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Project Manager - Job Opportunity at FreeBalance

Ottawa, Canada
Full-time
Senior
Posted: June 27, 2025
On-site
CAD 85,000 - 115,000 annually, considering the senior-level requirements, government sector focus, security clearance needs, and Ottawa market conditions. The specialized nature of government ERP implementations and the 7+ years experience requirement place this role in the upper-mid to senior salary range for project management positions in the Canadian government technology sector.

Benefits

Opportunity to work with government officials and senior stakeholders, providing high-level executive exposure and networking opportunities that significantly enhance professional credibility
Travel requirements offer international experience and cultural exposure, particularly valuable in the government technology sector
Mentoring responsibilities provide leadership development opportunities and knowledge transfer experience that accelerates career advancement
Access to Government of Canada Security Clearance which is a valuable professional asset that opens doors to numerous high-level government contracting opportunities
Work with cutting-edge financial management technology and ERP systems, providing expertise in a rapidly growing market segment

Key Responsibilities

Lead comprehensive software implementation projects for government accountability systems, directly impacting public sector financial transparency and governance effectiveness
Build and maintain strategic relationships with government representatives and officials, serving as the primary interface for high-stakes public sector engagements
Exercise executive leadership across all program phases from conception to completion, demonstrating autonomous decision-making and strategic planning capabilities
Manage complex contractual obligations including scope, schedule, and budget control, directly impacting organizational profitability and client satisfaction
Oversee financial processes including invoice management and payment collection, contributing to company cash flow and revenue recognition
Execute day-to-day project operations including schedule management, deliverable quality assurance, and responsibility matrix maintenance to ensure project success
Develop and adapt project work plans in response to changing requirements, demonstrating strategic flexibility and risk management
Conduct comprehensive risk assessment and mitigation strategies to protect organizational interests and project outcomes
Provide executive-level status reporting to senior government officials and steering committees, influencing high-level decision making
Implement and enforce organizational methodology and project standards, contributing to process improvement and operational excellence
Manage resource allocation and individual responsibility assignment, demonstrating team leadership and strategic workforce management
Ensure document completeness and proper storage protocols, maintaining compliance and organizational knowledge management
Oversee subcontractor relationships and deliverable management, expanding project capacity and ensuring quality control
Drive process improvement initiatives across internal and external operations, contributing to organizational efficiency and competitive advantage
Provide mentorship and knowledge transfer for project management best practices, contributing to organizational capability building

Requirements

Education

Must have University Degree in Business Administration, Financial Management, Public Accounting, Economics or equivalent

Experience

Minimum of 7 years of experience in the implementation of Financial Management Systems

Required Skills

ERP experience Government project handling experience Implementation of Financial Management Systems Creation and execution of change management related to Financial Management Systems Strong presentation skills Executive-level communications Excellent interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills in English Other languages considered an asset

Certifications

Professional designation in Project Management, Public Management, or Financial Management required Must be eligible for Government of Canada Security Clearance level Secret (Level I)
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Government digital transformation initiatives are accelerating globally, with public sector organizations investing heavily in modernizing financial management systems to improve transparency, accountability, and operational efficiency. This trend is driven by citizen demands for better governance and regulatory requirements for enhanced financial reporting. The ERP market for government applications is experiencing significant growth as legacy systems reach end-of-life and require replacement with modern, cloud-enabled solutions. This creates substantial opportunities for experienced project managers who can navigate complex government procurement processes and stakeholder management. Cybersecurity requirements in government technology projects are intensifying, with security clearance requirements becoming standard for most public sector technology roles. This creates a competitive advantage for professionals who can obtain and maintain appropriate clearance levels.

Role Significance

Typically manages cross-functional teams of 8-15 members including technical specialists, business analysts, change management consultants, and subcontractors. The role involves matrix management of both internal FreeBalance resources and client-side government personnel, requiring sophisticated stakeholder management and coordination skills.
This is a senior-level position with significant autonomy and strategic responsibility. The role involves direct engagement with government officials, executive-level reporting, budget management, and team leadership responsibilities. The requirement for 7+ years of experience and professional designations indicates a role designed for seasoned professionals who can operate independently and manage complex stakeholder relationships.

