Job Description

This position is not available for out-of-the-country candidates or candidates requiring a sponsor/visa.  Senior Project Manager KAI Partners, Inc. (KAIP) is currently seeking a Senior Project Manager who will lead complex projects to enhance organizational efficiency and support business operations in a higher education environment. In this role, you will develop project plans, manage timelines, and coordinate cross-functional teams to achieve strategic goals. You will be responsible for identifying risks, addressing client needs, and ensuring high-quality service delivery. Strong client and stakeholder relationships will be essential as you generate reports and provide insights that drive decision-making.  Responsibilities  

• Review and report on the consistency of system development using work plans, schedules, milestones, deliverables, staffing plans, and resource utilization.
• Apply extensive Project Management (PM) principles, methods, techniques, and tools.
• Produce related status reports and metrics using client-approved Project Management Office tools and procedures.
• Build and maintain project schedules, integrate related schedules, and other program management activities.
• Monitor, evaluate, coach, and participate in issue and risk management activities including risk identification, mitigation, resolution, and contingency planning.
• Identify needs that clients may not recognize, and ensuing approaches and solutions linked to objectives and future needs.
• Continuously manage client expectations to ensure the highest quality service delivery, while soliciting and acting on client feedback.
• Prepare and present written materials and oral findings, as needed.
• Provide schedule updates to client staff for budget and planning documents.
• Effectively lead highly diverse and cross-functional teams.
• Effectively build and maintain strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders.
• Manage all phases of the assigned project.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher-education environment, including some all or some of the following: student information systems, educational technology, application integration, technology road mapping, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, policy development, credit articulation, workforce development, and/or registration operations.  
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers.
• Awareness of political dynamics inherent to higher-education environments; demonstrated experience in successfully navigating the same.
• Excellent computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Proficiency with work management tools (e.g., Monday.com, Jira, SmartSheets).
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service.
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within the parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and adapt when priorities change.
• Proactive self-starter who is comfortable working with cross-functional teams.
• Patience and dedication when working with clients, vendors, and internal teams.
• Strong analytical, critical, and creative problem-solving skills.
• Previous experience with state government, large IT solution implementations, digital transformation portfolios, and project portfolio management is a plus.
• Strong presentation skills.

Work/Education Experience  

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Current PMP Certification from PMI (Required)
• 15+ years’ experience applying extensive Project Management (PM) principles, methods, techniques, and tools.
• 7+ years of Senior Project Management experience of large, complex IT project(s).
• 5+ years of experience in providing project management services in or for institution(s) of higher education.
• Previous experience managing projects to implement Ellucian Banner SaaS or other Ellucian Banner products is highly desirable.
• Previous experience transitioning multiple higher education institutions into shared instances of enterprise software platforms is highly desirable.
• Previous experience managing enterprise software platform implementations involving Salesforce (especially Education Cloud) or Mulesoft is a plus.

Compensation Range: $130,000 - $154,000  The salary range for this role may vary depending on the specific geographic location where this position is ultimately filled. Several factors, including but not limited to a candidate's experience, education, skills, and certifications, pay equity, and organizational needs, are considered when determining the posted salary range. In addition, eligible roles also qualify for a comprehensive benefits package.   Must be able to provide proof of education for all mandatory qualifications; all references will be verified.   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.   KAI PartnersKAI Partners, Inc. is a Northern California-based small business that offers world-class management consulting and technology services to public and private sector clients on a variety of large-scale projects. The KAI Partners team has over 100 years of combined executive-level experience in information system design, development, implementation, and testing. Our clients benefit from our proven program management, project management, and oversight, program portfolio management, Agile services, organizational change management, training, enterprise architecture, managed IT service, and IT security support. http://www.kaipartners.com/