Senior Project Manager, Payroll & WFM Transformation (12 Month Contract)

Senior Project Managers have accountability and authority for achieving projects' objectives. They direct a multi-disciplinary team aiming to complete projects. This position will be in the HR Operations discipline focused on the implementation of a multi-country HR transformation program. This role requires someone comfortable working in the day-to-day delivery space - actively coordinating across teams, tracking progress, raising issues, and driving tasks to completion.

What you will do:

• Lead the team in the development of the project charter and management plan.  Direct, manage, monitor, and control project.   Evaluate tradeoffs within project.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders to develop, manage and own project scope.  Create detailed Work Breakdown Structure.
• Develop and manage the detailed project Gantt chart.  Analyze critical path, major workstreams, and intersecting milestones. Own the project schedule.
• Collaborate with cross-functional managers to define project budget. Monitor and maintain costs within budget.
• Partner with project team to create project Quality Plans using 2-3 quality planning tools and techniques. Monitor and maintain plans.
• Develop a risk management plan for the project. Identify, analyze, and understand project risks; develop and monitor a risk response plan.
• Develop a Procurement Management Plan and collaborate on the selection of procurement partners.
• Estimate, acquire and assign cross functional project resources.   Define the role, responsibility, and deliverables for each team member.  Provide direct feedback to functional manager on performance reviews.  
• Develop a Stakeholder management plan for the project, based on the identification, analysis and understanding of Stakeholder expectations.
• Develop and Execute the communications management plan for project team and the needs of key stakeholders.
• Act as a wave leader across 2-3 countries.
• Partner with the Senior Program Manager and IT Program Manager to ensure country-level milestones, risks, and interdependencies are tracked and managed effectively.
• Maintain and update core program artifacts – RAID logs, status reports, project plans, action trackers, etc.
• Coordinate and schedule meetings, workshops, and onsite sessions (including travel logistics and stakeholder follow-ups).
• Drive workstream-level execution by ensuring accountability across internal teams and vendor partners.
• Identify issues early, raise risks promptly, and support resolution planning with minimal escalation required.
• Support country go-lives and transition activities, including readiness tracking and handover planning.

Knowledge and Capabilities:

• Builds successful working relationships with internal and external personnel in various departments. Understands quality system(s).
• High in emotional intelligence and stays calm under pressure. Adept in conflict resolution.
• Drives results in support of the business, even in the face of demanding timelines. Steps up to take on additional responsibility where appropriate.
• Adept at team management selects the right people to the right tasks all while maintain team morale and recognizing contributions. 
• Can influence without direct authority in a way that makes others want to be on their team.
• Incorporates end-user feedback to refine scope through the project lifecycle and can communicate changes, updates and decisions to key stakeholders.
• Can understand and communicate how goals fit into broader organizational goals and prioritize tasks/schedule accordingly.
• Keeps the customer at the heart of what we do.
• Exercises good judgment and can weigh benefits and risk to make solid decisions despite ambiguity.
• Growth mindset – ability to learn quickly and adapt to a changing environment.
• Strong coordination and execution skills – able to manage complexity, ambiguity, and shifting priorities.
• Experienced in managing multiple stakeholders and workstreams in a matrixed environment.
• Comfortable with program operations – structured updates, documentation, and tracking.
• Confident communicator who can drive action and maintain alignment across dispersed teams.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Smartsheet, MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Experience working with third-party vendors is a plus.

What you will need (must have):

A degree in a relevant field and 6+ years of work experience.

What you will need (strongly desired):

Preferred Skills / Engineering tools:

• PMP or equivalent preferred.
• Experience in project managing complex HR Systems transformations preferred.