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GIS Project Manager – Remote
Senior IT/Technology Project Manager | Contract
Position Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced Senior IT/Technology Project Manager to lead a complex, large-scale, high-dollar, multi-year GIS Utility Network Model conversion and implementation. The project will migrate existing electric and gas geospatial data and models to the ArcGIS Utility Network model, replacing legacy geometric networks with a rules-based, service-oriented model.
The GIS platform is a foundational enterprise system that integrates with numerous applications and supports multiple business teams. This transformation will have broad operational and technical implications and requires a hands-on project leader who can drive delivery, manage vendors, remove obstacles, and maintain accountability across workstreams.
Project Context
The project is currently in a Design Gate Phase with a third-party vendor. Current activities include analyzing the existing model, defining the target architecture, evaluating data readiness, developing the implementation approach, and establishing time and cost estimates for the business case.
- Bring the Design Phase to a successful close.
- Support the IT organization through business case development and approval.
- Lead the subsequent implementation phase through go-live, operational transition, and project closeout.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The successful candidate is a systems thinker and critical problem solver with demonstrated success delivering enterprise software modernization projects from initiation through implementation and closeout. This person must have enough technical fluency to engage effectively with GIS professionals, architects, IT system owners, field users, service providers, and implementation partners, while translating complex technical topics into meaningful business decisions and executive communications.
GIS project experience is beneficial but not required. Candidates without GIS experience must demonstrate relevant experience leading complex commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software installations, upgrades, or conversions involving vendors, multiple IT teams, technical dependencies, cutovers, and operational readiness. These are Waterfall SDLC implementation projects, not software development projects. Candidates with only software development or Agile project management experience will not be considered.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the successful initiation, planning, execution, control, implementation, and closure of a large, complex technology project spanning multiple business units.
- Build and maintain an integrated, resource-loaded project schedule that includes tasks, durations, owners, dependencies, milestones, critical path, baseline dates, forecast dates, and capacity constraints.
- Establish measurable delivery baselines and track progress by workstream, deliverable, schedule, cost, scope, and resource commitments.
- Identify schedule, resource, technical, and operational constraints early; develop mitigation plans; remove obstacles; and escalate stalled work appropriately.
- Drive disciplined follow-up, clear ownership, decision tracking, and transparent reporting of commitments versus actual progress.
- Coordinate work across internal IT teams, business stakeholders, third-party vendors, consulting partners, system integrators, and contract resources.
- Manage vendor performance and applicable contracts in partnership with sourcing, including RFP preparation, response evaluation, negotiations, contract interpretation, financial management, and delivery against specifications and schedule.
- Apply our project management methodologies and PMI-aligned processes to achieve scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk objectives.
- Lead Waterfall SDLC governance, stage-gate reviews, scope management, risk and issue management, dependency management, change control, and executive reporting.
- Develop and execute communication and stakeholder management plans, including project status, risk, progress, decisions, and escalation reporting for appropriate audiences.
- Organize, synthesize, and present complex technical and business information to executive leaders and key stakeholders.
- Coordinate training, organizational change management, cutover planning, operational readiness, and transition to support teams.
- Complete project closeout activities, including documentation, financial closure, work-order closure, resource reassignment, training confirmation, and transition of deliverables.
- Provide guidance and mentorship in project management and organizational change management practices as needed.
Required Experience and Qualifications
- Minimum of five years of IT/Technology project management experience leading medium-to-large, complex projects; ten or more years is preferred.
- Proven track record delivering complex, large-scale, high-dollar, multi-year software technology projects from initiation through implementation and closeout.
- Significant experience with COTS software installation, upgrade, conversion, or modernization projects and associated vendor management.
- Experience leading projects through a Waterfall SDLC, including design, configuration, testing, cutover, go-live, and operational readiness.
- Demonstrated ability to independently lead projects with minimal oversight while remaining accountable for measurable outcomes.
- Strong risk, issue, dependency, decision, and escalation management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to challenge assumptions appropriately, drive urgency, remove obstacles, and hold teams and vendors accountable.
- Experience managing third-party vendors, consulting partners, system integrators, contracts, and contract resources.
- Strong leadership, stakeholder management, interpersonal, verbal, written, and executive communication skills.
- Ability to analyze complex problems, develop effective solutions, and plan and execute responsibilities with minimal direction.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Project and standard business productivity tools.
- Bachelor’s degree preferred.
- Ability to work effectively in a diverse work environment.
Preferred Experience
- GIS software project management experience.
- ArcGIS Utility Network or similar GIS modernization experience.
- Experience supporting organizational change management within enterprise technology programs.
Work Arrangement and Availability
- Hybrid arrangement, with the potential for a mainly remote or fully remote option. Candidates who live near an office location should be available to work onsite occasionally as needed.
- Full-time availability is required during Central Time business hours, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., for meetings, stakeholder engagement, project activities, and team collaboration.
- Preference will be given to candidates residing in Wisconsin or Iowa; however, candidate quality takes priority over location.
- Concurrent employment, consulting engagements, or other business activities are not permitted during core working hours.
Reporting and Supervision
This position performs work under the direct supervision of a manager or director and is expected to operate with significant autonomy while remaining fully accountable for project outcomes.
Additional Information
The responsibilities listed are not intended to be a complete list of duties and do not limit or modify the right of a supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of individuals assigned to this position.
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