VertiGIS Application Upgrade - Senior Project Manager
Overview
The Land and Resources I&IT Cluster (LRC) is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead the VertiGIS Application Upgrade project within the Geospatial Ontario IT Program. This initiative involves upgrading up to 18 business-critical geospatial applications — currently built on deprecated Geocortex middleware — to the fully supported, next-generation VertiGIS platform. The successful candidate will work closely with partner ministries including Natural Resources, Environment, Agriculture, and Indigenous Affairs to deliver like-for-like application upgrades that preserve functionality while modernizing the underlying technology stack.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end project management for the VertiGIS Application Upgrade initiative, overseeing up to 18 geospatial application upgrades on the GIS Delivery Platform
- Develop, maintain, and monitor detailed project schedules, integrated plans, deliverables, and scope across a multi-disciplinary team
- Manage large project budgets with a high level of fiscal control, including estimates, forecasts, and reconciliation of actuals
- Source, onboard, and manage project team members including OPS unionized employees and fee-for-service consultants; clarify roles and set performance expectations
- Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues before they escalate; articulate risks at senior executive levels with recommended mitigation strategies
- Establish and participate in steering committee and stakeholder forums; provide program and portfolio-level reporting to multi-stakeholder audiences
- Lead organizational development, strategy development, business planning, and Ministry funding requests
- Resolve resourcing and interpersonal conflicts; negotiate changes to resourcing while ensuring knowledge sharing across the team
- Promote OPS I&IT project management best practices, GO-ITS standards adherence, and standard methodology compliance
- Manage change across all project stages — concept, definition, planning, implementation, and close-out — using appropriate strategies to overcome resistance
- Coordinate and monitor project processes; develop and communicate guidelines and procedures to ensure alignment across IT, industry, and business stakeholders
- Support AODA compliance requirements as part of the application upgrade deliverables
Must-Have Requirements
- Demonstrated experience leading large, technically complex IT projects through the full project lifecycle
- Formal Project Management training (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent)
- Proven experience identifying issues and risks, setting project timelines, tracking progress, and reporting to senior executives
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary projects involving IT groups, industry partners, and business clients
- Strong experience resolving conflict, negotiating project direction, and achieving consensus among stakeholders
- Experience communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Experience coordinating Business Analysts and managing stakeholder engagement activities
Nice-to-Have Skills
- Experience leading projects involving Esri-based geospatial solutions including ArcGIS Portal, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Server, and ArcGIS Image Server
- Experience with GIS infrastructure, middleware, services, applications, databases, monitoring tools, and maintenance activities
- Experience with integrated networking technologies, Microsoft Azure, Oracle Spatial, MS Fabric, midrange servers, and enterprise storage
- Knowledge of PMI's Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)
- Knowledge of Information Management principles, concepts, policies, and practices
- Knowledge of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and related regulations and standards
- Ability to make recommendations on the acquisition of software, hardware, and technology resources
- Experience identifying functional area conflicts and developing effective resolution responses
- Experience managing client relationships, setting expectations, and providing regular project status updates
Work Environment
This is a fully onsite role with two recommended work locations: 300 Water Street, North Tower, Floor 4, Peterborough, Ontario, and 40 St Clair Avenue West, Floor 11, Toronto, Ontario. The successful candidate is expected to work 5 days per week onsite and maintain uninterrupted service for the full duration of the contract. No security clearance is required. The role operates within a program-level governance structure involving both independent project and corporate oversight, and may include partial assignment to Bill 5 (Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act 2025) related initiatives on an as-needed basis.