Project Manager: Operational Systems and Strategic Initiatives

Summary 

The Senior Project Manager leads complex, cross-functional initiatives that support operational systems strategy, process optimization, and organizational transformation across the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) Registry. Partnering closely with the Director of Operational Systems Strategy & Integration, the role drives execution of strategic priorities, improves business processes, and facilitates systems-related initiatives. The position ensures alignment among Information Technology, Data Operations, Statistical Operations, and Project Management stakeholders. Beyond traditional project management, the role applies business analysis, process improvement, stakeholder management, and change leadership capabilities to bridge strategy and execution across complex operational environments.

Primary Responsibilities  

Strategic Project Leadership  

• Lead large, complex projects that support operational systems improvements and organizational strategic objectives. 
• Translate high-level business goals into actionable project plans, milestones, and measurable outcomes.  
• Drive project execution while ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and operational strategies.  
• Identify risks, dependencies, and opportunities that may impact project success.

Cross-Functional Coordination  

• Facilitate collaboration among Information Technology, Data Operations, Statistical Operations, and business stakeholders.  
• Build alignment across teams with competing priorities and objectives.   •   Coordinate project activities that span multiple departments and operational functions. 
• Escalate and resolve issues that may impact timelines, scope, or business outcomes.

Systems & Process Improvement  

• Partner with business leaders to identify opportunities for workflow optimization and operational efficiency.  
• Support initiatives focused on systems integration, data flow improvements, and process standardization.  
• Document current-state and future-state processes and assist with business requirements development.  
• Recommend solutions that improve the scalability, quality, and effectiveness of operational processes.

Change Management & Adoption

• Support organizational readiness efforts associated with new processes, systems, and operational changes.
• Develop stakeholder engagement and communication plans.
• Facilitate workshops, process design sessions, and project steering meetings.
• Help drive user adoption and business ownership of implemented solutions.

Project Governance & Reporting

• Maintain project plans, schedules, risk logs, and issue management processes.
• Prepare executive-level status updates, dashboards, and progress reports.
• Ensure project deliverables, decisions, and action items are documented and tracked.
• Support portfolio planning and prioritization activities.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Knowledge – Skills – Abilities 

Knowledge

• Project management practices, including planning, scheduling, governance, and risk and issue management.
• Agile, Scrum, Lean, or Six Sigma methodologies.
• Business analysis and requirements gathering.
• Systems implementations, integrations, and operational modernization.
• Change management and organizational readiness principles.
• Healthcare, research, registry operations, or data-driven organizations (preferred).

Skills

• Stakeholder management, meeting facilitation, and executive communication.
• Business process analysis, including mapping current-state and future-state processes.
• Development of executive dashboards, status reports, and project performance metrics.
• Development of stakeholder engagement and communication plans.
• Problem solving and data-driven decision making.

Abilities

• Influence teams and drive results without direct authority.
• Build alignment and relationships across teams with competing priorities.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects with competing priorities.
• Translate strategy into actionable plans and measurable outcomes (strategic and systems thinking).
• Partner effectively with both business and technology teams.
• Adapt to changing organizational needs (organizational agility).

Qualifications 

Appropriate experience may be substituted for education an on equivalent basis.

Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree 

Minimum Required Experience: 5 years 

Preferred Education: Master’s degree in business administration, Information Systems, Healthcare Administration, Project Management, or a related field.               

Preferred Experience: Experience in healthcare, research, registry operations, or data-driven organizations; supporting systems implementations, integrations, or operational modernization initiatives; and developing executive dashboards and project performance metrics. Project management experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives, including partnering with business and technology teams and facilitating process improvement or business transformation initiatives

Preferred Certification/Licensure(s): PMP certification  

Physical Requirements 

Work requires occasionally lifting moderate weight materials, standing, or walking continuously. 

Work Environment 

Occasional exposure to dust, noise, temperature changes, or contact with water or other liquids. Work is performed in an environmentally controlled environment. 

Sensory Acuity 

Ability to detect and translate speech or other communication required. May occasionally require the ability to distinguish colors and perceive relative distances between objects. #LI-NK1

Why MCW?

• Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental. Along with Flexible Spending options
• 403B Retirement Package
• Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
• Pet Insurance
• On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes
• Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc.

For a brief overview of our benefits see: Benefits Overview

For a full list of positions see: MCW Careers

At MCW all of our endeavors, from our internal operations to our interactions with our partners, are driven by our shared organizational values: Caring – Collaborative – Curiosity – Inclusive – Integrity – Respect. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives through merit-based processes and in alignment with all applicable laws. We believe that embracing human differences is critical to realize our vision of a healthier world, and we recognize that a healthy and thriving community starts from within. Our values define who we are, what we stand for and how we conduct ourselves at MCW. If you believe in embracing individuality and working together according to these principles to improve health for all, then MCW is the place for you. For more information, please visit our institutional website.

MCW as an Equal Opportunity Employer and Commitment to Non-Discrimination:

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive community of outstanding faculty, staff, and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment, and access to services, programs, and activities, without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic, or military status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the MCW community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely or retaliated against based upon a protected characteristic.