IT Project Portfolio Manager
About the Opportunity
JOB SUMMARY
The Information Technology Services division is currently seeking a talented individual to fill the role of Project Portfolio Manager (PPM). The PPM is the key interface between the business functions and ITS. A successful Project Portfolio Manager emphasizes visibility, maximizes the value of investments and facilitates decision making discussions. The PPM is responsible for strategic potfolio(s) strategic initiatives and managing the ITS intake, partnering with ITS PO, BRMS and business units to create business cases. The Portfolio Manager is responsible for resourcing, risks, and issues mitigation, and planning for all initiatives. The Portfolio Manager provides initiative reporting and serves as IT point of contact. The PPM role is responsible for providing a centralized view of assets and initiatives related to a specific portfolio(s). PPM, in conjunction with the business leaders, help drive project prioritization and decisions around which projects will deliver maximum value. The PPM will focus on planning, prioritization, implementation and monitoring elements of projects within a portfolio. The PPM will also directly manage projects or programs. In addition to portfolio accountability responsibilities, this position includes managing projects/programs and resource management within the projects, stakeholder and sponsor communications, reporting, and engagement.Other duties as required:This role requires flexibility in performing duties outside of the primary responsibilities to support evolving business needs. The ideal candidate must be adaptable and willing to take on additional tasks or projects as required, ensuring smooth operations across the organization. This may include stepping in to assist with cross-functional teams, handling unexpected challenges, or contributing to initiatives that support business growth and success. A proactive mindset and the ability to pivot quickly are essential for thriving in this dynamic environment.This role requires occasional availability outside of traditional working hours to address urgent business needs as they arise, including, but not limited to, responding to security incidents, supporting software deployments, resolving software issues or system breaks, and addressing other critical operational requirements. The ideal candidate must be proactive and adaptable, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations by promptly addressing any issues, regardless of time or day. Flexibility and a strong sense of urgency are essential for success in this position.This role is hybrid and in the office a minimum of three days a week to facilitate collaboration and teamwork. In-office presence is an essential part of our on-campus culture and allows for engaging directly with staff and students, sharing ideas, and contributing to a dynamic work environment. Being on-site allows for stronger connections, more effective problem-solving, and enhanced team synergy, all of which are key to achieving our collective goals and driving success.
*Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University is unable to work sponsor for this role, now or in the future
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education- A bachelor's or master's degree in information systems, business administration or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
Experience- Fifteen or more years of experience in IT and business/industry.
- Seven to 10 years in diverse roles with increasing leadership responsibilities across major projects and programs.
Knowledge and Skills- Exceptional leadership skills, with the ability to develop and communicate the portfolio objectives, inspire and motivate staff, and maintain alignment with IT & the business strategy.
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels across the organization. Has strength of character to have difficult conversations with senior stakeholders including customers, internal team members and senior management; excellent written, oral and presentation skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain and 'sell' the portfolio goals and objectives to the business, as well as technical leadership.
- Data Analysis skills and the ability to tell the story from the data.
- Demonstrated release management and future product road mapping skills
- Effective use of hard and soft skills including conflict resolution, team building, and decision making.
- Pragmatic organized and results oriented and with ability to manage multiple priorities.
- Excellent planning, organization, execution and controlling skills.
- Problem solving skills - ability to analyze and solve complex issues that do not have routine solutions.
- Regularly pitches new projects or process which will enhance portfolio/program/project effectiveness and further evolution.
- Attention to detail but able to see and communicate the big picture.
- Ability and willingness to convey proficiency in project management to others.
- Possesses a high degree of political sensitivity, astuteness and the ability to effectively use the informal power structure of the organization to achieve success and clear obstacles for the portfolio.
- Highly empathetic and able to vary styles of interaction to match the needs of a variety of temperaments and personalities.
- Strong business acumen, including industry, domain-specific knowledge of the enterprise and its business units. Familiar with industry trends and innovation.
- Effective influencing and negotiation experience and skills in an environment with high competition for resources.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver against financial and resource constraints.
- Experience with one or more project/program management methodologies (such as PMI PMBOK, Agile) and across a range of project types.
- Demonstrated ability in project planning tools, such as Microsoft Project and Smartsheet, with evidence of practical application.
