Job descriptionThe Senior Project Manager leads complex, cross-functional projects from initiation through closure, applying strong PMO governance standards and acting as a trusted delivery partner to project sponsors and stakeholders.
Reporting to the Director, PMO, this role operates with a high degree of professional judgment within an established governance framework, and guide or mentor junior team members on a project-by-project basis.
The Senior Project Manager builds strong, collaborative relationships with stakeholders and partners, ensuring project outcomes align with Nch’ḵaỷ’s organizational strategy and the values of the Sḵʷx̱wú7mesh Nation.
Duties, Responsibilities, Authority, and Accountabilities
Project Initiation and Planning
Lead scope definition workshops and produce baseline scope documents that fit for stakeholder sign-off; proactively identify and identify and address scope gaps and risks.
Develop integrated project plans with clear dependencies, critical path analysis, and resource levelling; maintain plans as live management tools throughout delivery.
Identify project stakeholders and conduct deep stakeholder analysis to design proactive, audience-specific engagement strategies.
Maintain thorough, audit-ready project documentation in line with PMO templates and standards.
Project Execution and Coordination
Lead and coordinate project activities across complex, multi-workstream, cross-functional environments, ensuring seamless workstream integration.
Set clear execution standards; ensure delivery is predictable, efficient, and team-enabling; proactively remove blockers before they impact delivery.
Facilitate project team meetings and stakeholder working sessions; prepare agendas and ensure decisions, minutes, and action items are documented and actioned.
Coordinate resource needs across functions in partnership with functional leads; elevate capacity conflicts to the Director, PMO as needed.
Select and apply the most appropriate methodology (Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid) for each project; in consultation with the Director, PMO.
Provide direct supervision to assigned Project Coordinators; set clear performance expectations, delegate purposefully, and support their professional development.
Coach and mentor Junior and Intermediate Project Managers across the PMO, building their technical and leadership capabilities and modelling PM discipline.
Project Monitoring and Controlling
Manage performance baselines; conduct variance analysis and report clearly to the Director, PMO and project sponsors.
Maintain the project risk register; identify and implement mitigation strategies for assigned projects.
Lead risk workshops; anticipate systemic risk, maintain the risk register, and implement mitigation strategies integrated into project planning from Day 1.
Participate in the Change Control Board (CCB) for assigned projects, preparing well-documented change requests and impact analysis; the Director, PMO retains chairing authority and final approval on material changes. Produce clear, accurate project status reports; flag risks and recommendations to the Director, PMO for escalation as needed.
Communication and Stakeholder Management
Develop communication plans tailored to each project's stakeholder group, including sensitive or difficult messaging.
Proactively manage senior and complex stakeholder relationships; navigate political complexity with skill and integrity.
Build and maintain strong working relationships with assigned project stakeholders.
Escalate complex or politically sensitive stakeholder issues to the Director, PMO.
Project Closure
Lead comprehensive project closure including financial reconciliation, contract close-out, and benefits realization tracking; ensure all deliverables, documentation, and signoffs are audit ready.
Obtain stakeholder sign-off and facilitate formal project closure with all parties aligned.
Synthesis Lessons Learned across projects; drive systemic process improvements and embed outputs into the PMO knowledge base and continuous improvement cycle.
PMO Governance, Improvement, and Team Development
Champion PMO standards and governance; lead deployment of PMO frameworks, tools, and systems; train project teams on new standards and sustain adoption.
Contribute ideas and feedback to the Director, PMO on process improvement opportunities.
Supervise Project Coordinators as direct reports: assign work, conduct performance check-ins, and support their development toward a project management career path.
Coach and mentor Junior and Intermediate Project Managers on PM methodology, governance application, stakeholder management, and professional growth.
Contribute to PMO maturity uplift by benchmarking practices and identifying opportunities to evolve methodology and governance frameworks.
Administrative and Reporting Tasks
Maintain portfolio-level documentation with a clear audit trail for all decisions.
Contribute data and input to portfolio-level reporting coordinated by the Director, PMO.
Collaborate with the Senior PMO Manager on strategic cross-portfolio initiatives and organizational priorities.
Professional Development
Maintain professional currency through certifications, industry knowledge, and active investment in leadership development.
Model a growth mindset; sponsor the development of others and contribute to the project management profession externally.
Reporting Responsibilities and Authorities from Supervisor
Director PMO
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related field.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is required.
Minimum 6-9 years of progressive experience in project management, including demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-workstream projects and managing portfolios.
Advanced knowledge of Project Management principles and methodologies, including PMBOK, Waterfall, Agile, and Hybrid frameworks; experience selecting and applying the appropriate methodology to context.
Understanding and knowledge of UKG and NetSuite systems are an asset.
Strong understanding of business operations and organizational strategy; ability to align project and portfolio decisions with strategic objectives.
Proficiency in standard office software (Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace).
Advanced stakeholder management expertise, including senior executive and multi-organizational partner engagement.
Expert knowledge of documentation, governance, and record-keeping practices; experience developing and governing PMO templates and standards.
Proficiency in project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira, Microsoft Project) is required.
Exceptional organizational, prioritization, and portfolio-level capacity management skills.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level reporting, sensitive messaging, and external partner communications.
Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills; proven ability to build trust with senior leadership and navigate political complexity.
Attention to detail and accuracy.
Exemplary problem-solving skills; experienced in high-stakes decisions with clear rationale and the ability to model decision frameworks for the team.
Proactive, strategic, and self-directed approach. Demonstrated ability to lead without close supervision.
Growth mindset; invests in the development of others and maintains professional currency.
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams and building high-performance project delivery environments.
Demonstrated experience managing direct reports, including performance management, delegation, and staff development.
Able to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
Previous experience working with First Nations is an asset; a strong desire to learn about and uphold Sḵʷx̱wú7mesh values and teachings in a respectful manner is essential for this role.
Industry Experience
Nch’ḵaý operates across a diverse portfolio of sectors. Candidates are expected to bring meaningful project management experience in
one or more
of the following industries. Breadth across multiple sectors is an asset.
Real Estate and Land Development
Experience managing large-scale real estate or land development projects, including residential, commercial, or mixed-use developments, with an understanding of entitlement processes, design and construction phases, and project handover.
Familiarity with Indigenous land rights, treaty processes, and Nation-led development models is a significant asset; experience working on projects involving First Nation-owned land or partnerships with Indigenous development entities is strongly preferred.
Understanding of real estate financing structures, joint venture arrangements, and partnership governance, including experience engaging with institutional investors or co-development partners.
Economic Development and Corporate Governance
Experience delivering projects within an economic development or Nation-owned enterprise context, with an appreciation for the dual mandate of financial sustainability and community benefit.
Demonstrated ability to navigate multi-stakeholder governance environments, including boards, executive leadership teams, and external partners, with sensitivity to accountability structures unique to Nation-owned entities.
Familiarity with capital planning and business case processes in organizations with formal investment review and approval frameworks.
Operations and Business Transformation
Experience delivering operational improvement, business transformation, or organizational change projects, including process redesign, policy implementation, and cross-functional coordination in complex operating environments.
Familiarity with managing projects that span multiple business units or operating entities, including experience with shared services, procurement frameworks, and financial controls.
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