Project leader

Project Manager – IT Implementations and Digitalization

Client: Ghent University, Belgium

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrable experience in leading and supervising projects.
• Demonstrable experience with project management terminology, organizational structures, roles, and processes.
• Higher education qualification (Master’s or Bachelor’s degree).
• Demonstrable experience working in environments relevant to the projects.
• Language requirement: Dutch at European CEFR level C2.

Job Description

• The ICT functional domain at Ghent University supports education, research, and services through reliable, sustainable, and future-oriented digital solutions.
• For IT implementation projects and digitalization initiatives, Ghent University is seeking an experienced Project Manager who can manage complex processes in a structured manner and coordinate the various stakeholders involved.
• The Project Manager takes ownership once the business requirements have been clarified and the project scope has been sufficiently defined through business analysis. The role involves translating the agreed scope into a feasible project approach and ensuring successful execution, monitoring, and delivery within the agreed quality, schedule, and budget.

Responsibilities

• Manage diverse IT projects, including internally developed software implementations, SaaS solution procurement and implementation, system integrations, and administrative process digitalization.
• Prepare and maintain project plans, schedules, progress reports, and decision documents.
• Monitor project scope, timelines, budgets, quality, risks, and dependencies.
• Coordinate internal teams, external partners, suppliers, and multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Organize project meetings and steering committees and facilitate decision-making.
• Maintain clear communication with stakeholders and support change management, user adoption, and handover to operational management.
• Follow ICT-wide agreements regarding project execution, reporting, and governance.
• Provide the necessary information for project monitoring, decision-making, and portfolio management.

Required Profile

• Demonstrable experience as an IT Project Manager or Project Leader in IT implementation and digitalization projects.
• Experience with software implementations, system integrations, SaaS solutions, or digital transformation projects.
• Demonstrable experience with public procurement and an understanding of its impact on project planning, supplier selection, contract management, and execution.
• Ability to manage multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders at different organizational levels.
• Strong communication, organizational, and coordination skills, with the ability to maintain an overview in complex environments.
• Sufficient IT knowledge to bridge the gap between business stakeholders and ICT teams.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in large or complex organizations, preferably within the public sector or higher education.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, PRINCE2, PMI, or equivalent frameworks.
• Experience with change management, user adoption, and handover to operational management and support teams.

Work Environment

• Opportunity to work in a socially relevant, knowledge-intensive environment where digitalization supports education, research, and service delivery.
• Collaboration with ICT colleagues and various university stakeholders.
• Limited teleworking is possible, depending on the requirements of the role.