Key Projects

Multi-year government financial management system implementations ranging from $2-20 million in value Public sector ERP modernization projects involving complex data migration and system integration Government accountability and transparency initiatives requiring stakeholder management across multiple departments and levels of government Change management programs for large-scale technology adoption in government organizations

Success Factors

Exceptional stakeholder management skills are critical given the complex political and bureaucratic environment of government projects, where success depends on managing diverse interests and maintaining positive relationships across multiple organizational levels and departments. Deep understanding of government procurement processes, compliance requirements, and public sector decision-making structures is essential for navigating the unique challenges of government technology implementations and ensuring project approval and support. Strong risk management and mitigation capabilities are crucial due to the high visibility and public accountability aspects of government projects, where failures can have significant political and reputational consequences for both the client and vendor. Excellent communication skills across all organizational levels, from technical staff to senior government executives, are vital for ensuring project alignment, managing expectations, and securing continued support and funding throughout long implementation cycles.

Market Demand

High demand driven by ongoing government modernization initiatives, the specialized skill set required for government ERP implementations, and the limited pool of candidates with both technical expertise and security clearance eligibility. The combination of project management skills, government experience, and financial systems knowledge creates a niche market with strong demand.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

ERP implementation experience is absolutely essential as it forms the core technical foundation for the role. Government ERP projects are significantly more complex than private sector implementations due to regulatory requirements, stakeholder complexity, and public accountability demands, making this experience non-negotiable for success. Government project experience is critical because public sector projects operate under fundamentally different constraints than private sector work, including procurement regulations, political considerations, stakeholder complexity, and public scrutiny that require specialized knowledge and approaches to navigate successfully. Project management professional designation demonstrates formal training and commitment to project management excellence, which is essential for managing the complex, multi-year, high-stakes implementations typical in government technology projects where methodology and process discipline are crucial for success.

Beneficial Skills

Change management expertise becomes increasingly valuable as government organizations recognize that technology implementations fail more often due to people and process issues than technical problems, making professionals who can address the human side of transformation highly sought after in the market. Multi-language capabilities provide significant competitive advantage in Canada's bilingual government environment and international development projects, opening doors to broader project opportunities and enhancing stakeholder relationship management capabilities. Financial management knowledge enhances credibility when working with government finance departments and enables better understanding of client needs, leading to more effective solution design and implementation strategies that align with public sector financial management best practices.

Unique Aspects

The requirement for Government of Canada Security Clearance at the Secret level indicates involvement in sensitive government projects and access to classified information, providing unique career opportunities and professional development in the security-cleared government contractor space.
The specific focus on government accountability and transparency systems positions this role at the intersection of technology and public policy, offering opportunities to contribute to governance improvements and democratic processes through technology solutions.
The international travel component suggests involvement in global government modernization projects, particularly in developing countries, providing unique cross-cultural experience and exposure to diverse government systems and challenges.
The mentoring responsibilities indicate a role that combines project delivery with knowledge transfer and organizational capability building, offering opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute to team development.

Career Growth

Career progression typically occurs within 3-5 years for high-performing project managers in the government technology sector, with advancement opportunities accelerated by successful project delivery, expanded security clearance levels, and development of specialized expertise in emerging government technology areas such as cloud migration and cybersecurity.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Program Manager overseeing multiple concurrent government implementations and managing larger portfolios of public sector clients Director of Government Services responsible for strategic client relationships and business development in the public sector technology market Principal Consultant specializing in government digital transformation and serving as a subject matter expert for complex public sector modernization initiatives Independent consultant focusing on government ERP implementations and change management, leveraging the security clearance and specialized expertise developed in this role

Company Overview

FreeBalance

FreeBalance is a specialized software company focused exclusively on government financial management solutions, particularly in developing countries and emerging markets. The company has established itself as a niche player in the government accountability and transparency technology sector, with a strong focus on helping governments improve their public financial management capabilities through comprehensive software solutions and implementation services.

FreeBalance occupies a unique position in the government ERP market, competing with larger players like SAP and Oracle by focusing specifically on public sector needs and offering specialized government accountability features. The company has built a reputation for understanding the complex requirements of government financial management and has successfully implemented solutions across multiple countries and government levels.
The Ottawa location positions this role at the company's Canadian headquarters, providing access to the Canadian government market as well as international development projects. Ottawa's status as the capital city offers proximity to federal government agencies and international development organizations, creating opportunities for both domestic and international government projects.
The company culture emphasizes public service and social impact, attracting professionals who are motivated by contributing to better governance and transparency in public sector organizations. The focus on government projects creates a collaborative environment where professionals work together to navigate complex stakeholder relationships and deliver solutions that have direct impact on public sector effectiveness and citizen services.
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