Project Manager II ContractorContract Length: 10 months with the possibility of extending based on project need.Candidate currently residing in Richmond, VA area is required.Hybrid SchedulePosition SummaryThe Project Manager II contractor will support the planning, coordination, and delivery of IT projects across the organization, with a focus on AI and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and enterprise IT initiatives. The contractor will work within the PPMO and partner with technical teams, business stakeholders, leadership, and vendors to ensure assigned projects are delivered within established scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.Key ResponsibilitiesManage multiple IT projects from initiation through implementation and closeout.Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, dependencies, and deliverables.Coordinate cross-functional teams, business stakeholders, technical resources, and third-party vendors.Manage projects involving AI, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, infrastructure, cloud, data, and other technology initiatives.Track and manage project risks, issues, decisions, dependencies, and action items.Facilitate project meetings, requirements sessions, status reviews, and stakeholder discussions.Prepare clear and concise project status reports for PPMO and leadership.Maintain accurate project information and documentation within project management tools.Ensure projects follow established PPMO governance, documentation, and reporting standards.Coordinate vendor activities, deliverables, schedules, and project dependencies.Support project implementation, testing, training, change management, and transition to operations.Escalate significant risks, issues, resource constraints, and decisions requiring leadership attention.Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 4+ years of IT project management experience managing moderately complex to complex technology projects. Demonstrated experience managing cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and vendors. Experience developing project plans, schedules, status reports, risk/issue logs, and other project documentation. Working knowledge of Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid project management methodologies. Experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Jira, or ServiceNow. Strong communication, facilitation, organization, and problem-solving skills. Ability to independently manage multiple projects and competing priorities.Preferred QualificationsExperience managing AI, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, infrastructure, cloud, or digital transformation projects. Experience working within a PMO/PPMO environment. PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, PMI Certified Professional in Managing AI (PMI-CPMAI), or similar project management/AI certification. Experience in higher education, state government, or other complex enterprise environments.Expected DeliverablesExpected to maintain current and accurate project schedules, status reports, risk and issue logs, decision and action logs, project documentation, and PPMO reporting for assigned projects. Will be accountable for driving assigned initiatives forward, coordinating resources and stakeholders, identifying barriers to delivery, and ensuring timely escalation and resolution of project issues.