IT Project Manager - Finance (CEMI)

Working Title: IT Project Manager - Finance (CEMI) [Remote] [2 Year Term]

No Visa Sponsorship is available for this position.

This is a 2 year term appointment which may be ended or extended based on organizational needs, funding availability, and performance.

About the Cornell Experience Modernization Initiative

What will you do:

The CEMI Finance Team Project Manager is responsible for leading the Finance functional team to delivering critical process design and ERP functionality that will support the financial administration of Cornell University and all of its colleges, business units, and departments. This role will support a diverse group of stakeholders across central administration and university leadership. It will be responsible to balance technology requirements with institutional functions, policies, governance structures, and campus-wide priorities.

The CEMI Finance Team Project Manager oversees the full project lifecycle, including planning, requirements gathering, resource coordination, scheduling, risk management, communication, and implementation. They ensure project tasks are completed on time, within scope, and within budget while maintaining a strong focus on service excellence and end-user experience. The Project Manager must be skilled in facilitating consensus, navigating complexity, and working with cross-functional teams in a decentralized IT structures, shared services, and collaborative governance.

Key strengths for this role include the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and adapt to evolving institutional needs. The role requires a blend of technical understanding, project management expertise, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to support mission-driven initiatives that advance teaching, learning, research, and operational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Planning & Initiation: Define project scope, objectives, requirements, deliverables, and success criteria; develop detailed project plans and schedules.
• Execution & Delivery: Coordinate cross-functional technical and operational teams, monitor progress, and ensure timely delivery of project activities.
• Stakeholder Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for project stakeholders; facilitate communication, manage expectations, and support effective decision-making.
• Scope, Schedule & Budget Control: Manage project scope, track milestones, maintain schedules, and monitor budgets; evaluate and document change requests.
• Risk & Issue Management: Identify risks early, develop mitigation strategies, resolve project issues, and escalate concerns as needed.
• Communication & Reporting: Prepare and deliver project updates, status reports, dashboards, and documentation for diverse technical and non-technical audiences.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure project deliverables meet functional, technical, accessibility, security, and policy requirements.
• Vendor & Resource Coordination: Support vendor management, procurement activities, and internal resource allocation as appropriate.
• Project Closeout: Facilitate project wrap-up activities, including documentation, lessons learned, and transition to operational support teams.
• Continuous Improvement of Project Management Practices: provide feedback on processes, identify opportunities for enhancement, and collaborate with peers to strengthen standard methodologies across the organization.

This is a 2 year term appointment which may be ended or extended based on organizational needs, funding availability, and performance.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, business, project management, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3-5 years of project management experience, preferably within IT or technical environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent projects of varying size, complexity, and scope.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid).
• Experience coordinating cross-functional technical teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with sound judgment and attention to detail.
• Experience with requirements gathering, scope definition, scheduling, resource coordination, and risk management.
• Demonstrated skills in communication, negotiation, facilitation, and consensus-building.
• Proven ability to build relationships, facilitate collaboration, manage stakeholder expectations, and lead teams without formal authority.
• Ability to work effectively in decentralized, matrixed, or higher-education environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage priorities, and adapt to shifting organizational needs.
• Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, MS Project, Smartsheet, Trello, Confluence, SharePoint, Teams).
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), PMI-ACP, or similar certification.
• Experience managing IT projects in a higher-education environment.
• Experience with custom software development, web projects, or systems integrations.
• Knowledge of change management methodologies (e.g., Prosci/ADKAR).
• Experience working with vendors, contracts, and RFP processes.
• Understanding of accessibility, data privacy, and security standards applicable to higher education.

Application Information:

• A resume is required for further consideration for this position. A cover letter expressing alignment with Cornell's mission and this role is strongly encouraged. When applying through our system, please remember to attach your application materials (Cover Letter and Resume) in PDF format.
• No Visa Sponsorship of any kind is available for this position.
• No Relocation assistance will be provided for this position.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

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EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.