IT Technical Project Manager

Technical Project Manager

Paradigm, Inc. | Virginia Beach, VA | Full-Time | Hybrid

Hybrid Schedule: Work from home Tuesdays and Thursdays; onsite Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship. Visa sponsorship is not available now or in the future.

Lead Technology Projects That Make a Difference

Are you an experienced Technical Project Manager who enjoys taking ownership, solving complex challenges, and bringing people together to deliver meaningful results?

At Paradigm, we're looking for a skilled, hands-on Technical Project Manager to lead technology initiatives from concept through successful implementation. This is an opportunity to work directly with technical teams, business stakeholders, and executive leadership while helping shape the systems and technology that support our continued growth.

We're looking for someone who can do more than track timelines and facilitate meetings. We need a project leader who can take full ownership of delivery, anticipate risks, manage competing priorities, influence decisions, and keep complex initiatives moving forward.

If you enjoy working at the intersection of technology, business operations, and people—and take pride in seeing projects through to completion—we'd love to hear from you.

About Paradigm

For more than 35 years, Paradigm has been a trusted leader in academic credentialing, helping colleges and universities issue, protect, and verify diplomas and certificates.

Today, we serve nearly 1,000 institutions worldwide, combining the quality and security of traditional credentials with innovative digital solutions that help modernize higher education.

Our technology supports everything from secure digital credentials and online ordering platforms to manufacturing, fulfillment, and enterprise operations. As we continue to evolve, our IT team plays an essential role in delivering the systems, integrations, and improvements that support our clients and our business.

What You'll Do

Own Projects from Start to Finish

• Lead complex, cross-functional IT projects through the full lifecycle, including initiation, requirements, planning, execution, testing, deployment, and post-implementation transition.
• Develop and manage project scope, schedules, budgets, milestones, resource plans, and deliverables.
• Apply Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid project management methodologies based on the needs of each initiative.
• Take accountability for project outcomes, proactively addressing challenges and ensuring commitments are met.
• Manage multiple concurrent initiatives while balancing priorities, dependencies, and resource constraints.

Drive Delivery, Manage Risks, and Control Change

• Identify, assess, document, and mitigate project risks, issues, and dependencies before they impact delivery.
• Manage project budgets, monitor expenditures, and communicate financial impacts or variances.
• Establish and maintain effective change control processes to evaluate scope adjustments, schedule impacts, and resource requirements.
• Coordinate internal resources, external vendors, and third-party implementation partners.
• Maintain clear project documentation, decision logs, status reporting, and escalation procedures.

Connect Technology, Business Teams, and Leadership

• Serve as a trusted liaison between IT, Product Development, Manufacturing, Operations, Client Services, Sales, and executive leadership.
• Translate technical requirements and challenges into clear, actionable information for business stakeholders.
• Lead project meetings, facilitate decisions, resolve competing priorities, and build alignment across departments.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level project updates, presentations, risk assessments, and recommendations.
• Influence outcomes and drive accountability across teams without relying on direct reporting authority.

Coordinate Successful Technology Implementations

• Partner with software developers, infrastructure teams, business users, and vendors to deliver system enhancements and new technology solutions.
• Coordinate system integrations, enterprise applications, client-facing platforms, and operational technology initiatives.
• Oversee user acceptance testing (UAT), including planning, stakeholder coordination, defect tracking, issue resolution, and readiness for deployment.
• Support change management, training coordination, implementation readiness, and successful handoffs to operational teams.
• Ensure project execution aligns with applicable security, quality, and compliance requirements.

Strengthen Project Management Practices

• Help establish, maintain, and improve IT project management standards, templates, reporting, and governance.
• Promote consistent project planning, documentation, accountability, and performance measurement.
• Identify opportunities to improve project delivery, resource utilization, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Contribute to continuous improvement through lessons learned, project retrospectives, and performance analysis.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive experience managing technical or IT projects, including ownership of complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated success leading projects through the entire lifecycle, from initiation and planning through implementation and closeout.
• Hands-on experience using Agile, Waterfall, and/or hybrid project delivery methodologies.
• Proven ability to develop and manage project budgets, schedules, resources, risks, and change control.
• Experience managing vendors, external partners, and third-party technology implementations.
• Experience coordinating user acceptance testing (UAT), implementation activities, and stakeholder readiness.
• Strong understanding of software development lifecycles, enterprise applications, systems integrations, and technology implementation processes.
• Proficiency with project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, Asana, Monday.com, or similar platforms.
• Experience establishing or working within project management standards, governance frameworks, and reporting processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver clear, professional presentations to executive leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders, resolve competing priorities, and drive results without direct authority.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification strongly preferred.
• Agile/Scrum certifications such as CSM, PMI-ACP, or SAFe.
• Experience managing technology projects involving software development, SaaS platforms, enterprise systems, or infrastructure.
• Familiarity with Microsoft-based environments, .NET applications, SQL Server, Azure, or enterprise integrations.
• Experience with ERP implementations, APIs, data integrations, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Background in higher education technology, manufacturing operations, e-commerce, fulfillment, or regulated environments.
• Experience developing or improving PMO practices, project governance, or organizational project management standards.
• Master's degree in a relevant discipline or ITIL Foundation certification.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will be someone who:

• Takes genuine ownership of project delivery rather than simply tracking progress.
• Recognizes risks early, communicates them clearly, and brings solutions to the table.
• Can confidently engage with developers, operational teams, vendors, and executive leadership.
• Understands how to balance technical requirements with business priorities, budgets, and deadlines.
• Brings structure and accountability to complex projects without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Builds strong working relationships and knows how to move initiatives forward even when stakeholders have competing priorities.

Why Join Paradigm?

At Paradigm, your work will have a direct impact on the technology and operations supporting colleges, universities, and graduates around the world.

You'll have the opportunity to work across a diverse technology environment, collaborate closely with decision-makers, and contribute to meaningful improvements in how our organization operates and serves its clients.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation with opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, subject to eligibility requirements.
• Retirement plan, subject to eligibility requirements.
• Paid sick leave and annual leave.
• Paid holidays.
• A collaborative, team-oriented workplace.
• A structured hybrid schedule with work-from-home days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Work Location & Schedule

This position is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and is not a fully remote opportunity.

Employees are expected to work onsite Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with scheduled work-from-home days on Tuesday and Thursday.

The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Additional weekday or weekend hours may be required based on business or project needs.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer visa sponsorship. Paradigm is unable to provide visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work for prolonged periods at a desk and computer.
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds occasionally.
• Successful completion of applicable pre-employment screening requirements, including background and drug screening.

Ready to Take Ownership of What's Next?

If you're a Technical Project Manager who thrives on delivering results, navigating complex technology initiatives, and working with people across an organization, we'd welcome the opportunity to learn more about you.

Apply today and help drive the next chapter of technology innovation at Paradigm.

Paradigm, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.