Senior Project Manager, Information Systems

Location: Crystal Lake, IL
Salary: $60.00 USD Hourly - $67.00 USD Hourly
Description: Our client is seeking a Senior Project Manager for a 12 month + contract.

Project Summary:

Senior Project Managers have accountability and authority for achieving projects' objectives. They direct a multi-disciplinary team aiming to complete projects. This role sits within Quality Systems, Controls and eSystems and Project Management disciplines and is focused on the implementation of a replacement Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) eSystem solution.

Primary responsibilities include leading the end-to-end implementation of the MasterControl Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system in alignment with core business needs, while ensuring minimal disruption to ongoing operations. This role oversees project planning, execution and on-time delivery of the Master Control PLM solution, including system validation, data and records migration from the legacy Oracle Agile PLM environment, and seamless integration with the Apriso MES system.

The Project Manager serves as the central coordination point among cross-functional stakeholders, system end users, IT teams, system integrators and external vendors to ensure the solution meets all business, technical, and regulatory requirements. This role is critical to ensure a successful transition to a modern PLM platform while preserving the integrity, compliance, and usability of enterprise product data and quality system records.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Technical Responsibilities:

Lead the team in the development of the project charter and management plan. Direct, manage, monitor, and control project. Evaluate tradeoffs within project.

Collaborate with project stakeholders to develop, manage and own project scope. Create detailed Work Breakdown Structure.

Develop and manage the detailed project Gantt chart. Analyze critical path, major workstreams, and intersecting milestones. Own the project schedule

Collaborate with cross-functional managers to monitor and maintain costs within budget.

Partner with project team to create project Quality Plans using 2-3 quality planning tools and techniques. Monitor and maintain plans.

Develop a risk management plan for the project. Identify, analyze, and understand project risks; develop and monitor a risk response plan.

Develop a Procurement Management Plan and collaborate on the selection of procurement partners.

Estimate, acquire and assign cross functional project resources. Define the role, responsibility, and deliverables for each team member. Provide direct feedback to functional manager on performance reviews.

Develop a Stakeholder management plan for the project, based on the identification, analysis and understanding of Stakeholder expectations.

Develop and execute the communications management plan for project team and the needs of key stakeholders

Project Delivery:

Lead the end-to-end lifecycle of PLM replacement, from project initiation through go-live and post implementation stabilization, while minimizing disruption to ongoing business operations.

Drive delivery of all project milestones on time, within scope, and within budget, ensuring alignment with approved business objectives.

Proactively identify, assess and manage project risks, dependencies, and business impacts; develop mitigation strategies and escalate issues appropriately to maintain project momentum and operational continuity.

Ensure Quality Management System procedures are updated to reflect new PLM functionality and workflows.

Lead transition to sustainment and support teams, ensuring effective knowledge transfer, clear ownership, and establishment of sustainable post go-live support structures.

PLM Implementation and Integration:

Manage the implementation of the MasterControl PLM system in alignment with defined business requirements and future-state process needs.

Lead current-state assessment and future-state process design to ensure PLM workflows deliver complaint, like-for-like replacements at a minimum, while enabling scalable and optimized business processes.

Oversee the migration of data and records from the legacy Oracle Agile PLM system, ensuring data integrity, traceability and audit readiness.

Plan and coordinate seamless integration between MasterControl PLM and the Apriso MES system.

Ensure PLM functionality effectively supports core business processes, including document control, change management, and product lifecycle governance.l

Develop and maintain comprehensive migration, cutover, deployment, and rollback plans to support a controlled and low-risk go-live.

Validation and Compliance:

Lead project execution within a regulated (GxP) environment, ensuring compliance with internal quality system requirements and applicable external standards and regulations (e.g., FDA, ISO, SOX, as applicable).

Lead and oversee User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to confirm business readiness, usability, and user adoption prior to go-live.

Manage the full Computer System Validation (CSV) lifecycle, including planning and execution of validation deliverables (URS, IQ/OQ/PQ, RTM, validation reports)

Maintain complete, accurate, audit-ready project and validation documentation throughout the implementation lifecycle.

Stakeholder Engagement and Change Management:

Serve as the primary liaison between business leaders, subject matter experts, IT teams, system integrators, and external partners.

Present regular project status updates to governance bodies, steering committees, and executive leadership, including risks, dependencies, and mitigation actions.

Drive change management activities, including stakeholder communications, training coordination, and business readiness planning.

Ensure robust, role-based training is delivered to support user adoption and go-live readiness

Minimize business disruption through thoughtful sequencing, controlled cutover planning, and structured Hypercare support following go-live.

Vendor and Partner Management

Coordinate cross-functional teams and collaborate closely with external vendors and implementation partners to deliver project objectives.

Manage vendor performance, deliverables, change requests and adherence to contractual commitments, timelines, and quality expectations.

Proactively identify, escalate, and mitigate vendor-related risks that could impact schedule, compliance, or business operations.

Knowledge and Capabilities:

Builds successful working relationships with internal and external personnel in various departments. Understands quality system(s).

High in emotional intelligence and stays calm under pressure. Adept in conflict resolution

Drives results in support of the business, even in the face of demanding timelines. Steps up to take on additional responsibility where appropriate

Adept at team management; selects the right people to the right tasks all while maintain team morale and recognizing contributions.

Can influence without direct authority in a way that makes others want to be on their team.

Incorporates end-user feedback to refine scope through the project lifecycle and can communicate changes, updates and decisions to key stakeholders

Can understand and communicate how goals fit into broader organizational goals, and prioritize tasks/schedule accordingly.

Keeps the customer at the heart of what we do

Exercises good judgment and can weigh benefits and risk in order to make solid decisions despite ambiguity

Growth mindset - ability to learn quickly and adapt to a changing environment.

Ability to lead in a matrixed environment and influence across functions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: What you will need (strongly desired):

Preferred Skills:

Proven experience leading end-to-end enterprise system implementations (PLM, ERP, MES, or similar) including data and records migration from legacy systems.

Experience managing system integrations, ideally between PLM and MES systems.

Strong understanding of GxP system validations

Experience delivering projects in regulated (GxP) environments.

Excellent project management skills, including planning, risk management, and stakeholder communication.

Strong leadership and accountability for end-to-end outcomes.

Ability to translate business requirements into system scope and execution plans.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive level reporting.

Proven ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities.

Collaborative, results-driven approach with a focus on business value and operational continuity.

Certifications:

PMP or equivalent

CIMdata PLM Certificate preferred

MasterControl Certified Expert preferre

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

BS or equivalent & 6+ years of relevant work experience

Manages the entire project lifecycle from project definition through implementation.

Accountable for meeting agreed upon scope, cost, schedule and quality measures.

Develops project plan and drives project milestones.

Establishes effective communication plan with project team and key stakeholders.

Provides day-to-day direction to project resources.

Ensures effective change management occurs throughout the course of the project.

Responsible for preparation of documentation, status reports and budgets.

Role requires excellent oral and written communications, interpersonal, negotiation, project planning, judgment, leadership, decision-making, analysis and problem-solving skills.

Expert knowledge of MS Project, Excel, MS Word and Visio.

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