Sr. IT Project Manager at Mathematica

Job description

About Mathematica: Mathematica applies expertise at the intersection of data, methods, policy, and practice to improve well-being around the world. We collaborate closely with public- and private-sector partners to translate big questions into deep insights that improve programs, refine strategies, and enhance understanding using data science and analytics. Our work yields actionable information to guide decisions in wide-ranging policy areas, from health, education, early childhood, and family support to nutrition, employment, disability, and international development. Mathematica offers our employees competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package, as well as the advantages of being 100 percent employee owned. As an employee stock owner, you will experience financial benefits of ESOP holdings that have increased in tandem with the company’s growth and financial strength. You will also be part of an independent, employee-owned firm that is able to define and further our mission, enhance our quality and accountability, and steadily grow our financial strength. Read more about our benefits here: Benefits at a Glance . Primary Duties and Responsibilities: Mathematica is seeking an experienced Sr. IT Project Manager (ITPM) to lead the successful delivery of technology projects that create meaningful value for our clients and end users. ITPMs are project and delivery leaders responsible for overseeing the work of cross-functional teams and connecting client needs, project goals, and technical delivery. They translate priorities into actionable plans, guide teams through the software development lifecycle, and ensure technology solutions address clients’ most pressing policy, program, and business challenges. ITPMs serve in project leadership roles, with overall accountability for project scope, schedule, budget, risks, dependencies, and deliverables while building strong client relationships and maintaining alignment on priorities and outcomes. As Agile experts and coaches, they lead team adoption and strengthening of Agile practices, facilitate effective planning and delivery, coach team members and project leaders, and adapt Agile approaches to the needs of each project and client. They also establish consistent, scalable delivery practices that improve how teams plan, collaborate, make decisions, manage work, and deliver value. At Mathematica, successful ITPM leaders combine strong project and people oversight with a high degree of technical literacy, including advanced knowledge of Agile methodologies, enterprise systems, software development, and the software development lifecycle. They are skilled communicators who can effectively engage clients, technical teams, researchers, and other stakeholders with varying levels of technical knowledge. They facilitate decision-making, build consensus, remove barriers to progress, and create transparency around project health, priorities, risks, and delivery. Senior ITPMs also mentor early and mid-career project managers and team members, identifying and supporting stretch opportunities for their teams. Our ideal candidate is collaborative, curious, and solutions-oriented, with strong problem-solving skills and a drive to understand how things work and how to improve processes. They are comfortable navigating ambiguity, working with varied stakeholders, asking thoughtful questions, learning quickly, and leading teams to turn complex challenges into practical solutions. Solutions may include web applications, dashboards and reporting tools, data collection and management platforms, payment model tools, and other custom technology solutions. Responsibilites: • Lead and/or advise on the end-to-end delivery of complex technology projects, ensuring project teams remain focused on client needs, user outcomes, project objectives, and delivery of meaningful value. • Lead cross-functional teams throughout the software development lifecycle, coordinating work across engineering, architecture, UX, QA, DevOps, data, product, research, and other disciplines. • Serve as an Agile expert and coach, helping teams and project leaders apply Agile principles effectively, strengthen team practices, continuously improve delivery, and tailor approaches to the needs of individual projects and clients. • Apply project and program management best practices to ensure team effectively manages scope, schedule, budget, resources, risks, dependencies, quality, and deliverables. • Build and manage strong client relationships, working with clients and stakeholders to understand their goals and challenges, establish priorities, gather and refine requirements, facilitate continuous feedback, and translate needs into actionable work for technical teams. • Facilitate effective planning, prioritization, decision-making, and collaboration across project teams and stakeholders, removing barriers and helping teams maintain momentum toward project and client outcomes. • Proactively identify, communicate, and manage project risks, issues, and dependencies; develop mitigation strategies and present clear options and recommended courses of action to project and client leadership. Understand escalation pathways for risk monitoring and mitigation. • Oversee relationships with subcontractors, software vendors, and external development partners, including onshore, nearshore, and offshore teams, and hold partners accountable for quality, deliverables, budgets, and timelines. • Manage communications and coordination among technical project staff, clients, internal stakeholders, external consultants, subcontractors, and software vendors. • Partner with project and business leaders to identify opportunities for innovation, process improvement, technology modernization, and strategic investment that create additional value for clients. • Oversee vendor and partner contracting, ensuring collaboration with corporate functions such as Legal, Finance, Procurement, and Contracts occurs as needed. • Mentor and support project staff, helping strengthen project management, Agile delivery, collaboration, and technical delivery capabilities across teams. • Additional duties may be assigned as needed. Required Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public administration, business, information technology, or a related field, or commensurate experience in technology delivery, project/program management, operations, or related management roles; Master’s degree preferred. • Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional technical teams and delivering complex technology projects through the full software development lifecycle (SDLC), from planning and requirements through development, testing, release, and ongoing enhancement. • Advanced knowledge of Agile methodologies and experience serving as an Agile leader, coach, Scrum Master, technical project manager, or similar delivery role. Ability to coach teams and project leaders in Agile principles and adapt practices to meet the needs of different teams, projects, and clients. • Strong experience managing large-scale survey data collection work with tools similar to Salesforce, Qualtrics, and Forsta. • Excellent project and program management skills, including demonstrated ability to manage scope, schedules, budgets, risks, dependencies, resources, and quality on complex, multimillion-dollar projects or contracts. • Experience mentoring early and mid-career staff, including training them on scrum Agile principles and project operations. • Strong client relationship and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to understand client priorities, facilitate decision-making, build consensus, manage expectations, and connect technical delivery to client and business outcomes. • High degree of technical literacy and demonstrated ability to work effectively with software engineers, architects, UX professionals, QA teams, DevOps teams, data professionals, product owners, and other technical and non-technical stakeholders. • Excellent leadership and team management skills, including the ability to facilitate cross-functional collaboration, mentor staff, resolve barriers to progress, and lead teams through ambiguity and change. • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines while maintaining visibility into overall project health. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to clients and audiences with varying levels of technical expertise. • Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated curiosity and the ability to quickly understand complex problems, ask thoughtful questions, evaluate options, and develop practical solutions when guidance is limited or evolving. • Demonstrated experience using Jira or comparable project and Agile delivery tools to manage backlogs, workflows, project health, risks, dependencies, and team delivery. • Project management and/or Agile certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), or comparable credentials are preferred. To apply, please submit a cover letter and your resume. This position offers an anticipated base salary of $115,000-$150,000. This position may be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on company and individual performance. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class. At Mathematica, we understand the importance of building relationships with colleagues. If you’re not located near one of our offices but would like opportunities to meet up with co-workers, we offer coworking spaces where available. Ask your Talent Acquisition partner for more information about this opportunity and whether it’s an option in your area. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon passing a background check. Various federal agencies with whom we contract require that staff successfully undergo security clearance as a condition of working on the project. If you are assigned to such a project, you will be required to obtain the requisite security clearance. Additionally, if you participate in or complete the application process and are denied, Mathematica may choose to terminate your employment. We take pride in our employees and in their commitment to excellence. We encourage staff to collaborate in developing creative solutions to difficult problems and to share the responsibility and enjoyment of carrying out complex projects. This collegial spirit has helped us earn our reputation for innovative and high-quality work.

