Position Overview

The IT Project Manager is responsible for leading the planning, execution, and successful delivery of technology initiatives that support new store construction, remodels, infrastructure upgrades, and enterprise technology deployments. This role provides overall project leadership by managing project scope, schedules, budgets, resources, risks, and vendor performance while ensuring alignment with business objectives and operational priorities.

The IT Project Manager serves as the primary liaison between Information Technology, Operations, Construction, Facilities, General Contractors, business leaders, and third-party vendors to ensure technology solutions are delivered on time, within budget, and fully operational for each project milestone.

This position requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and exceptional organizational skills, along with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously. Frequent travel and hands-on coordination at construction sites and operating locations are required.

Project Leadership

• Lead multiple concurrent IT projects from initiation through implementation and project closeout.
• Develop comprehensive project plans, schedules, budgets, resource allocations, and communication strategies.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, and success metrics in collaboration with business stakeholders.
• Establish project priorities while balancing competing business needs and operational deadlines.
• Ensure projects adhere to company project management standards, governance, and documentation requirements.
• Manage project budgets, monitor expenditure, and provide accurate financial forecasting throughout the project lifecycle.
• Prepare executive-level project status reports, dashboards, and presentations for leadership.

Construction & New Store Technology

• Lead all IT aspects of new store openings, remodels, relocations, and facility expansions.
• Partner with Construction, Facilities, Operations, and Store Leadership to align technology milestones with construction schedules.
• Oversee the planning, procurement, installation, configuration, testing, and deployment of all technology infrastructure.
• Ensure network infrastructure, telecommunications, security systems, POS systems, fuel systems, surveillance, wireless networks, and supporting technologies are operational before store opening.
• Conduct project readiness reviews and coordinate successful technology go-live activities.
• Manage post-implementation support to ensure smooth operational transitions.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal departments, general contractors, consultants, Internet service providers, telecommunications providers, and technology vendors.
• Manage vendor relationships to ensure contractual obligations, service levels, schedules, and project deliverables are achieved.
• Coordinate vendor activities including equipment deliveries, installations, testing, network cutovers, and system commissioning.
• Facilitate project meetings and communicate project status, risks, issues, and mitigation strategies to stakeholders.
• Build collaborative relationships across departments to ensure successful project execution.

Project Planning & Risk Management

• Develop detailed implementation schedules and coordinate project activities across multiple departments.
• Monitor project progress against established milestones and proactively resolve issues that could impact delivery.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation and contingency plans.
• Manage project changes, scope adjustments, and schedule modifications through established change management processes.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, security policies, construction requirements, and applicable regulations.

Field Operations

• Conduct site visits throughout project lifecycles to validate construction progress and technology readiness.
• Perform infrastructure inspections including structured cabling, power, telecommunications, equipment rooms, and network readiness.
• Review and interpret construction drawings, technology layouts, and floor plans.
• Coordinate on-site installation activities while ensuring compliance with safety requirements.
• Support after-hours implementations, technology cutovers, and store opening activities as necessary.

Leadership

• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentoring to IT Project Coordinators, technical staff, contractors, and project team members.
• Assign project responsibilities and monitor performance to ensure quality and accountability.
• Foster collaboration among cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives.
• Promote continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance project management processes, standards, and best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience managing IT projects.
• Minimum of two (2) years leading enterprise, retail, construction, or multi-site technology implementations.
• Experience managing multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and coordinating internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies and best practices.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, vendors, and project risks.
• Experience supporting retail technology deployments, new store openings, remodels, or construction projects is highly preferred.
• Excellent leadership, organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and direction for assigned project teams.
• May directly supervise IT Project Coordinators or other project support personnel.
• Coordinates work assignments of internal technical resources, contractors, consultants, and third-party vendors.
• Responsible for coaching, mentoring, evaluating performance, and developing project team members as assigned.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical documents, contracts, project specifications, construction drawings, operating procedures, and business correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, vendors, contractors, business partners, and team members through written reports, presentations, and verbal communication.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to define problems, collect and analyze data, evaluate alternatives, and make sound business decisions involving multiple variables. Ability to prioritize competing demands while maintaining project schedules, quality standards, and budget expectations.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified associate in project management (CAPM), CompTIA Project+, or equivalent certification preferred.
• PMP certification strongly preferred or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of hire.
• Must be able to qualify for all licenses and permits required by federal, state, and local regulations.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

• Ability to stand, walk, climb, bend, kneel, crawl, reach, and lift while conducting site inspections.
• Frequently lift-up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to climb ladders and access rooftops and elevated work areas.
• Ability to navigate unfinished construction sites, confined spaces, and uneven terrain safely.
• Ability to perform extended periods of walking and standing throughout retail and construction environments.
• Must comply with all required PPE and job site safety standards.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.

• Combination of offices, retail, warehouse, and active construction environments.
• Frequent travel to project locations, including overnight travel when required.
• Regular interaction with construction personnel, contractors, vendors, and business leaders.
• Exposure to varying weather conditions, construction noise, dust, and unfinished building conditions.
• Occasional evenings, overnight, weekends, and holiday work may be required to support technology cutovers, store openings, and major project milestones.
• Prolonged periods of computer work and project documentation.
• Reliable transportation is required to travel between company locations and project sites.
• Employees may be exposed to environments containing unrestricted secondhand tobacco smoke.