Project Manager

Responsible for managing complex and high risks projects. Oversees project budgets and schedules. Manage day-to-day aspects of project scope. Minimizes project risk. Creates and manages project work plans and work breakdown structures.

Requisition Intake Questions

Job Title: Project Manager III

VNDY Requisition #:

Job Details and Requirements Section

1. Explain what the scope of the work/project is? Project Overview, deliverables (what is this person responsible for).

The Project Manager III will lead complex, high-visibility, cross-functional business and IT initiatives from initiation through closure. The role operates with limited direction and is accountable for establishing project structure and managing scope, schedule, budget, resources, vendors, risks, issues, and interdependent workstreams. The PM III will partner with senior leaders to resolve competing priorities, present delivery and financial options, and drive timely decisions. The position focuses on enterprise coordination, leadership through influence, and predictable delivery rather than hands-on technical execution.

The Senior Project Manager is responsible for:

• Complex initiative leadership:

o Establish the delivery structure for large, ambiguous, multi-workstream, or enterprise initiatives and lead them from initiation through closure.

• Integrated planning:

o Build and maintain integrated roadmaps, schedules, critical paths, dependency plans, decision logs, and recovery plans across teams and vendors.

• Financial and commercial ownership:

o Manage project budgets, forecasts, actuals, accruals, purchase orders, vendor invoices, change requests, and material variances; present impacts and options to leadership.

• Executive stakeholder management:

o Facilitate governance and decision forums with directors, senior leaders, business owners, IT leaders, and strategic vendors.

• Enterprise risk and dependency management:

o Anticipate systemic risks, resolve cross-project conflicts, and drive decisions involving shared resources, competing priorities, and release dependencies.

• Delivery recovery:

o Diagnose challenged initiatives, establish corrective actions, and lead schedule, scope, financial, vendor, or governance recovery efforts.

• Organizational leadership:

o Mentor less-experienced project managers and contribute to consistent delivery practices, templates, reporting, and governance.

2. What does a typical day look like?

• Seeking a highly motivated facilitator, collaborator and delivery owner.
• The PM III will direct multiple workstreams, validate integrated plans and financials, facilitate executive and vendor decisions, resolve cross-team constraints, coach project team members, manage high-impact risks and dependencies, and lead corrective action when delivery targets are at risk. Daily priorities will vary based on portfolio and project needs.

3. Describe work environment / team culture (supportive/collaborative, teamwork or individual contributor)?

The environment is collaborative and delivery-focused. The project manager must work effectively across multiple IT teams, business stakeholders, vendors, and end users while maintaining clear accountability and professional communication.

4. What are the work hours/shift (standard, evening, full time/part time, OT required, on-call for 24/7 operation)?

Full time during regular corporate hours. Overtime is not routinely required, although occasional flexibility may be needed for critical project milestones or releases.

5. What is the likelihood that the position will convert to a permanent opportunity?

• Possible but unlikely at this point in time.

Candidate Detail Section

1. What are the top 3-5 skills and qualifications (technology/application/software, etc.) required? Are there any skills/certifications that the candidate must possess or would be nice to see?

• Strong written and verbal communication, including concise leadership-level status reporting.
• Demonstrated ownership of scope, schedule, budget or financial tracking, risks, issues, dependencies, and delivery commitments.
• Strong facilitation, organization, problem-solving, stakeholder management, and leadership-through-influence skills.
• Experience coordinating business teams, technical teams, vendors, and shared resources in a matrixed environment.
• Proficiency with project schedules, financial forecasts, status reports, RAID logs, decision logs, and change control.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex or high-visibility initiatives with multiple workstreams, vendors, or business units.
• Experience presenting delivery options, financial impacts, escalations, and recovery plans to director-level or executive stakeholders.

2. What non-technical skills are necessary (i.e., such as communication, problem solving, team player)?

Communication, Leadership/Team Management, Problem Solving, Stakeholder Management

3. Ideal candidate background and how many years required?

Minimum of eight years of progressive project or program management experience, including at least three years leading complex, enterprise-level, high-visibility, or multi-workstream initiatives. The candidate must demonstrate successful delivery involving multiple teams, significant dependencies, vendors, financial accountability, and senior leadership stakeholders. Experience supporting end-user technology services is preferred.

Certifications & Education:

Project management or delivery-related certifications, such as PMP, Certified ScrumMaster, SAFe, ITIL, or Prosci, are considered beneficial but are not required. Selection will be based primarily on demonstrated past performance, the complexity of work previously led, level of accountability, and relevant business and technology delivery experience. A degree or equivalent practical experience is acceptable.

Administrative Section

1. What is the location of the contract assignment (Full time onsite, hybrid - percent of time on site/home or, are you open to fully remote)? If the resource is expected to be onsite, can you confirm if the resource can park on Xcel property/in the ramp?

Minnesota: 414 Nicollet Mall or Centre Pointe (Roseville); Colorado: 3500 Blake Street. Hybrid schedule with onsite attendance Tuesday through Thursday each week.

2. Would you consider a non-local candidate if they are willing to relocate for the life of the assignment at their own expense?

• Yes

3. Will this position require travel? How often? Where? Is this reimbursable? How?

Minimal travel, approximately one to two times per year. Approved business travel will be reimbursed in accordance with company policy.