About this Project Manager IV, Transformation role at Western Governors University
If you’re passionate about building a better future for individuals, communities, and our country—and you’re committed to working hard to play your part in building that future—consider WGU as the next step in your career.
Driven by a mission to expand access to higher education through online, competency-based degree programs, WGU is also committed to being a great place to work for a diverse workforce of student-focused professionals. The university has pioneered a new way to learn in the 21st century, one that has received praise from academic, industry, government, and media leaders. Whatever your role, working for WGU gives you a part to play in helping students graduate, creating a better tomorrow for themselves and their families.
The salary range for this position takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.
At WGU, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their position, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range is:
Job Description
The Project Manager IV, Transformation is responsible for constructing and leading detailed project plans designed to implement important business process transformation initiatives and strategies. The Project Manager IV uses traditional project management tools combined with advanced transformation methodologies to successfully deliver large scale change initiatives which could potentially impact all the colleges, students, and employees at WGU. Business Process Transformation at WGU is not complete until the hearts and minds of the users and stakeholders are also transformed; therefore, the Project Manager IV is a leader in both the human factors of transformation as well as the technology/process elements. The Project Manager IV works at all levels of management and at all phases of transformation. Skills in business architecture mapping to synthesize business needs and technology needs into a target future state are just as important as the ability to deliver a complex project on schedule, at cost, and within service level agreements. A Project Manager IV coordinates constantly with the project leadership in our education technology team as well as the process owners in our colleges and academic practices. The position will be directly involved in the largest and most important transformation projects at WGU.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Responsible for planning, organizing, monitoring, and managing all phases of business transformation projects.
Responsible for establishing and maintaining professional working relations and communication with customers, project sponsors, service providers, and outside contacts.
Responsible for maintaining effective communication and coordination within project team.
Leadership of business architecture mapping and future state planning workshops with business process and EdTech (Information Technology) owners to design the roadmap for transformation.
Plans, coordinates, and delivers one or more business transformation projects/programs across WGU.
Secures commitments from different stakeholders to deliver the project to plan.
Defines priorities and ensures alignment across all other transformation projects where interdependencies apply.
Builds a project/program team from different capabilities and functional areas.
Delivers financial and quality commitments according to the strategic plan.
Ensures smooth deployment of process and EdTech (Information Technology) solutions in the colleges and practices across the university.
Reports project/program status & risk regularly to the stakeholders, users, and leadership team.
Key deliverables of each business transformation project include: standardized & optimized business processes, training materials and documentation, role descriptions, impact assessments for implementation, transformation communication plan and materials, EdTech solutions, data migration strategies, quality assurance plans, risk management plans, and performance metric/dashboard tracking.
Collaborates with other professionals both inside and outside of the university to promote a positive, student-obsessed atmosphere.
Consistently exhibits WGU’s Leadership Principles.
Responds with urgency to organization needs and exhibits excellent judgment to deliver results.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skill and Abilities:
Excellent leadership and project management skills.
Works well in a team environment.
Ability to influence change and motivate others.
Strong oral and written communications abilities.
Solid technical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to plan and meet schedules.
Ability to use all related computer equipment and applications
Understanding of Business Process Architecture Mapping.
Competencies:
Organizational Impact:
Responsible for implementing initiatives and projects established by university or department leadership; establishes operational plans for department, function, or office with short-term impact on results.
May deliver input into new processes, standards, or plans that impact overall university or department results.
Problem Solving & Decision Making:
Leverages a systems-thinking approach for improving existing processes and systems within the department using significant conceptualizing, reasoning, and interpretation.
Problems and issues faced are numerous, difficult, and require detailed information gathering and analysis. Typically affect multiple areas or specialties. Problems and issues span a wide range of challenging and unique situations.
Communication & Influence:
Collaborates cross-functionally with parties within and outside of the department and may occasionally communicate with external parties.
May influence others to accept the job area’s views, practices, concepts, and approaches and conduct briefings with leaders within the University or department.
Leadership & Talent Management
Responsible for providing guidance, coaching, and training to other employees in the department, Function, or Office.
Provides direction to project team members, including feedback on performance.
Demonstrates the WGU leadership principles in all aspects of service to students, employees, and partners of WGU.
Job Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
A Bachelor Degree in Engineering, Quality, Computer Science/Software/Information Management, Business Management, or other related degree. Education must be from an accredited institution. Education is verified.
Minimum 8 years’ professional experience in a role that required extensive Project/Change Management skills in a large and distributed organization (5000+ employees).
Excellent understanding of Change Management theory/techniques, and implementation into a project plan.
Excellent understanding and skills in the change management process.
Minimum of 8 years of progressive project management & business transformation experience.
Project Management qualification (PMP) or equivalent.
Professional experience in strategic planning, risk management.
Proficiency in project management software tools.
Preferred Qualifications:
May have broad knowledge of project management.
Black Belt or Master Black Best certification
Lean Silver or Gold certification
Experience working with SalesForce software
Physical Requirements:
Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
Disclaimer: This Job Description has been designed to indicate the general nature, essential duties, and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this classification. It does not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications that are required of the employee to do this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This Job Description does not constitute a contract of employment and the University may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.
Position & Application Details
Full-Time Regular Positions (classified as regular and working 40 standard weekly hours): This is a full-time, regular position (classified for 40 standard weekly hours) that is eligible for bonuses; medical, dental, vision, telehealth and mental healthcare; health savings account and flexible spending account; basic and voluntary life insurance; disability coverage; accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity supplemental coverages; legal and identity theft coverage; retirement savings plan; wellbeing program; discounted WGU tuition; and flexible paid time off for rest and relaxation with no need for accrual, flexible paid sick time with no need for accrual, 11 paid holidays, and other paid leaves, including up to 12 weeks of parental leave.How to Apply: If interested, an application will need to be submitted online. Internal WGU employees will need to apply through the internal job board in Workday.
Additional Information
Disclaimer: The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive.
Accommodations: Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should contact our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].
Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any protected characteristic as required by law.
