IT Project Manager
Oak Brook, IL
Description

In this role, you’ll lead technology projects that help Collegis Education and its partner institutions modernize systems, improve operations, strengthen security, and deliver a better student and institutional experience.


This role exists to plan, coordinate, and deliver technology initiatives across infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, system integrations, and modernization efforts while ensuring projects are completed on time, within scope, within budget, and aligned with organizational priorities.


What You’ll Do:

  • Configure, maintain, and manage projects within the organization's Project Portfolio Management (PPM) systems.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned projects, providing end-to-end project leadership and accountability.
  • Lead project initiation activities, including facilitating project kickoff meetings, status meetings, steering committee reviews, and project closeout sessions while documenting and distributing meeting minutes and action items.
  • Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, schedules, milestones, deliverables, and resource assignments for cross-functional teams.
  • Establish, monitor, and communicate project timelines, schedules, dependencies, and critical path activities.
  • Manage projects through the full project lifecycle, from initiation and planning through execution, monitoring, closure, and post-project review.
  • Deliver projects on time, within scope, within budget, and in alignment with defined business objectives.
  • Build and maintain strong working relationships with project sponsors, stakeholders, business partners, subject matter experts (SMEs), vendors, and project team members.
  • Identify, assess, manage, and communicate project risks, issues, assumptions, and dependencies; develop mitigation strategies and escalate concerns as appropriate.
  • Prepare and deliver clear, concise executive-level project status reports that communicate progress, accomplishments, budget, schedule, risks, issues, and recommended actions.
  • Support project management governance by contributing to process improvements, standards, templates, reporting, and portfolio management initiatives.
  • Monitor project financials, including budgets, forecasts, resource utilization, change requests, and billing for both Fixed Fee and Time & Materials (T&M) engagements.
  • Ensure project activities comply with organizational governance, regulatory requirements, and applicable information security policies and standards.
  • Collaborate with technical teams to ensure security, compliance, and infrastructure considerations are incorporated into project planning and execution.
  • Projects may include: cloud migrations, infrastructure upgrades, enterprise application implementations, Student Information System (SIS) initiatives, Learning Management System (LMS) projects, CRM implementations, cybersecurity improvements, Microsoft 365 implementations, system integrations, managed services transitions.
  • Financial & Resource Coordination:
  • Monitor assigned project budgets and resource utilization
  • Coordinate project staffing with resource managers and technical leaders
  • Support financial reporting for project performance
  • Assist with project forecasting and schedule planning


What You'll Bring: Experience & Skills

  • 5+ years of experience managing Information Technology projects.
  • Experience managing third-party vendors and implementation partners.
  • Demonstrated success delivering multiple concurrent projects from initiation through closure.
  • Strong oral and written communication skills with proven ability to interact professionally with team members, stakeholders and third parties.
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams consisting of business stakeholders, technical staff, vendors, and executive sponsors.
  • Experience managing project budgets, schedules, scope, and resources.
  • Experience producing executive-level project status reports and presentations.
  • Experience using project management methodologies such as Waterfall, Agile, or Hybrid.
  • Experience using various project management software, such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or Monday.com.
  • Experience with managed services or technology consulting organizations.
  • Prior experience within higher education is preferred.
  • Familiarity with Ellucian, Jenzabar, Salesforce, Microsoft Azure, ServiceNow, or similar enterprise platforms.
Requirements

Education & Certifications:


  • Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Work Environment & Schedule:


This role offers the flexibility of a hybrid environment. In alignment with our commitment to collaboration and team engagement, employees will be expected to follow a schedule working onsite 2–3 days per week to support in-person connection and cross-functional partnership.


Who We Are:


Collegis Education partners with higher education institutions to deliver technology, marketing, and enrollment solutions that support the full student lifecycle. Our teams work across institutions to improve operations, enhance the student experience, and drive meaningful outcomes for both students and our partners. For more information about Collegis Education, please visit www.collegiseducation.com.


Beware of Scams: Please note that all inquiries regarding Collegis Education job postings will come from an email domain of @mail.paylocity.com or @collegiseducation.com.


Collegis Education is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Salary Description
75,000-95,000