Principal IT Project Manager
Hybrid · Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
Job Summary
Senior Principal IT Project Manager responsible for strategic, high-visibility initiatives within U.S. Venture's Project Management Center of Excellence. Leads end-to-end delivery by selecting Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid methodologies; manages planning, financials, risk, and stakeholder communications; serves as delivery lead on enterprise programs spanning multiple workstreams and vendors. Develops and maintains project management standards, templates, and governance; defines intake and stage-gate processes and portfolio reporting. Partners with IT leadership to shape the future-state operating model for the Center of Excellence, mentors PMs, leads communities of practice, and presents to executive stakeholders. Travel may be occasional. Hybrid work model with regular on-site presence (Appleton, WI) Monday–Thursday; on-site collaboration and executive engagement emphasized.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Engineering, or related discipline; equivalent experience considered
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive project management experience
- Active PMP certification, or equivalent demonstrated mastery of project management discipline
- Demonstrated experience as a recognized senior practitioner (Principal/Lead/Senior PM), leading PMO standards work, or practice authority
- Experience applying multiple project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid) and matching the right approach to the work
- Strong financial acumen including business case development, project budget management, vendor management, and benefits realization
- Executive presence with ability to communicate to all levels including CIO and senior stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to lead through influence without formal authority
- Preferred Master’s degree (MBA, Information Systems, or related) and additional certifications (PMI-ACP, CBAP, CSM, SAFe, ITIL Foundation)
- Experience in multi-divisional or holding company environments (manufacturing, distribution, energy, logistics)
- Experience implementing or operating PPM tooling (e.g., FreshService, Smartsheet, MS Project, Planview, ServiceNow SPM)
- Background in business analysis, organizational change management, or Lean/Six Sigma
- Experience leading or supporting M&A integration projects or post-acquisition systems integration
- U.S. work authorization; sponsorship not offered
Desired Qualifications
- PMP certification (or equivalent)
- 10+ years of progressive project management experience
- experience delivering complex, cross-functional, enterprise-scale initiatives
- ability to apply Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid methodologies
- strong financial acumen (business case development, budgeting, vendor management, benefits realization)
- executive-level communication skills and stakeholder management
- leadership by influence with coaching and standards development
- experience with PMO standards work or as a practice authority
- experience implementing or operating PPM tooling
- background in business analysis, organizational change management, or process improvement (Lean, Six Sigma)
- experience in multi-divisional or holding company environments
- experience with M&A integration projects or post-acquisition systems integration
- master’s degree preferred (MBA/Information Systems or related)
- additional certifications such as PMI-ACP, CBAP, CSM, SAFe, ITIL Foundation
- demonstrated ability to mentor, lead communities of practice, and drive adoption without formal authority
- ability to translate strategic priorities into executable project plans
- availability for occasional travel
- capability to represent the Center of Excellence in enterprise forums
- ability to align IT with enterprise-level business goals
- familiarity with enterprise platforms and tooling (e.g., FreshService, Smartsheet, MS Project, Planview, ServiceNow SPM)
- experience shaping standards, templates, and governance for enterprise project management
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