Implementation Project Manager

Project Manager II - Implementation Project Manager
Location: Remote within Wisconsin
Employment Type: Contract
Anticipated Start: Late November 2026
Initial Duration: Through June 30, 2027, with potential for extension
Schedule: Must be available during core Central Time business hours

Position Overview
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) is seeking an experienced Implementation Project Manager to support a large-scale modernization initiative focused on implementing a new case management system.
This position will oversee and coordinate implementation activities leading up to and throughout pilot and system rollout. The Implementation Project Manager will work across project management, organizational change management (OCM), training, technical teams, implementation leadership, external vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure the organization is prepared for each stage of implementation.
This role is particularly focused on implementation planning, organizational readiness, stakeholder coordination, communications, training readiness, pilot execution, and phased system rollout. The Project Manager will oversee day-to-day implementation activities, track progress and issues, coordinate dependencies across teams, and help ensure the organization is prepared to transition from the existing environment to the modernized system.

Key Responsibilities
* Develop, maintain, and execute comprehensive implementation and communication plans for a large-scale system modernization initiative.
* Oversee implementation activities leading up to and during pilot, go-live, and phased regional system rollouts.
* Coordinate functional and technical implementation activities across project teams, vendors, and DCF stakeholders.
* Partner closely with Project Management, Organizational Change Management, Training, and implementation leadership to ensure organizational readiness.
* Track implementation activities, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, and overall progress.
* Coordinate with project leadership to resolve implementation issues within required timeframes.
* Provide regular status updates and reporting regarding implementation progress, readiness, risks, and potential issues.
* Develop and maintain acceptance and readiness criteria for major implementation milestones, including:
UAT to pilot
Pilot to system rollout
Subsequent regional rollout phases
* Coordinate state-level activities required to maintain alignment between legacy systems and the modernized system during pilot and rollout.
* Facilitate cross-functional meetings between business, technical, OCM, training, vendor, and project teams.
* Coordinate with implementation vendors to ensure required hardware and software are available prior to scheduled go-live dates.
* Support planning for periods in which legacy and new systems may operate simultaneously.
* Partner with Training and Organizational Change Management teams to confirm required training and communications are completed prior to implementation.
* Ensure project teams and stakeholders are informed of upcoming implementation activities, timelines, dependencies, and responsibilities.
* Coordinate activities related to system rollout, site support, user readiness, user account provisioning, and defect/issue reporting.
* Identify potential implementation challenges and recommend appropriate process, policy, or procedural changes when necessary.
* Build and maintain collaborative relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

Candidates should have 11+ years of experience in:
* Project management.
* Developing and implementing project implementation plans and communication plans.
* Building and maintaining collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.

Candidates should also have demonstrated experience with:
* Large-scale system implementations and organizational transformation initiatives.
* Coordinating complex implementation activities across multiple project teams and stakeholder groups.
* Organizational change, implementation readiness, and training efforts.
* Project leadership and management.
* Managing competing priorities, deadlines, and dependencies.
* Written and verbal communication, including developing and delivering presentations to stakeholders.
* Facilitating cross-functional meetings and driving activities toward implementation milestones.

Preferred Experience
* Experience supporting federal or state government programs.
* Federal Child Support Program experience.
* Experience implementing or modernizing large-scale case management systems.
* Experience working alongside Organizational Change Management, training, technical, and implementation teams.
* Experience supporting phased implementations involving pilot programs and regional rollouts.

Project Environment
This position will support the Child Support Modernization Project, which is implementing a new case management system. The Implementation Project Manager will work with internal and external stakeholders and will be responsible for overseeing and tracking implementation progress, coordinating day-to-day activities, and ensuring teams remain aligned throughout pilot and rollout.
The position requires someone who can operate across both the business and technical sides of an implementation. The individual will not simply maintain a project plan. They will actively coordinate teams, surface and resolve implementation issues, manage readiness activities, and ensure the appropriate pieces are in place for successful go-live and rollout.

Remote Work Requirements
* Candidates must currently reside in Wisconsin or be willing to relocate to Wisconsin within 30 days of the start date at their own expense.
* The position is approximately 90-100% remote, although occasional onsite work may be required with appropriate notice.
* Candidates must be physically located within the United States, and work cannot be performed outside the U.S.
* Candidates must be available during required Central Time business hours.
* The selected candidate will be responsible for providing their own computer equipment, reliable internet connection, camera, and headset for remote work.
* No regular on-call or weekend coverage is required.