Senior Project Manager

Competition 773

This position is a part of the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA).

In accordance with the Temporary Librarian, Administrative and Professional Staff (TLAPO) Agreement, this position offers a comprehensive benefits package found on our Benefits Overview page and annual salary range of $70,935 - $117,785. This position has an end date of November 1, 2025.

Location - This role is hybrid with a mix of remote and in-person work at North Campus Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 14,000 faculty and staff, over 40,000 students and 260,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Position 

Are you an ambitious, collaborative and service-focused professional who loves to work in a dynamic and challenging environment?  Someone who is passionate about leading teams and stakeholders through transformational change and digital transformation initiatives?
Enrolment Systems & Service Innovation (ESSI) within the Office of the Deputy Provost Students & Enrolment is responsible for providing functional support of the University’s enrolment systems. ESSI is responsible for service design, improvement and innovation focused on improving the student experience through digital transformation initiatives. 

Our innovative and dynamic environment provides you with boundless opportunities for engaging work within diverse and multidisciplinary teams. A high level of collaboration within the university allows you to build professional networks with meaningful relationships, and cultivate new skill sets through our well-established learning and development programs. Our greatest asset is the people who make up the U of A community.

An exciting opportunity exists for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual to join our team of professionals as a Senior Project Manager.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Enrolment Systems & Service Innovation, the Senior Project Manager takes full responsibility for the definition, proposal, initiation, execution, controlling, closing and evaluation of high-profile complex projects within the Enrolment Systems & Service Innovation portfolio. These projects typically have a duration of greater than twelve months and involve several cross-functional teams and diverse stakeholder groups across the University. As such a high level of influence is required to ensure the achievement of significant and organization-wide benefits. These projects often involve the development, enhancement and implementation of business processes, student services and digital transformation change initiatives to meet business and institutional objectives.

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the Executive Director and leadership within ESSI and senior leadership within the sponsoring organization for the successful delivery of projects that have an impact across the institution and within multiple stakeholder groups. 

Duties 

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for:

• Planning, scheduling and managing project activities, from proposal and initiation through to implementation and benefit realisation.
• Establishing and maintaining project structures to control and monitor the deliverables to the sponsoring department(s) and/or Colleges and Faculties
• Monitoring and reporting on overall progress and initiating corrective action, as appropriate to ensure project deliverables are delivered on time, within budget and meet the clients needs.
• Managing risk and ensuring issues are identified at the earliest opportunity and that solutions are identified and implemented in line with change control processes
• Working with stakeholders to identify and articulate benefits to be achieved by the project or initiative
• Working with the management team in Enrolment Systems & Service Innovation and client organizations to ensure maximum improvements are made to business operations and solutions are transitioned into operational use
• Working with service providers (including external suppliers and vendors where applicable) to ensure the service is delivered effectively (cost and timelines)
• Leading project teams through all phases of the project lifecycle, including requirements gathering, analysis, design, development, testing, training, change management and implementation.
• Ensuring the successful transition of the project deliverables to operational teams in a manner that is sustainable
• Identification the delivery of key benefits realisation and organisational change management activities
• Contributing to the the development of and enhancement of project management practices, procedures, tools and techniques to be leveraged for future projects
• Leading and contributing to the development of project practices such as benefits realisation and organisational change management
• Accountable for the project management life cycle which includes:
  • Project Initiation
  • Project Planning
  • Project Execution
  • Project Control
  • Project Closure

Qualifications

• University degree at the undergraduate level in a relevant discipline, such as business administration or project management
• 10 years of direct experience in project and program management
• Project management (PMP) and/or business analyst (IIBA) certification preferred
• Proven project management and leadership skills
• Demonstrated success in the execution of project management methodologies (e.g. Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, etc)
• Comprehensive working knowledge of the project lifecycle as it relates to enterprise applications, business transformation and service design
• Strong planning and organisation skills
• Demonstrated ability to effectively build relationships and alliances with internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrates strong business acumen
• Experience working with various Project Management tools and software (e.g. Visio, Lucidchart, Project, etc)
• Experience supervising, mentoring and coaching employees and project team members
• Highly effective negotiation, diplomatic and conflict resolution skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong problem identification and resolution skills
• Recognises barriers to success and addresses them
• Ability to adapt the approach based on learnings and/or shifting priorities, deadlines and/or circumstances