Special Projects Manager, RAIMS Program

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Guelph, ON, CA, N1G 2W1

The Research Services Office (RSO), in partnership with Computing and Communications Services (CCS) Enterprise Applications, is leading a multi-year initiative to digitize research administration through the implementation of integrated modules within a Research Administration and Information Management System (RAIMS). These modules support key processes including Human Ethics, Animal Care, Biosafety, and Pre/Post-Award research administration for faculty, students, and staff. The current focus of the RAIMS program is the vendor selection and project delivery of the Animal Care Module (UP).

• Lead the on-going RFP process for vendor selection.
• Manage the full project lifecycle using industry-standard methodologies and applying agile, waterfall, or hybrid approaches as appropriate.
• Develop and manage project plans, coordinate people resources, communicate status updates, monitor risks and changes, and manage scope, timelines, and budgets.
• Define project goals, objectives, deliverables, scope, resource needs, and timelines.
• Implement and maintain the project plan and risk log.
• Coordinate and participate in project steering committees to support strategic decision-making.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure alignment and engagement throughout the project.
• Support training initiatives, testing cycles, and oversee successful go-live execution.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts across internal departments, campus partners, and external vendors.
• Develop onboarding strategies for new team members, ensuring successful knowledge transfer.
• Track project progress to ensure timely delivery of milestones and outcomes.
• Communicate regular updates to leadership and take ownership of project results.
• Identify any changes required during the project and lead the Project Change Review working group.
• Audit and validate vendor invoices against project plans and activities to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Document lessons learned both during and after the project.
• Evaluate the outcomes of the project as established during the planning phase.

• Develop a thorough understanding of the client’s mandate, priorities, business processes, metrics and challenges.
• Collaborate with RSO, clients and CCS staff to develop detailed solutions.
• Work with RSO and CCS to develop effective testing plans, including data related migration and testing.
• Work with RSO and CCS to develop effective documentation to assist in testing and training.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal clients and external vendors, including stakeholders at various levels of the organization.
• Serve as a key liaison between RSO and delivery teams.
• Communicate effectively with RSO and Enterprise Applications throughout the project lifecycle to ensure transparency and alignment.
• Effectively communicate insights and project expectations to cross-functional team members and management.

• Manage client expectations by understanding business needs, priorities, and budget constraints.
• Identify opportunities to enhance RSO business processes.
• Ensure clients are informed about vendor capabilities and service offerings.
• Support project leadership with reviewing and validating contracts, SLAs, and SOPs with RSO.
• Support successful solution deployment by mitigating issues during development and go-live phases.
• Proactively seek opportunities to improve client satisfaction and strengthen long-term partnerships.
• Navigate sensitive change management scenarios with empathy and professionalism.

• Education & Experience
  • Undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Information Systems, Management Information Systems (MIS), Project Management.
  • Master’s degree in any of the above fields is considered an asset.
  • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent is required.
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant experience demonstrating proficiency in project management,…