- Highly skilled in managing Agile teams, use of JIRA for sprint and release planning.
- Deep understanding of current and emerging technologies, how other enterprises are employing them to drive digital business, and how they may be applied to the enterprise to drive digital business.
- Ability to manage project details as well as strategy.
- Ability to form strong relationships across ITS and Business workstreams.
- Ability to work in an agile mindset with minimum requirements and defining them as we go along.
- Willingness to work through critical timelines and do what is needed to keep project progressing forward.
- Higher-Ed experience is a plus but not required.
- Individuals in this role can operate autonomously without being heavily supervised.
- Experience in establishing and managing Business Value Realization practices.
- Financial experience with familiarity with budgetary planning and cost reporting.
- Previous industry experience in technology business leadership experience includes knowledge of approaches, tools, and techniques for gaining the cooperation and support of others.
- Demonstrates an ongoing commitment to professional growth in portfolio management, agile project management.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio & Project Management 30%- Responsible for ensuring flawless and smooth execution of the contracted projects and programs within IT portfolio according to defined timelines and cost, via leading multidisciplinary project teams.
- Establishes and ensures appropriate governance functions for the portfolio in accordance with enterprise policies, practices and on behalf of the executive sponsor.
- Creates agenda and solicits topics for monthly Portfolio steering committee to report out on KPI and demand, project, incident and request metrics and performance to SLA.
- Acts as main point of contact between business areas(s), interfacing applications, 3rd party vendors, ITS leadership and/or project and program managers.
- Responsible for ServiceNow data quality and accuracy within Portfolio - including demands, projects, incidents, requests etc
- Develops and controls the portfolio budget formulation, and manages expenditure within agreed spending plans with key focus on customer centricity and internally on quality, cost, profitability, timelines and risk management
- Collaborates with architecture team to assist in the development of a vision and strategy for the product and content lifecycle application and integration portfolio.
- Participate in customer meetings to ensure services meet customer expectations.
- Creates a collaborative partnership among IT Leaders and portfolio stakeholders and enables resource demand planning, change management and project pipeline planning decisions.
- Drives a culture of transparency and accountability, enabling information-based decision making in the management of IT investments.
- Directs the creation and maintenance of the required portfolio documentation and artifacts.
- Ensures and balances the availability of the required skills and competencies across project teams within the portfolio.
- Monitors and coordinates dependencies across the projects in the portfolio and resolves conflicts.
Project Management 30%- Directly manages projects within the portfolio.
- Identify and schedule project deliverables, milestones and required activities and tasks.
- Provide leadership and motivation to project team members throughout the project life cycle and confer with project staff to outline work plan.
- Establish work plan and staffing for project activities, iterations or phases, and arrange for recruitment or assignment of project personnel.
- Review and analyze project proposals or plans to determine time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing projects, staffing requirements and allotment of available departmental resources to various project phases.
- Review/approve work plan of external service provider or consultancy contracted to execute project.
- Leads regular interactions with the executive sponsor to inform, alert, negotiate and maintain a continuing good relationship and shared vision for the project outcome.
- Implement project communication plan.
- Conduct risk assessment and mitigation.
- Monitor project activities, ensuring the currency, quality and integrity of the information, while providing consistency in content and 'look and feel' across the enterprise. for Staff Positions.
- Ensure that project goals are accomplished and in line with business objectives.
New Initiatives & Portfolio Pipeline Health 20%- Partners closely with technical and business owners to analyze new project requests and readiness for governance decisions and provides transparency of portfolio investments.
- Prepares the portfolio for success by creating, presenting and championing business cases help drive prioritization decisions as required in the governance process.
- Communicate business value metrics within the business case story including investment cost and benefits measurement & benefit tracking
- Create the Portfolio Roadmap and drives delivery to that Roadmap.
- Facilitate joint planning with business partners and ITS in early stages of project formation.
- Provide consulting services to business partners on new initiatives.
- Be an advocate for business stakeholders in IT discussions.
Supervisory 20%- Contractor & FTE program or project managers.
Position Type
General Administration
Additional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compensation Grade/Pay Type:
113S
Expected Hiring Range:
$112,180.00 - $162,662.50
With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
To apply, visit https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Boston-MA-Main-Campus/IT-Project-Portfolio-Manager_R132694
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