The University of Southern California’s (USC’s) Information Technology Services (ITS) is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager with an exceptional commitment to service excellence to join the Secure USC team.

As the Senior Project Manager for Secure USC, you will be an integral member of the team, collaborating with diverse and talented team members to help solve multidimensional information technology problems, improve customer experience, and generate value for our campus stakeholders across a broad base of departments and constituencies. The Senior Project Manager leads delivery of Secure USC enterprise programs and projects by building and sustaining collaborative relationships with ITS staff, customers, partners, and key stakeholders. Responsible for executing program and project management deliverables for the university and the department. Oversees comprehensive program and project plans, controlling scope and directing project budget resources towards the completion of deliverable

This is a fixed-term position with an anticipated end date of 6/30/2024. Please note that this full-time role is eligible for all benefits/perks offered by USC to its employees, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision plans, tuition assistance, and paid sick/vacation/holidays.

THE WORK YOU WILL DO

The Senior Project Manager:

• Builds and sustains collaborative relationships with ITS staff, departments, customers, partners, and key stakeholders in administrative and academic units. Maintains currency on current and future business needs, university-wide technology initiatives, and leading-edge project management practices.
• Establishes foundation for each project, working with sponsors to create robust, comprehensive project charters and baseline reports. Manages communications with project stakeholder and internal project teams.
• Drives continuous improvement, overseeing accurate, well-communicated scope, and the creation of actionable schedules and budgets for each project. Reports risks that may affect work progress and recommends mitigation strategies.
• Manages productivity and effectiveness of projects with varying complexities. Creates apt status reports, and maintains accurate tracking logs that organize budget, time, scope, and communication details.
• Timely identifies and proactively resolves issues, creating strategies for risk mitigation and contingency planning, and escalating disruptions and dependencies to departmental leadership, as necessary.
• Owns project management methodology, applying tools, service management frameworks, and technology strategy to all projects. Utilizes pertinent change control processes, developing project progress and compliance reports, and presents regular updates by participating in project team meetings.
• Aids the cultivation of an inclusive environment and a culture of trust and transparency, sharing information broadly, openly, and deliberately. Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with diverse groups of peers, team members, and leadership. Actively embodies ITS values and behaviors (e.g., accountability, ethics, best-in-class customer service).
• Collaborates with team members and management, implementing effective solutions to support the Enterprise Project Management Office’s vision. Maintains currency with technology, standards, and best practices. Supports process improvement efforts within the team and across the ITS organization.
• Performs other duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

The candidate for the position of Senior Project Manager must meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree; however, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
• Five (5) years' demonstrated project & program management experience or equivalent.
• Proficiency with portfolio project management (PPM) tools such as Smartsheet, Planview, and ServiceNow.
• Experience as a senior project or program manager in a technical environment, including those regarding IT infrastructure, enterprise architecture, security, cloud, SDLC, applications, DevOps, data governance, analytics, and/or other related fields.
• Extensive experience developing high-performing teams, providing mentorship and stewardship to encourage career development and growth.
• Exceptional organizational and data analysis skills, balancing work and necessary resources, and creating, preparing and presenting reports to senior management.
• Experience planning, scheduling, and managing budgets, able to prioritize between immediate needs and long-term objectives.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and other relevant Office applications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, able to understand and translate business value, manage diverse cross-functional teams, and work with and guide managers, technical, and non-technical staff.
• Exemplary interpersonal skills, developing positive working relationships and strong rapport with team members and various stakeholders.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate for the position of Senior Project Manager meets the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, computer science, computer information systems, information technology, or relevant field.
• Eight (8) years of IT and Information Security project management experience or equivalent.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL, and/or Organizational Change Management (OCM) certifications.
• Skilled and experienced in leading Information Security related initiatives; areas relating to enterprise security architecture, application security, security operations, information security governance and controls, identity and access management, third party risk management and vulnerability management.
• Work closely with the information security teams, technical and functional leads to drive project prioritization, planning and execution.
• Experience with remediation activities related to cybersecurity and security frameworks.

THE ITS TEAM

The ITS vision aligns strategy, business, and services; affirms ITS cultural values; empowers cross-functional teamwork; embraces world-class best practices; and promotes innovation, excellence, agility, and efficiency. To achieve this vision, ITS is committed to providing a modern technology infrastructure that is resilient and delivers the performance necessary to meet the demands of a growing customer base, training in the latest technologies for its highly productive and motivated workforce, outstanding customer experience, and technology services that are aligned with the university’s mission to provide exceptional learning opportunities for students. ITS is creating a workplace where employees can develop cutting-edge skills, take pride in the services they provide, and have access to the roles and career paths that align to their abilities and potential.

We are looking for top talent to join us on our journey.

ITS CULTURE

USC’s ITS organization represents a diverse and talented team, committed to supporting a collaborative culture and delivering secure and innovative IT services, core to the mission of USC. ITS values accountability, excellence, and commitment to exceptional customer experience. ITS strives for a supportive and inclusive culture that encourages employees to do their best work every day and where individuals are recognized and celebrated for their contributions.

ABOUT USC

USC is the leading private research university in Los Angeles—a global center for arts, technology, and international business. With more than 47,500 students, we are located primarily in Los Angeles but also in various US and global satellite locations. As the largest private employer in Los Angeles, responsible for $8 billion annually in economic activity in the region, we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills across a variety of academic and professional schools and administrative units. As a USC employee and member of the Trojan Family—the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make USC a great place to work—you will enjoy excellent benefits, including a variety of well-being programs designed to help individuals achieve work-life balance.

Come join the USC ITS team and work as a trusted partner in shaping an environment of innovation and excellence.

The annual base salary range for this position is $136,000 to $150,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 8 years Minimum Expertise: Eight years' demonstrated program management experience. Proficiency with portfolio project management (PPM) tools such as Smartsheet, MS Project, and ServiceNow. Experience as a senior project or program manager in a technical environment, including those regarding IT infrastructure, enterprise architecture, security, cloud, SDLC, applications, DevOps, data governance, analytics, and/or other related fields. Extensive experience developing high-performing teams, providing mentorship and stewardship to encourage career development and growth. Exceptional organizational and data analysis skills, balancing work and necessary resources, and creating, preparing and presenting reports to senior management. Experience planning, scheduling, and managing budgets, able to prioritize between immediate needs and long-term objectives. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and other relevant Office applications. Excellent written and oral communication skills, able to understand and translate business value, manage diverse cross-functional teams, and work with and guide managers, technical, and non-technical staff. Exemplary interpersonal skills, developing positive working relationships and strong rapport with team members and various stakeholders.