IT Project Manager

Associated Universities • SOCORRO, NM

6d

About The Position

The IT Project Manager plans, coordinates, and delivers technology projects that support organizational goals and business objectives. The role manages projects from initiation through completion, ensuring deliverables are on time, within scope and budget, and meet quality standards. The Project Manager works with IT teams, observatory stakeholders, vendors, and leadership to define requirements, manage resources, address risks, communicate progress, and implement technology solutions successfully.

The position is based at an NRAO site in Charlottesville, Virginia; Green Bank, West Virginia; or Socorro, New Mexico. Domestic travel is required; the description gives both an initial estimate of up to 20% and a work-environment estimate of up to 10%. Work is typically in an office or laboratory. Telework up to approximately one day per week may be considered, and a remote position may be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a research and development organization managed and operated by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. It operates radio telescope facilities for the international scientific community.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Three or more years managing or coordinating IT projects, technology implementations, or related initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience developing project plans, schedules, budgets, status reports, and project documentation.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and managing multiple project activities or priorities simultaneously.
• Working knowledge of project management methodologies, including Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid delivery models.
• Experience identifying and managing project risks, issues, dependencies, scope changes, and resource constraints.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to nontechnical stakeholders.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Project, Microsoft Excel, Jira, and Confluence.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team, exercise sound judgment, and deliver results in a deadline-driven environment.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; the Observatory cannot presently sponsor H-1B visas for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing enterprise IT initiatives such as cloud migrations, application implementations, infrastructure modernization, cybersecurity projects, data integrations, or enterprise system deployments.
• Experience managing third-party vendors, consultants, service providers, and technology contracts.
• Familiarity with IT service management (ITSM), ITIL practices, change management, and configuration management.
• Experience preparing reports, dashboards, project forecasts, and portfolio updates.
• Experience working in regulated environments or organizations with formal IT governance and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead IT projects from initiation through closure, defining scope, objectives, deliverables, schedules, budgets, and resource requirements.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders, IT teams, vendors, and leadership to align goals, manage expectations, and facilitate timely decisions.
• Track milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and project performance; provide status updates and take corrective action as needed.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues; manage scope changes and escalate critical concerns.
• Monitor budgets, forecasts, resource allocations, and vendor performance.
• Coordinate technology implementations, system upgrades, integrations, testing, deployments, and change management while ensuring compliance with IT governance and security requirements.
• Maintain project plans, status reports, risk and issue logs, meeting records, and other required documentation.
• Apply appropriate project management methodologies, including Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches.

Benefits

• Paid time off, including 13 holidays and annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days.
• Medical, dental, and vision plans effective on the first day of employment, subject to eligibility requirements.
• AUI retirement benefit equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant’s base pay, with no required employee contribution.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level