Project Manager/Leader – Senior
Government
1 year contract
3 days onsite – Toronto

Must Haves:

5+ years’ experience leading enterprise-wide HCMS implementations, with a proven track record in delivering complex technology solutions and managing multi-million dollar project portfolios
5+ years’ experience developing and executing comprehensive implementation strategies, with demonstrated success in transitioning enterprise systems from project to operational state
Deep expertise in stakeholder management and executive engagement, particularly across HR, Finance, Technology, and business operations

Responsibilities:

Strategic Implementation Leadership:
1. Develop and execute the comprehensive HCMS implementation strategy, ensuring alignment with enterprise technology standards and organizational objectives.
2. Lead the end-to-end project lifecycle, from inception through deployment and transition to operations, following established methodologies and frameworks.
3. Define and maintain project governance structures, ensuring effective decision-making and risk management throughout the implementation.
Stakeholder Management and Communication:
1. Build and maintain strong relationships with executive leadership, providing regular updates on project progress, risks, and mitigation strategies.
2. Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between HR, Finance, Technology, and business units to ensure comprehensive requirements gathering and solution alignment.
3. Develop and execute strategic communication plans to ensure stakeholder engagement and buy-in throughout the implementation journey.
Technical Planning and Execution:
1. Oversee the technical architecture and integration planning for the HCMS implementation, ensuring scalability and alignment with enterprise standards.
2. Coordinate with IT teams and vendors to establish robust testing, deployment, and support frameworks.
3. Drive the development of technical documentation, standard operating procedures, and training materials.
Vendor and Resource Management:
1. Manage relationships with HCMS vendors and implementation partners, ensuring deliverables meet quality standards and organizational requirements.
2. Oversee resource allocation and capacity planning across project workstreams.
3. Monitor and control project budgets, ensuring optimal utilization of resources and alignment with financial parameters.
Change Management and Training:
1. Develop and implement comprehensive change management strategies to ensure successful adoption of the HCMS platform.
2. Oversee the development and delivery of training programs for end-users and system administrators.
3. Establish feedback mechanisms to measure adoption rates and user satisfaction, implementing improvements as needed.
Quality Assurance and Risk Management:
1. Implement robust quality assurance processes throughout the project lifecycle.
2. Develop and maintain risk management frameworks, including identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies.
3. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and enterprise technology standards.
Performance Monitoring and Optimization:
1. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project success and system effectiveness.
2. Regular monitoring and reporting on project metrics, making data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
3. Lead post-implementation reviews and optimization initiatives.

General Skills:

Project Leadership: Proven experience leading large-scale enterprise system implementations, preferably in HCMS or similar platforms.
Strategic Planning: Demonstrated ability to develop and execute comprehensive implementation strategies aligned with organizational objectives.
Stakeholder Management: Excellence in managing relationships with executive leadership, vendors, and cross-functional teams.
Technical Acumen: Strong understanding of enterprise technology architecture, integration patterns, and best practices.
Risk Management: Expertise in identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks throughout the implementation lifecycle.
Change Management: Proven track record in leading organizational change initiatives and ensuring successful technology adoption.
Communication: Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with experience presenting to executive leadership.
Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to navigate complex technical and organizational challenges.
Budget Management: Experience managing large project budgets and resource allocation effectively.
Quality Focus: Commitment to delivering high-quality solutions that meet enterprise standards and user needs.

Desirable Skills:

Enterprise Systems: Experience with major HCMS platforms and enterprise technology integration.
Certifications: Professional certifications in project management (PMP), ITIL, or relevant technology frameworks.
Change Leadership: Advanced knowledge of change management methodologies and organizational transformation.
Industry Knowledge: Understanding of public sector technology implementation requirements and governance frameworks.
Architecture: Knowledge of enterprise architecture principles and cloud-based solutions.
Process Optimization: Experience in business process reengineering and workflow optimization.
Data Management: Understanding of data governance, privacy requirements, and security standards.
Agile Methodologies: Experience with Agile project management approaches in enterprise implementations.

Deliverables
Strategic Planning and Governance

Comprehensive HCMS implementation strategy and roadmap
Project governance framework and steering committee structure
Detailed project management plan including scope, schedule, and budget baselines
Risk management strategy and mitigation plans
Benefits realization plan aligned with organizational objectives

Technical Implementation

System architecture and integration design documentation
Data migration strategy and execution plan
Testing strategy and quality assurance framework
Technical requirements specifications and solution design documents
System security and compliance documentation
Deployment and cutover plans for each phase
Production support and maintenance model

Stakeholder Management and Communication

Stakeholder engagement and communication strategy
Executive-level status reports and dashboards
Change management and organizational readiness plans
Training strategy and materials
User adoption measurement framework
Stakeholder satisfaction assessment framework

Operational Excellence

Project management office (PMO) structure and processes
Vendor management framework and performance metrics
Resource allocation and capacity plans
Business process documentation and standard operating procedures
Service level agreements and operational KPIs
Transition plan from project to operations
Post-implementation review and lessons learned documentation

Performance Measurement

Project performance metrics and progress reports
Budget tracking and financial reports
Quality metrics and defect tracking
User adoption and system utilization metrics
Business value and ROI assessments
Integration success metrics
System performance and reliability measurements