Enterprise Project Manager - Executive - Interim Executive Director

About the Role

Our client requires an experienced executive leader to provide immediate organizational stabilization and transformational leadership during a period of significant departmental change within its Network Infrastructure Services division. The department is currently experiencing organizational, operational, and cultural challenges that require decisive leadership, objective assessment, and rapid implementation of corrective actions before a permanent Executive Director is recruited.

This interim assignment is a transformational leadership role focused on establishing accountability, rebuilding organizational culture, improving operational effectiveness, aligning resources with institutional priorities, and implementing sustainable management practices. The successful candidate will be empowered to make difficult organizational decisions necessary to position the department for long-term success and ensure a smooth transition to permanent leadership.

What You'll Do

Over the course of this 9–12 month engagement, the Interim Executive Director will lead a comprehensive organizational transformation initiative, including:

• Utilizing results from a comprehensive assessment of organizational structure, staffing, leadership effectiveness, operational processes, and service delivery to plan and enact organizational changes
• Identifying organizational barriers, cultural issues, and operational inefficiencies impacting performance, and executing an organizational transformation and culture improvement plan
• Restructuring reporting relationships, staffing models, and operational responsibilities as necessary
• Addressing performance management issues through coaching, corrective action, reassignment, or separation, when appropriate and in accordance with client policies
• Restoring accountability, professionalism, customer service expectations, and operational discipline throughout the department
• Improving collaboration with partner organizations and key stakeholders
• Establishing governance, communication, and decision-making processes that support long-term success
• Stabilizing departmental operations while maintaining continuity of critical IT services
• Documenting organizational recommendations, operational procedures, strategic priorities, and transition plans for the incoming permanent Executive Director
• Recruiting, mentoring, and preparing internal leadership where appropriate to support long-term organizational success

Daily Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for all departmental operations
• Supervise managers, supervisors, and professional staff
• Establish performance expectations and monitor organizational outcomes
• Make timely personnel, operational, and resource allocation decisions
• Lead organizational change initiatives and culture transformation efforts
• Address employee relations issues in partnership with Human Resources
• Evaluate organizational effectiveness and recommend structural improvements
• Develop and monitor departmental priorities and performance metrics
• Collaborate with division leadership, client administration, and key stakeholders
• Manage departmental budgets and strategic resource allocation
• Ensure compliance with client policies, security standards, audit requirements, and regulatory obligations
• Remove organizational obstacles that inhibit productivity, innovation, and collaboration
• Provide executive-level reports and recommendations to senior leadership
• Develop succession planning and transition documentation for permanent leadership

Required Skills

1. 3+ years of experience with executive organizational transformation and change management
2. 3+ years of experience leading organizational restructuring and culture change
3. 3+ years of experience with executive leadership of large, complex technology organizations
4. 3+ years of experience with personnel management, coaching, and performance accountability

Preferred Skills

1. Experience leading organizational turnaround initiatives
2. Experience rebuilding organizational culture following periods of instability
3. Experience implementing governance and operational maturity frameworks
4. Experience managing organizational change in higher education or public sector environments
5. Enterprise IT strategy development
6. Experience working with executive leadership, governing boards, and cabinet-level administration
7. Knowledge of network operations, project management, change management, and enterprise network architecture and engineering
8. Experience supporting audit remediation and risk management initiatives

Required Education/Certifications

Bachelor's degree and 8 or more years of experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of certification, training, education, and/or experience.