Role: Enterprise Project Manager - Executive (Interim Executive Director)
Posting ID: 13108
Location: Columbia, SC (Onsite)
Duration: 9 Months (Extension Possible)
Client: CHANDRA TECHNOLOGIES
Short Description
The University of South Carolina is seeking an experienced Enterprise Project Manager – Executive (Interim Executive Director) to provide executive leadership for its Network Infrastructure Services division. This role will lead a large-scale organizational transformation initiative focused on restructuring operations, improving organizational culture, strengthening governance, and ensuring continuity of critical IT services during executive transition.
Job Description
The Interim Executive Director will serve as the executive leader responsible for overseeing departmental operations while driving organizational transformation across the Network Infrastructure Services division. This executive will assess organizational performance, implement structural improvements, enhance operational maturity, rebuild organizational culture, and prepare the department for long-term leadership success.
The ideal candidate will possess extensive executive leadership experience in large technology organizations, organizational change management, personnel leadership, and strategic planning.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide executive leadership for all departmental operations and strategic initiatives.
- Lead organization-wide transformation and culture improvement efforts.
- Assess organizational structure, staffing models, operational processes, and service delivery.
- Implement organizational restructuring and reporting improvements.
- Restore accountability, professionalism, customer service, and operational excellence.
- Supervise managers, supervisors, and professional staff while establishing clear performance expectations.
- Address employee relations issues in partnership with Human Resources.
- Develop governance frameworks, communication strategies, and decision-making processes.
- Collaborate with university leadership and campus stakeholders to improve organizational effectiveness.
- Manage departmental budgets, strategic priorities, and resource allocation.
- Ensure compliance with university policies, security standards, audits, and regulatory requirements.
- Remove operational barriers impacting productivity and collaboration.
- Prepare executive reports, transition documentation, succession plans, and strategic recommendations.
- Mentor future leadership and support long-term organizational success.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent combination of education, certifications, training, and experience)
- 8+ years of professional experience
- 3+ years leading executive organizational transformation and change management initiatives
- 3+ years leading organizational restructuring and culture transformation
- 3+ years providing executive leadership for large, complex technology organizations
- 3+ years managing personnel, coaching leaders, and driving performance accountability
- Strong leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience leading organizational turnaround initiatives
- Experience rebuilding organizational culture following periods of instability
- Experience implementing governance and operational maturity frameworks
- Experience managing organizational change within higher education
- Enterprise IT strategy development experience
- Experience working with executive leadership, governing boards, and cabinet-level administration
- Knowledge of network operations, enterprise architecture, project management, and change management
- Experience supporting audit remediation and enterprise risk management initiatives