and professional development guidance. Build project management capability across the IT organization by training staff in PM fundamentals, facilitating adoption of standardized tools and templates, and coaching team leads on project execution. Prepare and present executive-level status reports, risk assessments, and portfolio dashboards for university leadership and governance committees. Collaborate with department leaders across Academic Affairs, Business and Finance, Student Affairs, Facilities, and Enrollment Management to align technology projects with institutional priorities.

Required Qualifications

Required Qualifications include: Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.; Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.; Seven (7) or more years of progressive experience in IT project management, including at least one full-lifecycle ERP implementation.; Three (3) or more years of supervisory experience, including direct management of staff or project team leads.; Demonstrated experience establishing project management processes, governance frameworks, or PMO functions in organizations with limited prior PM maturity.; Experience managing vendor relationships, including contract oversight, deliverable tracking, and performance evaluation.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications include: Master's degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field.; Experience in higher education, government, or public-sector IT environments.; Workday HCM and/or Finance implementation experience, either as a customer-side PM or with a system integrator.; Agile or Scrum certification (CSM, PMI-ACP, or equivalent).; ITIL Foundation certification or demonstrated knowledge of IT service management principles.; Change management experience or PROSCI certification.; Experience managing AV/IT projects within construction or facilities renovation programs.; Familiarity with data privacy and compliance requirements in educational settings (FERPA, PCI-DSS).

Proposed Salary

The proposed annualized salary range for this position is $78,162 - $86,432 and includes full benefits.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities include: Deep understanding of project management methodologies, including Waterfall, Agile, and hybrid approaches, with the judgment to apply the right approach to each situation.; Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects across different domains (enterprise systems, infrastructure, AV) without losing sight of interdependencies and portfolio-level impacts.; Strong organizational design instincts, including the ability to create governance structures that are rigorous enough to add value without becoming bureaucratic overhead.; Skilled at navigating the collaborative decision-making culture of higher education, building consensus across faculty, staff, and administrative stakeholders.; Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, including root cause analysis, risk assessment, and data-driven decision-making.; Comfort with ambiguity and the capacity to impose order on complex, loosely defined situations.; Working knowledge of ERP platforms (Workday, PeopleSoft, Banner, or SAP), cloud/SaaS architecture, and system integration concepts.; Proficiency in project management tools and platforms (e.g., Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, ServiceNow, or equivalent).; Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to present complex technical information to non-technical audiences and executive leadership.

Contact Information



Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
This position will not be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position will not travel
This position does not require security clearance.

Special Applicant Instructions

Visit Columbus State University's online Careers portal to drive your career with us! The online applicant system provides you with the ability to review job opportunities and apply to those that you are interested in and feel qualified for. Each job posting has a summary description of the position and required qualifications. All job applications must be submitted through the online portal system.

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