Technical Project Manager

Description

Technical Project Manager  
West Covina, Calif. | Office/other 

About our organization 

At Options for Learning, we partner with children, families, educators, and communities to create strong foundations for lifelong success. Since 1981, we have provided quality early learning and school-age programs, family support services, and child care resources designed to meet the evolving needs of the communities we serve. 

Our work is rooted in relationships and guided by our values of integrity, compassion, respect, curiosity, and nurturing. These values shape how we support families, collaborate with one another, and respond to the changing needs of our communities every day. 

Every interaction — whether with a family seeking guidance, a child entering a classroom, or a team member working behind the scenes — is an opportunity to create a positive and meaningful experience grounded in trust, empathy, and service. 

Serving communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley, Whittier, Pomona Valley, and Northeast Los Angeles, our team is united by a shared commitment to continuous learning, strong partnerships, and helping children and families thrive. 

At Options for Learning, employees are more than team members. They are trusted partners in work that makes a meaningful difference for children, families, and the communities we serve. 

About this position 

This position is responsible for managing strategic technical projects within the organization’s Project Management Office (PMO). 

As a member of the project management team, this role will collaborate with leaders across the organization to manage a wide range of projects. However, given our strategic focus on developing IT systems, this position will specialize in managing end-to-end delivery of complex, technology projects using industry project management methodologies such as Waterfall and Agile/Scrum, specifically helping the end user indirectly by translating complex business and operational needs into stable, high-quality, and user-friendly technical solutions. 

The technical project manager will help position our organization as a true leader in preparing children for life success through partnerships with families, educators, and communities.

What you’ll be doing 

• Managing complex cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution and delivery; 
• Owning PMO artifacts, including project schedules, project budgets, and RACI charts; 
• Facilitating alignment discussions and helping to resolve cross-functional ambiguity or gaps; 
• Partnering with the IT team and external vendors to maintain delivery alignment; 
• Providing concise and transparent updates tailored to different audiences, including senior leadership; 
• Contributing to PMO process optimization, including standards, governance, and reporting to support continuous improvement in project efficiency and quality; 
• Attending training as required;  
• Performing other duties as assigned. 

What you bring to the table 

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) with a minimum of three years of project management experience in a technology environment; 
• CAPM certification or other PMI certification; 
• Experience in successful planning of product implementation, integration, and optimization and coordinating technical aspects between IT and non-IT professionals; 
• Comfort leading technical discussions with infrastructure, cybersecurity, application, data, and vendor teams (while hands-on development is not required, the ability to understand technical architecture, integration approaches, database concepts, cloud services, and software development terminology is essential); 
• Knowledge of system interoperability, including APIs and data exchange standards; 
• Ability to communicate in written and verbal English correctly and effectively;  
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams); 
• Experience with project portfolio management and reporting tools such as Microsoft Planner Premium, Project for the Web, Power BI, Smartsheet, Asana, Jira, or similar platforms; 
• Excellent critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze information and solve problems using sound, inclusive reasoning and judgment; 
• Experience and ability to effectively work with, be respectful of, and sensitive to persons from various cultural, socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, and racial backgrounds; 
• Ability to independently identify problems, needs and opportunities for improvements, develop solutions, and implement plans/solutions; 
• Ability to engage and be comfortable with all levels of management; 
• Ability to fulfill job duties while meeting the highest ethical standards; 
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and prioritize multiple projects; 
• Strong attention to detail and effective organizational skills; 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment; 
• A California driver’s license, use of an automobile, and automobile liability insurance. 

Technical knowledge and platform experience 

• Familiarity with common technical languages and formats, including SQL, JSON, XML, PowerShell, and scripting concepts, sufficient to facilitate discussions among business and technical stakeholders. 

Demonstrated experience managing projects involving one or more of the following technologies:

• Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, OneDrive, Power Platform); 
• Familiarity with cloud services, identity management, and hybrid-cloud environments;  
• Enterprise SaaS platforms, including HR, ERP, CRM, case management, or education-focused systems; 
• Endpoint management platforms such as Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Endpoint Manager; 
• A general understanding of cybersecurity concepts and solutions for planning projects, so as to know when collaboration with IT is necessary;  
• Network infrastructure, including wired/wireless networking, firewalls, internet connectivity, and telecommunications systems; 
• Data and reporting platforms such as Power BI, SQL Server, and enterprise reporting tools; 
• Familiarity with Azure Data Services for storing, processing, moving, and analyzing data. 

Working knowledge of the following: 

• REST APIs, web services, and system integration methods; 
• Authentication and authorization technologies, including SSO, SAML, OAuth, and Microsoft Entra ID; 
• Data migration, application implementation, and software deployment methodologies; 
• IT service management concepts, including change management, incident management, and service delivery practices. 

Ability to read and understand technical documentation, including the following: 

• System architecture diagrams; 
• Network diagrams; 
• Data flow diagrams; 
• API specifications; 
• Database schemas; 
• Vendor statements of work and technical proposals. 

Preferred qualifications 

• CSM, PSM, or an equivalent industry-recognized credential;  
• Experience with education or human services organizations; 
• Command of Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese.

Experience leading projects involving the following: 

• Microsoft 365 modernization initiatives; 
• Microsoft Azure DevOps or other project management solutions for managing stories and sprints; 
• SharePoint Online or intranet implementations; 
• Enterprise application implementations and integrations; 
• Compliance programs; 
• Data analytics and business intelligence initiatives; 
• Unified communications or cloud telephony deployments. 

What we can offer you 

• Medical/dental/vision for part- and full-time employees (organization pays up to 95% of employees’ premiums; prorated for part-time); 
• Organization-paid and matching retirement plan; 
• Professional growth opportunities, including free child development courses and college reimbursement; 
• Generous and flexible PTO; 
• Dedicated, mission-driven colleagues, and much more! 

Job specifications 

• Reports to the senior project manager; 
• Exempt, full-time, year-round position; 
• Eight-hour workday, four-day workweek; 
• Hybrid work schedule with approval by management; 
• Organization-wide winter break; 
• Limited evening or weekend work may be required; 
• Employment, responsibilities, compensation, and other factors may be affected by changes in governmental regulations, the organization’s contracts, or at the organization’s discretion.

Salary 

• $88,000 - $117,000 per year (candidates should anticipate receiving an offer within the first quartile of the salary range).