Project Manager - MDOT Transportation Systems

Stafford Gray is seeking a senior Project Manager to lead highly visible technology initiatives supporting the State of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). This assignment supports Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) Global Positioning System and Road Weather Decision Support System work and includes substantial RFP, vendor, stakeholder, planning, governance, and systems-delivery responsibilities.

The selected consultant will provide oversight, leadership, accountability, and project-management support for complex strategic projects with executive visibility, diverse stakeholders, vendor participation, multiple schedules, significant integration, and material delivery risk.

Key responsibilities:

- Lead projects from initiation through closeout using formal project-management and system-development methodologies.

- Support RFP planning, requirements development, vendor evaluation, contracting activities, and implementation oversight.

- Coordinate project plans, schedules, staffing, budgets, quality controls, risks, issues, dependencies, and deliverables.

- Lead working sessions, sponsor meetings, executive status reporting, stakeholder alignment, and vendor engagement.

- Establish project controls that provide timely visibility into cost, schedule, scope, quality, and change.

- Develop long-term release plans consistent with State of Michigan SUITE methodology and agency priorities.

- Escalate risks and decisions appropriately and maintain accountability across large, matrixed teams.

This is a one-year contract with possible extension. Interviews will be conducted by Microsoft Teams video. Candidates should use a laptop and be prepared to share their screen if requested.

Required qualifications:

- Five or more years working effectively in matrixed team environments.

- Five or more years resolving complex, high-priority conflicts and competing requirements.

- Five or more years applying project-management principles, methodologies, and best practices.

- Five or more years using system-development methodologies for new systems and enhancements.

- Five or more years communicating stakeholder needs clearly and effectively.

- Five or more years analyzing data, identifying problems, and developing actionable solutions.

- Five or more years facilitating cross-team consensus, leading working sessions, and negotiating outcomes.

- Five or more years managing stakeholder relationships and resolving issues.

- Excellent written and verbal communication.

- Current Michigan residence at the time of submission.

- Ability to work onsite in Lansing every Tuesday and Wednesday beginning on day one. There is no remote-only option.

Preferred qualifications:

- Government or public-sector experience, especially with the State of Michigan, MDOT, DTMB, or SUITE.

- Direct RFP experience from requirements and solicitation through vendor selection and implementation.

- AVL, GPS, fleet, telematics, GIS, road-weather, RWIS, or transportation-systems experience.

- Experience in multiple project or program leadership and support roles.

- PMP, CAPM, PfMP, or another professional project-management certification.

Candidates selected for submission must provide a four-to-five-page resume and a project log or portfolio showing project dates, role, scope, methodologies, stakeholders, vendors, systems, and outcomes.