Job Title: Senior Project Manager PeopleSoft HCM

Location: California, Remote
Duration: 6 12 Months
Extension: High potential for extension based on performance
Working Hours: Candidates must be available and responsive between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time (PT), regardless of their current time zone.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead a portfolio of critical, highly complex technology projects. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing end-to-end PeopleSoft HCM projects, including modules such as Benefits, General Ledger (GL), Payroll, Absence Management, Workforce Administration (WFA), and other related modules.

The successful candidate must demonstrate strong project leadership skills and a proven ability to manage multiple complex initiatives, including projects involving multiple phases, teams, and stakeholders.

Candidates must have significant experience serving as an overall Project Manager with direct responsibility for project planning, execution, monitoring, risk management, and delivery.

Required Experience

• 8 10+ years of overall project management experience, with direct responsibility for end-to-end project delivery preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of experience as a lead Project Manager, independently managing projects from initiation through completion.
• Demonstrated experience managing PeopleSoft HCM projects.
• Experience managing Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) projects.
• Proven experience leading complex, multi-phase projects and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Strong project leadership experience, including stakeholder management, risk mitigation, budget oversight, and project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply advanced project management methodologies to manage complex technology initiatives from project initiation through final delivery.
• Lead project analysis, determine appropriate approaches, identify data sources, establish methodologies, and define evaluation criteria.
• Manage projects with broad organizational impact, coordinating activities across multiple departments and stakeholder groups.
• Evaluate project proposals, prepare reports, and communicate project status, risks, and recommendations to stakeholders.
• Assume overall responsibility for project planning, execution, monitoring, and delivery.
• Assemble, lead, and coordinate large, cross-functional project teams.
• Develop detailed project plans, schedules, milestones, and resource allocation strategies.
• Oversee project budgets, resources, timelines, dependencies, and deliverables.
• Manage system integration activities, vendor relationships, project communications, and stakeholder expectations.
• Identify potential risks and obstacles, develop contingency plans, and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure projects are delivered within established timelines, budgets, and scope requirements.
• Coordinate interdepartmental activities to ensure effective collaboration and successful project outcomes.
• Communicate project progress, challenges, and recommendations to executive-level management.
• Track project performance using appropriate project management tools, metrics, and reporting mechanisms.
• Ensure project activities align with broader organizational strategies and business objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of experience as a lead Project Manager with hands-on responsibility for end-to-end project management.
• Demonstrated experience managing SDLC-related projects.
• Proven ability to independently manage complex projects, including planning, execution, monitoring, risk management, and delivery.
• Strong leadership skills and experience managing cross-functional project teams.
• Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver projects within time and budget constraints.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent education, training, and experience.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is highly preferred.
• Direct PeopleSoft HCM project management experience, particularly with modules such as Workforce Administration (WFA), ePerformance, Benefits, Payroll, Absence Management, and General Ledger (GL).
• Experience managing multiple complex projects or initiatives involving phased implementations.
• Experience managing projects within the higher education sector.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership and diverse stakeholder groups.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of project management principles, methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Ability to assess organizational needs and translate them into effective technology solutions.
• Working knowledge of technology initiatives and their organizational impact.
• Strong planning skills, attention to detail, and the ability to anticipate risks and develop contingency plans.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
• Expertise in project planning, scheduling, progress tracking, and performance measurement.
• Ability to manage project costs, budgets, resources, and timelines effectively.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to evaluate complex projects with broad organizational impact.
• Ability to integrate information across multiple disciplines and stakeholder groups.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.