Business Integration Projects - Senior IT Project Manager

This position contributes to the success of Brookfield Zoo Chicago (“BZC”) by successfully managing projects to completion “on-budget” and “on-time”. Engages internal clients and vendors in the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closure of BZC projects. 

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. *     Serve as project manager on proposed, new, and existing projects and primary liaison with project clients.

2. *     Manage projects from business case to project closure. Projects managed by the Society’s Information Technology Project Management team adhere closely to PMI, Inc., project management fundamentals found within the PMBOK, Project Management Book of Knowledge and ancillary documentation.

3. *    Work with Director, Senior Business & Database Analyst, and clients to a) evaluate project requests and b) write business cases for proposed projects and b) write charters for approved projects.

4. *     Develop, maintain, and communicate project requirements, plans, and schedules with project and BZC stakeholders.

5. *     Monitor project process and project output quality throughout the project lifecycle.

6. *    Conduct project closure, e.g., post-mortems, for projects that are completed and those that are abandoned.

7. *     Stay up-to-date on project management protocols, procedures and standards in order to evaluate and recommend appropriate solutions and or updates to Society operations.
8. *     Advise and mentor other project managers and project leaders in the department and across the organization.

9. *     Bi-annually review and evaluation of Information Technology project management processes and best practices. 

10.  *    With Information Technology Management and clients, prepare, test, and maintain a disaster recovery/ contingency plan for all BZC and Zoo information systems.

11.       Provide third-tier support to Information Technology staff when necessary.

12.       Other related duties as assigned by Director or Vice President of Information Technology including, but not limited to, reporting immediately to the Vice President of Information Technology and the Senior Vice President of Human Resources any discovery of child pornography on any of BZC's electronic or information technology equipment in accordance with BZC policies.

* Essential Job Functions

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree or eight years of equivalent combination of training and experience required.  High school diploma or educational equivalent (e.g., GED.) required.
• Minimum of ten years’ experience managing complex projects required, with a strong emphasis on technology infrastructure and deployment projects.
• Experience with project management applications and systems required.
• Minimum of eight years’ experience working with complex organizations that have academic, research, and/or revenue-generating components required.
• Experience managing technology infrastructure projects.
• Experience with Microsoft Visio or similar work- or data-flow modeling tools required.
• Familiarity and experience with PMI’s PMBOK and associated process and recommendations required.
• Proven experience with Project Planning, e.g., work breakdowns, Risk Management, and Stakeholder and Communication Management, required.
• Must be familiar with relational database concepts and design.
• Must have great communication skills both oral and written.

• Must maintain confidentiality of information and respect client privacy.

• Must have excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
• Cultural competency; experience and/or ability to work and interact effectively with a diverse, multicultural audience. 
• English fluency at aworking professional proficiency.

DESIRABLE/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Familiarity with other “project management methodologies,” e.g., Scrum, Agile, ITIL, COBIT, a plus. 
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, a plus; maintaining “good standing” with PMI (Project Management Institute) throughout certification period.
• Experience with Microsoft SQL Server database management tools and Transact-SQL, a plus.
• Multilingual ability, Spanish fluency a plus. 

OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

 See Occupational Requirements Form.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  This position description summarizes the primary duties and functions of this position, but should not be considered a complete listing of every duty the incumbent may ever be called upon to perform.  Incumbent must carry cell phone at all times, be available 24 hrs./day, 7 days/week, and respond as required to provide emergency support.

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