IT Project Manager

Job Description

Position Summary:

The IT Project Manager autonomously oversees moderate-sized IT projects from initiation to conclusion. They are tasked with crafting comprehensive project plans, delineating project scope, and efficiently managing project resources. This role necessitates robust leadership capabilities to orchestrate project teams, reconcile conflicts, and sustain stakeholder involvement throughout the project's lifespan. Additionally, the IT Project Manager supervises project budgets, schedules, and quality benchmarks to secure favorable project outcomes.

About the Team:

Vanderbilt University Information Technology is a human-centric organization that advances our university by delivering innovative solutions and frictionless experiences through collaboration.

Digital Strategies and Transformation serves as the university's digital vanguards, spearheading campus-wide IT initiatives, propelling the institution into the future, and coordinating innovation across campus to bring ideas to life through planning, execution, and strategic alignment between the business of Vanderbilt University, academia, research, and trending technologies.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

Project Planning and Execution

• Develop detailed project plans outlining objectives, deliverables, timelines, and resource allocations.
• Define project scope, goals, and success criteria in consultation with stakeholders.
• Execute project plans efficiently, ensuring adherence to timelines and milestones.

Team Leadership and Coordination

• Lead and motivate project teams, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members, ensuring clarity and accountability.
• Coordinate project activities, facilitate communication, and resolve conflicts as they arise.

Stakeholder Management

• Engage stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to gather requirements, provide updates, and address concerns.
• Maintain open lines of communication with stakeholders to manage expectations and ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Proactively manage stakeholder feedback and incorporate it into project planning and execution.

Budget and Quality Control

• Monitor project budgets, expenses, and resource utilization to ensure fiscal responsibility.
• Implement quality assurance processes to uphold project standards and deliverables.
• Conduct regular reviews and audits to assess project progress and identify areas for improvement.

Supervisory Relationships:

This is an individual contributor position that reports administratively and functionally to the Lead IT Project Manager.

Education and Certifications:

• Bachelor's degree necessary
• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field preferred
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification preferred

Experience and Skills:

• 3 years of project management experience necessary
• Proven experience managing moderate-sized IT projects from inception to completion necessary
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall) and tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Jira) necessary
• Ability to effectively prioritize tasks, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines necessary
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and deliver projects on time and within budget necessary
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the capacity to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels necessary
• Prior experience in budget management and quality assurance preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to VUIT's Guiding Principles is necessary

Information Technology's Guiding Principles:

• Trust and Respect- VUIT cultivates a community built on trust, mutual respect, and inclusivity, where all members feel valued and supported. We prioritize honesty, dignity, empathy, and a willingness to listen and understand.
• Professionalism- VUIT strives to maintain a culture of maturity, accountability, and integrity to best represent the University and self. Have a sense of humility and poise in your work and daily interactions.
• Collaborate- VUIT commits to being inclusive in solution design where we value sharing within and partnering across the university. We are intentional about including our colleagues and preventing silos.
• Bias-to-Action- VUIT is seen as a changemaker by exhibiting a decisive, self-starter, take-action approach with a willingness to make decisions without excessive deliberation. Personal initiative is recognized as a key part of the creative process.
• Communicate- Communication (written, verbal and non-verbal), within and outside VUIT, is open, thoughtful, welcoming, clear, proactive, concise yet complete, always honest, and delivered kindly.
• Innovate- VUIT pledges to be bold and challenge the status quo by inspiring a culture of creativity that promotes growth and advancement for the university.
• Celebrate Each Other- We are intentional in showing appreciation for the work of others by valuing and acknowledging meaningful contributions at all levels of the organization.
• Optimize- VUIT will practice continuous and thoughtful optimization of our solutions and services to increase our human and technological capacity. Capacity drives innovation.

About Us

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of "America's Best Large Employers" as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.