A contact in our network has shared an opening for a Senior Solution Project Manager at a prominent firm. This is a significant contract position requiring a seasoned professional with a minimum of 12 years of experience in IT project management. The role is a hybrid model, requiring the candidate to work on-site in Brooklyn, New York, 2 to 3 days a week. This individual will be tasked with overseeing a large-scale, complex special education data management system for the public school system, making prior experience with New York government agencies a crucial requirement. This is not a role for an Infrastructure, Program, Production, Configuration, Networking, or Delivery Manager; it is a specialized position for a Project Manager with a proven track record of successful, large-scale project execution.

This position is a cornerstone of a major public sector initiative. The primary responsibility of the Project Manager is to lead the planning and implementation of the special education data management system project. This will be a multi-faceted effort that requires a methodical approach, utilizing a Waterfall SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle). The manager will be the central figure in defining the project’s scope, goals, and deliverables, ensuring a clear and shared understanding across all stakeholders. This includes meticulously outlining project tasks, defining resource requirements, and developing comprehensive project plans and communication documents. The manager will also be responsible for managing resource allocation, planning and scheduling project timelines, and tracking all deliverables using appropriate tools.

Effective management of risks and issues is a non-negotiable part of the job. The Project Manager will be expected to effectively manage issues and risks and mitigation strategies among project team members and executive stakeholders. This requires constant vigilance, early identification of potential risks, and the proactive development of mitigation plans. The manager will provide direct support to the project team and constantly monitor and report on the progress of the project to all stakeholders, ensuring complete transparency and timely updates. Furthermore, this role involves implementing and managing project changes to ensure project outputs are achieved, and a strong understanding of change management is essential. The manager will also be a key participant in planning and managing software releases, coordinating with the technical team, and supporting user acceptance testing (UAT) and training.

This role requires a candidate with an exceptional blend of technical and interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Education Technology, or a related field, with an advanced degree being preferred. A Project Management certification, such as a PMP, is a significant plus. The most critical qualification is a proven track record as an IT Project Manager with experience working in New York Government agencies. Knowledge of special education is also a highly valued asset. The candidate must be proficient in strategic planning, risk management, and change management and have experience with software tools like Smartsheet, Confluence, and Jira. The role demands excellent communication, leadership, problem-solving, and organizational skills. The Project Manager will be a key communicator, managing executive-level communication for both IT and business leaders, owning content creation for key leadership meetings, and presenting at important forums. They will be responsible for ensuring the project has an effective meeting cadence, with detailed meeting minutes and action items distributed to all stakeholders. Finally, the manager will ensure that all deliverables align with the contract and will work with leadership on the submission and sign-off on all project deliverables.

This is a contract position with a competitive hourly rate and requires a 40-hour work week. It’s an opportunity to take on a leadership role in a high-impact public service project, working with a large-scale data management system that directly affects the public school system.