Senior Project Manager, IT

POSITION SUMMARY

Under general supervision, works with internal and external parties to provide oversight and management of various strategic business initiatives and projects throughout the Authority from conception to conclusion. Responsibilities include developing project charters, project scopes, and project management plans including but not limited to work schedules, cost plans, requirement management, testing, training, deployment, and change management support. Also develops and monitors project performance metrics for strategic initiatives and projects. Monitors adherence to established project management methodologies and quality standards for complex strategic projects. This position will at times provide project support for the other project and program managers within IT, the Authority, and with CTA partners.

Qualifications

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads strategic business initiatives, proposals, projects, programs, and manages the strategic project portfolio within the Authority.
• Creates, manages, and monitors proposals, projects, programs, and portfolio planning based upon business strategic, operational, service, security, safety, legal, and compliance requirements.
• Defines project strategy documents, top-down and bottom-up scopes, project schedule, resources, cost estimates, success factors, business benefits, assumptions, risks, and constraints.
• Facilitates the definition of project requirements, solution design, fit/gaps, budgets, project acceptance criteria, and resources in conjunction with the stakeholders, vendors, and consultant staff.
• Develops and evaluates necessary data gathering, data representation, and data analysis techniques including business benefits, make-or-buy, cost estimates, multi-criteria decisions as necessary.
• Collaborates and leads complex cross-functional strategic projects and teams in an integrated program management manner. Meets operational objectives by contributing information and recommendations to strategic plans and reviews.
• Identifies and resolves project and operational issues and risks. Executes and monitors corrective action plans.
• Develops and monitors project performance metrics. Develops and communicates project documents and presentations with executives, internal and external stakeholders, and project team members.
• Implements industry, regulatory, and CTA standards and best practices to improve production, safety, productivity, quality, and customer service processes improvements.
• Participates in audits of software, programs, and project performances.
• Reports and communicates ambiguities, issues, risks, errors and omissions to management as they arise.
• Identifies trends, determines business process improvements, and implements changes to increase effectiveness and efficiency.
• Acts as knowledge expert and liaison between business sponsor, stakeholders, participating departments, external parties, and consultant staff.
• Translates project charter and requirements into tangible project goals, objectives, scopes, and schedules.
• Introduces new technologies, processes, process improvements, change processes, and project delivery methods.
• Writes and implements project specifications, researches current program methodology/procedures, and coordinates project plans.
• Establishes implementation methodology for Authority IT projects.
• Meets with Authority project teams to develop the Authority projects and program standards.
• Coaches junior team members and staff roles on project teams including business analysts, project managers, project coordinators and subject matter experts.
• Explains complex business requirements in simple terms.
• Provides feedback on project staff performance, both individual and team.
• Creates an environment of information sharing and trust.
• Provides opportunities to improve project team skills in project-related technologies, methodologies, change processes and project delivery methods.
• Facilitates post project review and lessons learned sessions.
• Performs administrative duties to maintain documents and records.
• Manages project document maintenance, retains project files, and archives appropriate materials.
• Manages correspondence, meeting minutes, and appropriate inter-department project coordination.
• Assists in the development of marketing materials to promote technology at the CTA by coordinating with appropriate CTA departments.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to this position are the following jobs:

Job Title

None

CHALLENGES

• Adhering to project guidelines and schedules.
• Working under tight deadlines while managing multiple projects and initiatives, across multiple areas simultaneously.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Science, Technology and/or Business Administration with ten (10) years of experience including IT business analysis, IT systems development or engineering, IT project management overseeing projects of increasing scale in the domains of software implementations, scaling IT processes, web development, software development, mobile app development, network configuration, hardware installation, database management, cyber security, IT audits, and IT disaster recovery and business continuity.
• The lead Project Manager of at least one major business technology transformation such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implementation and/or major technical and/or functional business system upgrade projects spanning multiple years.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience relating to this position.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification desirable.
• Master’s Degree in Technology or Business Administration desirable.
• Business Analyst Certification or equivalent training desirable.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods of time and constantly operating a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Service Area Requirement: Exempt (Non-Union) employees must live within the boundaries of the CTA Statutory Service Area either at the time of employment or within 6 months of beginning employment at CTA.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Detailed knowledge of concepts, practices, and standards of Strategic Project Management.
• Thorough understanding of information technology principles, procedures, methodologies, and practices in all technology domains.
• Detailed knowledge of cross-functional project management methods and techniques including developing business cases, resource estimates, process improvement plans, technology life cycles, change control, financial forecasts, and performance management.
• Detailed knowledge of the methods and best practices in developing and executing Project Management Office (PMO) processes and policies including how to define, prioritize, and develop projects and programs.
• Detailed knowledge in the best practices, functions, and principles of analyzing business information and technical data to produce presentations and reports.
• Detailed knowledge and skills in business process improvement methodologies including LEAN, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Continuous Improvement, and Agile.
• Working knowledge of information technology applications, databases, servers, devices, infrastructure, and IT Operation and Support activities.
• Strong team facilitation and leadership skills including knowledge of the principles of supervision, coaching, teamwork, training, and performance evaluation.
• Strong Excel, PowerPoint, Word, MS Project and Visio skills.
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills in order to communicate at all organizational levels.
• Ability to analyze problems, to identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Ability to apply project management concepts and best practices to projects of all sizes and levels of complexity
• Ability to write technical and non-technical project materials including project plans, timelines, vendor agreements, and status reports.
• Proficient with, or able to quickly become proficient with, a range of general and specialized applications, software, and hardware used by the organization and the public transit industry.
• Ability to motivate cross-functional teams to complete a project in a timely manner.
• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently without compromising quality or delivery timelines.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• General office environment.

EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS UTILIZED

• Standard office equipment.
• Personal computer and related software (MS Project, Word, Excel, Power Point, Visio etc.).