About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Senior Technical Project Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing the planning, execution and delivery of complex, campus-wide, high impact projects by enforcing project timelines, scope, and budgets while ensuring alignment with business goals and technical specifications. This role will involve allocating resources, mitigating risks, resolving issues, and maintaining stakeholder communications to ensure project success. Overall, this position plays a pivotal role in driving projects forward with a focus on quality, efficiency, and process improvement.

Essential Functions

• Oversees complex, campus-wide high impact projects involving multiple teams and high-level stakeholders.
• Leads and manages projects from initiation to completion; develops, designs and documents project plans including defining scope, goals, and deliverables; manages project execution to ensure deadlines and milestones are met promptly.
• Identifies project risks, develops mitigation strategies, and proactively manages issues that arise throughout the project lifecycle to minimize disruptions.
• Allocates resources effectively to achieve project objectives within budget. Responsible for project documentation and generation of status reports.
• Leads and motivates cross-functional teams, fosters collaboration, and empowers team members to contribute effectively to project success.
• Maintains clear and consistent communication with stakeholders, team members and senior management.
• Provides vendor operational oversight and evaluates vendors performance to achieve project deliverables.
• Identifies opportunities for process improvements. Designs, evaluates, and implements necessary project management controls.
• Assists in developing long-term project management strategies.

Other Functions

• Provides mentorship and guidance to project management team members.
• Stays current with project management methodologies and trends.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s degree with 6 years of progressive experience in IT project management or associate’s degree with 8 years of progressive experience in IT project management.
• Demonstrated leadership and people management skills.
• Outstanding organization, time management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to pay attention to detail and develop accurate written materials.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, consultation, and facilitation skills.
• Proficiency in industry standard project management tools and methodologies.
• Expertise and experience in IT practices and engineering lifecycle management.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure).

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
• IT Project Management Certification(s).
• Experience working with IT staff and University administrators at various levels.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Typical office environment.

Work Schedule

• M-F 37.5 hours a week.
• Some work on weekends and evenings may be required commensurate with business needs. 
• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
• This position has the opportunity for a remote work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where the employee’s work location is to work from a site other than the UMass Amherst campus. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Salary Information

Level 31

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume and cover letter. References will be checked at the finalist stage, please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. 

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.