Principal IT Project Manager, External Services (Local / Hybrid)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Principal IT Program Manager for External Partnerships & Services is a strategic role responsible for developing and managing high-value relationships with external technology partners, service providers, and key business stakeholders to advance organizational objectives. This role leads complex, enterprise-wide programs to accelerate innovation, enhance service delivery, and support digital transformation initiatives. The role fosters strong executive-level relationships with technology vendors and industry partners to drive collaboration, innovation, and long-term organizational benefit. It also oversees the successful execution of large-scale, cross-functional initiatives while navigating complex stakeholder environments and resolving barriers that impact program success. Initiatives include the Tennessee Titans IT Partnership, Community Connect programs, and strategic collaborations with organizations such as Philips, Siemens, and Butterfly IQ.

Requirements

Healthcare IT experience supporting hospitals, health systems, physician organizations, or community healthcare partners.
Can work independently and with a team
Experience with: Epic Community Connect
Infrastructure and cybersecurity programs
AI and Digital transformation initiatives
IT service management (ITSM)
Vendor and contract management
Project Oversight (Advanced): Interacts with senior management to keep them informed and facilitates project completion through effective communication. Has in-depth project management experience with challenging projects. Sensitive to the needs of the participants while keeping the objectives of the organization in focus and maintaining project momentum. Recognizes incipient problems early and recommends appropriate solutions. Knows when to get involved and when to let a project evolve on its own.
Project Quality Assurance (Advanced): Successfully applies quality management techniques in challenging and complex projects. Uses techniques across multiple departments where business processes cross organizational lines. Demonstrates the ability to lead a group through quality management tasks resulting in measurable system, product and service improvements. Often takes a lead role in highly pressurized situations when there is a need to achieve superior results. Consistently delivers results in a creative and imaginative manner while setting a standard for others.
IT Portfolio Management (Advanced): Demonstrates the uppermost levels of expertise in applying IT Portfolio Management in challenging and complex situations. Responsible for planning major portfolio additions and determining the retirement of systems. Contributes to the development of IT Portfolio Management best practices for the organization.
Project Planning (Advanced): Demonstrates ability to forecast resource needs, identify and break work down into discrete and measurable tasks, set priorities, define dependencies, schedule activities, prepare acceptance criteria and organize work for large, complex projects requiring diverse functions and/or operations. Continuously monitors and follows up on buyins and commitments. Competently handles multiple projects simultaneously, balancing and scheduling tasks requiring dependencies and those which can be accomplished independently. Accurately estimates and plans complex projects and assignments. Maintains perspective between the overall picture and the details. Is proficient in the advanced features of project management tools.
5 years of relevant work experience
Bachelor's degree

Responsibilities

Lead large-scale, high-visibility IT programs and projects supporting External Services initiatives.
Develop and maintain multi-year roadmaps aligned with organizational strategy and customer objectives.
Manage interdependencies across multiple projects, operational teams, vendors, and customer organizations.
Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
Partner with senior leadership to establish priorities, milestones, and success measures.
Serve as a primary relationship manager for external healthcare organizations and strategic partners.
Facilitate executive-level discussions regarding project scope, timelines, risks, and outcomes.
Build trusted relationships with customer executives, operational leaders, and clinical stakeholders.
Ensure customer expectations are understood and proactively managed.
Promote a customer-centric culture focused on service excellence.
Establish governance structures supporting project oversight and decision-making.
Manage multiple project portfolios
Drive standardization of project management methodologies, tools, and reporting.
Implement best practices related to project management, customer onboarding, service delivery, and governance.
Lead change management efforts associated with technology implementations and operational transformations.
Develop communication and stakeholder engagement plans.
Facilitate adoption strategies to improve organizational readiness and sustain outcomes.
Support leadership teams through transition planning and execution.
Identify, escalate, and mitigate project risks and barriers.
Lead cross-functional resolution of complex issues affecting project success.
Facilitate lessons learned reviews and post-implementation assessments.
Develop contingency plans to minimize operational disruption.
Manage project financials, forecasts, and budget performance.
Support contract management and vendor oversight activities.
Optimize allocation of resources across competing priorities.
Provide executive reporting regarding project health, financial status, and resource utilization.
Drive continuous improvement efforts within External Services.
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs).
Lead process improvement initiatives that enhance scalability and efficiency.
Influence executives and leaders without direct authority.
Foster collaboration across technical, operational, and clinical teams.
Demonstrate high emotional intelligence and executive presence.
Build strong partnerships internally and externally.
Mentor project managers and emerging leaders.
Promote accountability, transparency, and customer-focused decision-making.
Balance strategic thinking with operational execution.