Manager, Project Management - Community Engagement

QTS Data Centers•Overland Park, KS

About The Position

The Manager, Project Management – Community Engagement leads planning and execution of complex, cross-functional programs that advance QTS’s community engagement strategy across multiple markets. The role manages long-term, high-impact programs made up of interdependent projects and aligns them with business objectives while maintaining operational continuity during change. Reporting to the VP of Community Engagement, the Manager partners with Government Relations & External Affairs and teams across Utility, Marketing, Sustainability, Development, and Pre-Development. The position establishes scalable frameworks, governance, and metrics to guide community engagement across the places where QTS builds and operates. It is accountable for budgets, resources, risk mitigation, and delivery quality, and requires strong program and change management, organizational influence, sound judgment, and comfort with ambiguity. The role also leads and develops Project Managers, oversees vendors and cross-functional partners, reports on program performance and risks to senior leadership, and represents QTS Community Engagement publicly. It enables scalable engagement activities such as events, volunteerism, tours, workforce development, and communications, and supports on-site engagement activities as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, operations, or a related field.
7–10 years of progressive experience in program/project management, operations, or process improvement.
At least 5 years leading complex, cross-functional projects or programs in a matrixed environment.
At least 2 years of people leadership, with demonstrated success delivering results through others.
Proven experience managing multi-project programs involving significant business change.
Ability to set priorities, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality outcomes across competing demands.
Experience developing and managing program budgets, including forecasting and financial discipline.
Strong stakeholder engagement and influence skills, including partnership with senior leaders in a matrixed environment.
Ability to lead integrated teams across internal, external, business, and technology partners, including oversight of delegated work.
Experience managing vendors and contracts, including performance and service-level accountability.
Advanced analytical, strategic, and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills, including the ability to explain complex topics to diverse audiences and executives.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, adapt to changing priorities, and create structure and clarity.
Strong time management and execution discipline, delivering results independently and through teams.
Self-motivation, continuous learning, and ability to quickly expand technical and interpersonal capabilities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business, finance, operations, or a related field.
Experience developing business cases, including cost/benefit analysis, NPV, and current/future-state assessments.
Prior experience leading programs across multiple geographies or business cycles.
Knowledge of industry best practices in community engagement, infrastructure development, or regulated environments.
PMP, Six Sigma, or equivalent project/program management certification.
Experience driving organizational change adoption at scale.

Responsibilities

Design and implement an enterprise community engagement framework defining when, how, and why QTS engages communities and partners across markets.
Lead complex cross-functional programs spanning multiple projects, business cycles, and geographies.
Establish governance, standards, and operating rhythms to support consistent, high-quality, scalable delivery.
Serve as the single point of accountability for assigned programs and ensure on-time, on-budget, high-quality delivery.
Lead program conversion and business change while maintaining operational continuity.
Streamline workflows, optimize resource allocation, and embed program management best practices.
Partner across functions to implement tools and address complex, ambiguous challenges requiring senior judgment.
Partner with executive sponsors and senior leaders to define program goals, scope, timelines, and funding.
Collaborate with Community Engagement leadership and partners across Utility, Marketing, Sustainability, Development, and Pre-Development.
Influence across organizational levels to secure alignment, resources, and adoption.
Represent QTS Community Engagement publicly and articulate its mission, values, and long-term community commitments.
Lead, develop, and performance-manage a team of Project Managers delivering multi-project programs.
Oversee cross-functional teams, vendors, and partners to ensure commitments are met on time and on budget.
Manage vendor relationships, contracts, and performance to ensure quality and cost control.
Define success metrics and reporting frameworks to track adoption, effectiveness, and impact.
Provide regular, actionable updates to senior leadership.
Identify, monitor, and mitigate program and project risks.
Enable a scalable playbook of engagement activities, including events, volunteerism, tours, workforce development, and communications.
Analyze community and partner feedback to evolve strategies and improve outcomes.
Support on-site engagement activities as needed and perform other related duties.
Perform other duties as assigned.