IT Project Manager - Local only - USC

Job Title: IT Project Manager

Job Type: Contract

Job Location: Frankfort, KY 40601

Summary:

• The Client is committed to meet or exceed the needs and expectations of our business customers and citizens. We strive to continually improve both the delivery of our products and services and the processes that support that delivery.
• The Client makes decisions based on this commitment and always strives to provide value to our business units and external stakeholder community.
• The Client has an immediate need for an exceptional individual to join our organization as a PMI Certified Project Manager (PMP or PMI-ACP certification). This opportunity is based in Frankfort, KY and will be a hybrid position (60% in-office) with 100% telecommute eligible after 180 days. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, critical thinking skills, possess leadership skills, and will be committed to delivering successful and quality work products that meet the needs of the Cabinet. The candidate must have the ability to envision impacts and possibilities of their work on the broader organization and apply those thoughts to improve project management effort

Core Responsibilities:

• The Project Manager (PM) is responsible for the management of the project work by facilitating communication with the business unit/customer, project team, and other stakeholders as necessary related to requirements and proposed solution for the project. The PM must be customer facing, have a professional appearance, energetic personality and utilize effective communication skills. The candidate should require minimal supervision and direction in order to accomplish assigned tasks. By working with the project team members, the PM is expected to gain a high level understanding of the business processes, using that knowledge to guide the team in making appropriate decisions for the project that will drive improvements and provide value to the end user and the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet.

An ideal candidate will support identified projects by:

• Leading multiple teams in the delivery of high-quality software solutions that meet business needs, demonstrating consistent results
• Creating organized project plans to coordinate cross-functional teams
• Verifying that analysts are gathering strong, customer-approved requirements
• Setting and proactively meeting deadlines and priorities, while managing progress against the project plan
• Presenting effectively in front of peers and leadership
• Clearly articulating ideas so others can easily understand them, both in meetings and one-on-one conversations
• Explaining proposals, ideas, policies, and plans to customers
• Leading project team members in the successful execution of the project management plan
• Assessing customers' current capabilities and needs, and communicating that information to project team members

PMI Certified Project Manager Job Description

• Understanding business needs and key drivers of value and success
• Developing required project documentation, answering questions, and providing additional detail as needed
• Leading the development team during the development phase by:
  • Conducting Daily Standup meetings
  • Researching and answering questions about defined work
  • Facilitating resolution of project roadblocks and escalating issues to management when necessary
• Ensuring adherence to an iterative development methodology
• Assisting in defining features, user stories, and acceptance criteria as needed
• Supporting the Business Analyst (BA) in managing user stories (requirements) and clearly communicating requirements to business and technical team members
• Asking probing questions to fully understand user stories and providing feedback on potential implications of requests
• Clearly and concisely articulating issues, questions, and recommendations to stakeholders, team members, and management
• Working with the business unit to manage expectations for project completion

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in IT or an equivalent combination of experience and knowledge
• PMI Certification PMP and/or PMI-ACP
• 3 5 years of experience working with businesses to identify and document IT needs and facilitate solutions
• Experience and comfort with project management, project planning, and documentation
• Knowledge of and experience with Agile project management methodologies
• Strong decision-making, conflict resolution, and facilitation skills
• Detail-oriented with advanced problem-solving abilities
• Ability to work independently and show initiative with minimal supervision
• Ability to quickly learn new technologies and apply them appropriately to business situations
• Strong team player who thrives in a fast-paced team environment
• Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
• Strong listening skills with the ability to seek clarification when needed
• Ability to build rapport with customers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical experts and executive leadership