The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.
About The Division:
The Division of Information Technology (IT) supports the university’s mission by enabling the effective, efficient, and strategic use of technology in building an empowered and informed university and by cultivating a knowledgeable and engaged IT staff. We do this with a vision to be a model for the strategic and effective use of information technology, partnering with the university community to positively impact lives.
WCU IT provides an opportunity for up to 40% remote work and extensive professional development. This position includes a robust benefits package. We support a culture of respect and belongingness for all employees. This makes us a better team, drives innovation, and delivers better business results.
Support of existing technologies and the planning, development, deployment, and integration of new technologies is provided through the departments of Academic Engagement and IT Governance; Client Support Services: Networking and Communications; Project Management Office (PMO); IT Administration Office; Chief Technologist Office; IT Security Office; and Applications and Systems.
Our guiding principles are:
A. We embrace the important responsibility and role IT has in the university’s core values of Excellence, Scholarship, and Teaching and Learning.
B. We stand dedicated to critical system stability by being firmly rooted in a culture of proactiveness, process improvement, and prevention of issues and recurring problems.
C. We commit ourselves to providing best in class service, investing in our people, and encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration with a commitment towards achieving shared goals.
D. We focus on continuous improvement, seeking opportunities to challenge ourselves, to be receptive to new ideas and solutions and to be good stewards of resources.
E. We learn and grow to systemically address diversity, equal opportunity, and belonging as areas of continual improvement in process and practice.
F. We are open and honest with our university partners, keeping them up to date on our work.
G. We manage risk effectively, communicate issues appropriately, protect user data and privacy, assess data security risks, and maintain honest accounting of all information.
In addition, IT strives to serve with transparency, integrity, innovation, excellence, and accountability, and together we celebrate the diversity and inclusion of ideas and people.
About The Position:
The primary duties of this position are to lead teams, manage complex projects containing an IT component, and assist in the development of processes, forms, templates, etc., as necessary to implement and operate a Project Management Office (PMO). This position will be involved in developing project management procedures, analyzing processes, and ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of project deliverables, following clients’ specifications and requirements to meet their highest satisfaction. This position will often operate independently in situations that can reflect upon the reputation of the IT department. Tact, diplomacy, and an understanding of political factors and influences are necessary for success. Utilize best practices to identify all stakeholders associated with a project, understand their information needs and wants, and formulate stakeholder management and communications plans to keep them informed using multiple communications channels and techniques. Regularly interact with stakeholders to answer their questions and ensure their needs are being met. Advise them on process re-engineering or technology changes that are needed or recommended to have the project succeed. Active listening and other soft skills are a must.
Methodically and thoroughly plan projects assigned using inputs provided by sponsor, project team and other key stakeholders. Build project plans at appropriate level of detail as determined by the needs of the project. Manage and monitor plan and related master schedule. Document project plans and project documents using appropriate means including TeamDynamixHE, Microsoft Project and Microsoft SharePoint.
Utilize the WCU IT Project Management Methodology, best practices from the Project Management Institute (PMI), and other recognized authorities to develop fully integrated project plans that are realistic and implementable. Acquire project staff and develop them in keeping with the project’s needs. Execute, monitor, and control projects to meet agreed-upon requirements and objectives. Perform project closing activities to close out all processes and verify delivery of all requirements.
Perform post-mortem or lessons-learned audits to gather information from key stakeholders and the project team. Index and archive them for future use by others. Be proficient in Waterfall and Agile techniques and can apply them appropriately based upon the needs and characteristics of the project.
The project manager is a generalist and is not expected to be a technical expert in all fields. However, sufficient technical knowledge is necessary to understand what stakeholders and the project team are recommending/conveying. Must be able to discern when information does not appear to be accurate or complete and keep asking questions until facts become evident.
A project manager will often be working in areas outside their expertise or comfort zone.
they may not know all the answers but must be able to get the project team consisting of technical experts to work together to brainstorm new approaches, consider different alternatives and points of view and arrive at the best solutions. Support activities of a project manager require a strong customer-service ethic. Support activities are not always technical in nature but the project manager must read between the lines to understand what is really being asked or requested even if the words say something else. Soft skills are required.