Senior Project Manager – Accela & Municipal Permitting Systems

KAI Partners, Inc.•Santa Clara, CA

2d•$148,000 - $178,000•Onsite

About The Position

KAI Partners, Inc. (KAIP) is currently seeking a Senior Project Manager – Municipal Planning & Technology Systems, who serves as both a project delivery leader and a strategic technology manager, with primary accountability for Accela-based municipal permitting and development systems, supporting city and county initiatives related to planning, housing, permitting modernization, and digital service delivery. This role leads complex projects while also acting as a technology and systems lead, driving innovation across development services through implementation and optimization of the Accela Civic Platform, digital tools, and customer-facing solutions.

Requirements

Strong project and program management expertise in public sector environments
Hands-on experience delivering, managing, or optimizing the Accela Civic Platform in municipal environments
Deep knowledge of municipal planning, permitting, and development workflows as implemented within Accela
Experience with digital transformation, system implementation, and process automation
Familiarity with:
UX / user-centered design
Content strategy / web modernization
Data dashboards and reporting tools
Ability to translate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
Strong stakeholder engagement across government, IT, and vendors
Experience with policy development or technology governance
Analytical mindset with focus on operational efficiency and service delivery improvement
Bachelor’s degree (Required).
Current PMP Certification (Required).
7+ years of experience applying project management principles, methods, techniques, and tools.
3+ years of Senior Project Management experience leading large, complex projects.
3+ years of experience providing PMO or project leadership support within a Government Agency (City or County).
3+ years of direct experience delivering, managing, or leading Accela Civic Platform implementations, upgrades, or major enhancements for City or County agencies (Required)
Experience managing Accela or similar enterprise permitting platforms, including vendor coordination and production support
Applicants must have direct, hands on experience leading or managing Accela Civic Platform implementations or major system enhancements for municipal clients. Candidates without prior Accela delivery experience will not be considered for this role.

Nice To Haves

Background in digital services, civic tech, or permitting modernization
Experience with process improvement, UX, or service design (preferred)

Responsibilities

Serve as product owner or senior functional lead for the Accela Civic Platform, including configuration, enhancements, and ongoing optimization.
Lead Accela system roadmaps, upgrades, and integrations; coordinate closely with City IT, Accela vendors, and implementation partners.
Oversee Accela based digital permitting tools, online portals, and customer self-service solutions.
Conduct process mapping and workflow redesign specifically aligned to Accela configurations, workflows, and business rules for permitting and development review processes.
Lead innovation efforts as they relate to Accela optimization, permitting modernization, and civic technology enablement, including selective evaluation of emerging technologies (e.g., AI, civic tech tools).
Manage full project lifecycle, including planning, budgeting, execution, and reporting.
Ensure delivery aligns with public sector governance, compliance, and performance standards.
Lead system roadmap planning, enhancements, and coordination with IT and vendors.
Oversee implementation of digital permitting tools, online portals, and customer self-service solutions.
Drive adoption of low-code/no-code solutions to improve operational efficiency.
Lead initiatives to improve customer-facing services, including permitting portals, knowledge bases, and digital workflows.
Support website modernization, accessibility, and content strategy in coordination with communications and IT teams.
Apply user-centered design (UX) principles to improve permitting and development experiences.
Develop dashboards, reporting tools, and performance metrics.
Act as primary liaison between Community Development, IT, Communications, and external vendors.
Coordinate with city departments, agencies, and leadership to align priorities.
Facilitate stakeholder workshops and cross-functional collaboration.
Oversee or mentor project teams, analysts, or technical staff.
Support onboarding and development of technology-focused roles.
Manage consultants, vendors, or contract resources as needed.
Perform other related duties, as assigned.