Futures start here. Where first steps, new friendships, and confident learners are born. At KinderCare Learning Companies, the first and only early childhood education provider recognized with the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, we offer a variety of early education and child care options for families. Whether it’s KinderCare Learning Centers, Champions, or Crème de la Crème, we build confidence for kids, families, and the future we share. And we want you to join us in shaping it—in neighborhoods, at work, and in schools nationwide.
At KinderCare Learning Companies, you’ll use your skills and expertise to support the work (and fun) that happens in our sites and centers every day. From marketers and strategists to financial analysts and data engineers, and so much more, we’re all passionate about crafting a world where children, families, and organizations can thrive.
The Sr. IT Project Manager will lead multiple medium-sized projects within the IT organization at KinderCare, ensuring that project results contribute positive business value and meet agreed-upon scope, cost, schedule, and quality expectations. This role engages with executives, business stakeholders, and partners at all levels to drive strategic initiatives and operational efficiencies.
In addition to project leadership, this role will also be focusing on IT Operations and Organizational Efficiency. This includes streamlining processes, optimizing resource allocation, and driving operational improvements to enhance IT’s effectiveness. The individual will work closely with leadership to improve governance, enhance reporting and analytics, and ensure seamless execution of IT initiatives.
Responsibilities:
• Drive IT operational excellence by enhancing internal processes, optimizing resource utilization, and defining key IT performance metrics to measure efficiency
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CIO, ensuring alignment across IT teams and supporting executive-level reporting, board presentations, and cross-functional initiatives
• Lead cross-functional IT initiatives in support of the CIO that requires executive attention
• Direct the initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, controlling and close of an entire IT project of any size and complexity
• Ability to contribute and champion usage of structured project management methodology (to include Waterfall, Agile/Scrum, Iterative, etc.)
• Manage project dependencies, milestones, and critical path
• Analyze, manage, and report project performance financial reporting, resource allocation, task delegation and stakeholder management
• Analyze multiple types and sources of information to generate insight on project performance
• Ability to provide financial forecast and on-going reconciliation of resources and other project related expenditures
• Develop and executes an overall project schedule, including tasks, duration, dependencies, and resource assignments
Qualifications:
• 8 or more years' relevant experience required
• Experience in driving IT operational improvements, process optimization, and cross-functional collaboration to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
• Proven experience in developing and executing IT and technology strategies that drive operational efficiency and business value
• Excellent presentation skills with the ability to conduct presentations comfortably to large groups
• Experience with executive leadership communications and reporting
• Understanding of project (waterfall, hybrid) and product (Agile, Scrum) development lifecycle
• Self-starter with a drive to succeed, continuously improve, and embrace change
• Excellent critical thinking and analytical skills
• Strong communication and demonstrated influencing skills at all levels of an organization
• Ability to define, track, and measure IT project and portfolio benefits to ensure alignment with company-wide strategic goals and operational improvements
• Hands on experience in tools like JIRA, Aha! Microsoft Project, Miro, Smartsheet, MS Excel and PowerPoint
• Business Strategy, Portfolio, Project, Change Management, or Agile certification(s) a plus (PPMC, PMP, CSM, PROSCI, etc.)
Our benefits meet you where you are. We’re here to help our employees navigate the integration of work and life:
- Know your whole family is supported with discounted child care benefits.
- Breathe easy with medical, dental, and vision benefits for your family (and pets, too!).
- Feel supported in your mental health and personal growth with employee assistance programs.
- Feel great and thrive with access to health and wellness programs, paid time off and discounts for work necessities, such as cell phones.
- … and much more.
We operate research-backed, accredited, and customizable programs in more than 2,000 sites and centers across 40 states and the District of Columbia. As we expand, we’re matching the needs of more and more families, dynamic work environments, and diverse communities from coast to coast. Because we believe every family deserves access to high-quality child care, no matter who they are or where they live. Every day, you’ll help bring this mission to life by building community and delivering exceptional experiences. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll come for the work, and stay for the people.
KinderCare Learning Companies is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.