Information Technology Project Manager

Information Technology Project Manager Topeka, KS $35/hr - $37/hr Hybrid Contract About the job Role: IT Project Manager Location: Topeka, KS (Hybrid – 3 Days Onsite Every Week) Job Type: Contract to Hire Job Description In this role, you will lead cross-functional project teams and other stakeholders in the development, planning, and execution of IT projects of varying complexity, using waterfall and hybrid methodologies, to meet schedule, budget, regulatory, and security requirements. You will work closely with agency leadership, technical teams, vendors, and stakeholders—leveraging Monday.com, ServiceNow, and Microsoft Project—for project scheduling, reporting, and portfolio management. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication, organizational, analytical, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Candidates must be certified in the Kansas Project Management Methodology or obtain certification within twelve months of employment. • Manages various complex IT projects over $250,000 • Define project scope, goals, and deliverables in collaboration with stakeholders. • Develop detailed project plans, including schedules, milestones, resource requirements, and budgets. • Conduct feasibility studies and risk assessments. • Coordinate with business analysts to gather and validate requirements. • Facilitate kickoff meetings with internal and external stakeholders. Scope & Schedule Management • Develop and maintain project schedules using tools like Microsoft Project, ServiceNow, and Monday.com. • Track project progress against baselines (scope & schedule). • Manage changes through formal change control processes. • Report project metrics as required. Job Responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following: Resource & Team Management • Determine project resource requirements. • Work with technical leads to obtain appropriate project staff assignments that are consistent with project performance requirements. • Foster teamwork and resolve conflicts or performance issues. • Help team members grow professionally and share knowledge. Communication & Stakeholder Management • Serve as the primary point of contact for project communications. • Develop and maintain project communication plans. • Provide regular status updates to executive sponsors, steering committees, and stakeholders. • Facilitate workshops, presentations, and reviews as needed. • Manage stakeholder expectations. Technical Oversight, Change Management, Reporting • Collaborate with application developers, network architects, and system engineers on solution design and infrastructure needs. • Monitor technology integration, data migration, system configuration, and deployment activities. • Coordinate organizational change management strategies, including a change log. • Engage end users in testing (e.g., UAT) and ensure smooth transition to production. Oversee environment setup (dev, test, staging, production). Project Closure & Evaluation • Verify that all project deliverables are completed and accepted. • Conduct post-implementation reviews and lessons learned sessions. • Archive documentation and ensure knowledge transfer. • Release project resources and formally close the project. Risk & Issue Management • Identify, log, and assess project risks and issues. • Develop mitigation and contingency plans. • Escalate critical risks to leadership in a timely manner. • Monitor risk exposure and update risk logs throughout the project lifecycle. Quality Assurance & Compliance • Ensure project deliverables meet quality standards and stakeholder expectations. • Work with Business Analysts to develop test plans, conduct testing, and track defects. • Ensure compliance with IT policies, regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR), and security standards. • Coordinate and participate in code reviews, audits, and documentation reviews, as required. Vendor & Contract Management • Assist customers with vendor or third-party service provider evaluation and selection. • Track vendor deliverables and performance against agreed terms. • Perform other duties as assigned including serving as a member of the KDHE Disaster Response Team as needed to assure the agency's public and environmental health response is adequately staffed during and immediately following natural and/or manmade disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, and/or acts of terrorism. • Responsible for reading and implementing the KDHE 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. • Reviewing the Core Values, Priority Areas, Impact Statement and assisting to complete the Strategic Plan Summary and assure Goals are met. Qualifications Education: Licensing & Certification: • Valid Driver's License - Incumbent is required to have and maintain a valid driver's license when operating a state vehicle, a private vehicle, or a rental vehicle for the benefit of the State. Minimum Qualifications: • Completion of a technical school program in information technology or a related field • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast paced and changing work environment • Exceptional communication (verbal and written) and presentation skills • Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills • Strong organizational and analytic skills • Project management skills Preferred Qualifications: • Computer science, Business Management or equivalent. Post-Offer, Pre-employment Requirements: • Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access • Proofreading, editing, attention to detail • Experience with IT procurement • Decision making/problem solving skills • Microsoft Project, ServiceNow, Monday.com • Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate: A valid Kansas Tax Clearance Certificate is a condition of employment for all employees of the State of Kansas. Applicants (including non-residents) who receive a formal job offer for a State job, are required to obtain a valid Tax Clearance within ten (10) days of the job offer. ________________________________________ Requirements added by the job poster • 2+ years of work experience with IT Project & Program Management