Project Manager IT

Academic Qualification(s):

Minimum NQF Level 6: Graduate Degree in Informatics, Computer Science and or Information systems

EXPERIENCE:

Experience Required:
10 + years’ experience in increasingly responsible experience, including experience successfully managing various projects.

Key Performance Indicators:

Lead planning and/or implementation of IT projects. May participate in the design and/or testing phases.
Facilitate the definition of project missions, goals, tasks, and resource requirements; resolve or assist in the resolution of conflicts within and between projects or functional areas; develop methods to monitor project or area progress; and provide corrective supervision if necessary.
Responsibility for assembling the project staff; for their technical or functional development, performance, and/or termination during the project or projects.
Manage project budget and resource allocation.
Facilitate the definition of service levels and customer requirements. Interact regularly with existing or potential clients to determine their needs and to develop plans for improving delivery.
Work cross-functionally to solve problems and implement changes.
Follow a defined, agreed upon project management methodology.
Present oral and written reports defining plans, problems, and resolutions to appropriate levels of management.
Continuously improve project management toolkits and methodologies used within IS&T. Provide expertise and consulting to project managers in the process of project management and in the softer skills of team dynamics, team building and group motivation.
Participate in outside professional activities to maintain knowledge on developments in the field.
Lead the development and implementation of a broad, coordinated set of plans and programs to meet the goals and priorities of the department.
Cultivate contacts with vendor requirement planners or developers — to obtain information about future vendor developments in the functional area and to try to influence those developments in ways favourable to MIT
Recognize problems or situations that are new or without clear precedent. Evaluate alternatives and find solutions using a systematic, multi-step approach.
Develop improvements and innovations to enhance performance.
ldentify, develop, and initiate innovations and solutions where precedents and procedures may not exist.
Work cross-functionally to solve problems and implement changes.
Analyze decisions and actions for their support of the larger area's strategic direction. Works with senior management to resolve more complex problems.
Pro-actively engage present and future stakeholders in design, priority setting, and implementation.
Build coalitions among the various stakeholders; negotiates authority to move the project forward.
Create a sense of belonging and ownership among team members; assembles a team with the right mix of skills; coaches and motivates team members; delegates responsibility; promotes mutual support and interaction.
Consult and provide advice, facilitate discussions and resolves conflict; establishes trust; builds and uses cross- functional relationships to accomplish work objectives.
Participates in cross-functional groups to solve problems across projects.
Provides resources and organizational structure to promote collaborative initiatives.
Utilize a network of relationships to collect and disseminate information, build support, and secure buy-in for desired objectives
Convey goals and objectives clearly and in a compelling manner; listen effectively and clarify information as needed; interpret verbal and non-verbal messages that others communicate; produce clear status reports; communicate tactfully and candidly.
Ensure that project status, issues and successes are communicated to project team, stakeholders, sponsors, steering committee and all levels of management and documented appropriately.
Motivate project team members to action. Identify common themes, makes inferences and draws conclusions.
Ensure open communication on the project team.
Address delicate situations and handles conflicts in such a way as to maximize opportunity and minimize exposure to risk.
Defuse emotional charged situations and use them to constructively build greater shared commitment to end goals.
Demonstrates superior inter-personal skills, conflict resolution, and negotiating skills.
Promote knowledge of team’s work to gain support for ongoing and future initiatives.
Understands how and when to make a choice; how and when to escalate issues to higher levels.
Analyse the risks and future impact of decisions.
Make decisions and takes independent action on matters directly affecting strategic goals.
Guide staff and in learning and applying useful decision making approaches.
Participate in strategy development
Provide leadership, vision and direction setting for both project team and business partners.
Uses knowledge of mission and core strategy as a basis to develop specific objectives and goals. Viewed as an expert, highly sought after resource, a key advisor to business partners.
Establish contacts, relationships and a network both inside and outside MIT.
Brings this array of resources to bear on improving project effectiveness.
Promote a diverse work environment through education, training, and professional development opportunities within the department.
Create an environment that encourages innovation and risk taking.
Exerts strong influencing skills to impact choices on immediate and long-term directions.
Understand and effectively use established policies and procedures.
Prioritize own and team’s work. Anticipate consequences of actions, potential problems, or opportunities for change.
Set and meet realistic deadlines.
Forecast changes and communicate current and projected issues.
Ensure a high level of fiscal control and accountability for project budget.
Create within the team a shared focus on the importance of achieving results.
Create work standards for project; establish and define roles and responsibilities, specific outcomes, and clear measures for quality and success of the team.
Follow through with fair and consistent consequences for both achieving and not achieving results.
Provide performance feedback and assist employees with plans for development and training.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:
Excellent project management skills
Knowledge of change management methodology and principles
Ability to lead a team
Financial management of projects including benefits tracking
Deciding and Taking Action
Providing Leadership and Supervision
Team-Working and Supporting
Communicating and Presenting
Writing and Reporting
Applying Expertise and Technology
Problem Solving
Forming Concepts and Strategies