Requirements

Must-haves

Benefits at a Glance .
Mathematica is seeking an experienced Sr. IT Project Manager (ITPM) to lead
the successful delivery of technology projects that create meaningful value for
our clients and end users. ITPMs are project and delivery leaders responsible
for overseeing the work of cross-functional teams and connecting client needs,
project goals, and technical delivery. They translate priorities into
actionable plans, guide teams through the software development lifecycle, and
ensure technology solutions address clients’ most pressing policy, program, and
business challenges.
ITPMs serve in project leadership roles, with overall
accountability for project scope, schedule, budget, risks, dependencies, and
deliverables while building strong client relationships and maintaining
alignment on priorities and outcomes. As Agile experts and coaches, they
lead team adoption and strengthening of Agile practices, facilitate effective
planning and delivery, coach team members and project leaders, and adapt Agile
approaches to the needs of each project and client. They also establish
consistent, scalable delivery practices that improve how teams plan,
collaborate, make decisions, manage work, and deliver value.
At Mathematica, successful ITPM
leaders combine strong project and people oversight with a high degree of
technical literacy, including advanced knowledge of Agile methodologies,
enterprise systems, software development, and the software development
lifecycle. They are skilled communicators who can effectively engage clients,

Nice-to-haves

Project management and/or Agile certifications such as Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), or comparable credentials are preferred.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

agilescrumjira

Platform: cornerstone
Effort: medium