Technical Project Manager - Data / AI

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in IT or Business or related field of study from an accredited university or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar role or capacity, with a demonstrated record of success
• Successfully managing system implementations, software releases
• Proven track record serving as a project manager in cross functional projects/programs utilizing MS Project or other similar project tools
• Utilizing and managing outsource service provider resources on large scale projects
• Working knowledge of PMI process groups: initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing
• Solid understanding of IT systems, software development, infrastructure and cybersecurity
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical teams and stakeholders
• Familiar with IT governance frameworks (e.g., COBIT, Agile, Scrum)
• Solid understanding of and demonstrated experience in using Agile Project Management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, DevOps, Rally, VersionOne)
• Experience with MS Project, Office 365 tools and Teams, Planner
• Identifies areas/opportunities for collaboration within and across functions/business areas
• Brokers consensus among stakeholders with conflicting need
• Ability to manage a variety of project teams, including project teams comprised of internal employees, vendors, consultants, and combinations thereof
• Delivering and/or supporting others in writing documents such as policy documents, business cases, requests for information and contracts
• Must be able to communicate effectively and tactfully with all levels of personnel, both in-person and on the phone, and written (reports, emails, etc.)
• Strong attention to detail and understand written and oral instructions
• Strong time management abilities
• Must be able to handle multiple tasks with changing priorities

Benefits

• Generous PTO and strong health insurance will be offered up conversion to full time employee
• Extremely stable company with a lot of growth potential
• Nearly 100 percent remote

Responsibilities

• This role fully intends to go fulltime/permanent after 6 months as a contractor through LHH Recruitment Solutions
• This role is nearly fully remote but candidates should reside in the Chicagoland area and have the ability to get into the Schaumburg office for occasional meetings and company events
• The IT Project Management Specialist is responsible for supporting technology related projects and program development activities of varying size and complexity from initiation through completion across cross-functional project teams including vendor management
• Must have experience in blending traditional project management principles and practices with an agile development approach in the right proportions to provide the right balance
• Ensuring that full project plans are established and managed, that staff and supporting resources are appropriately utilized
• Ensure there is planning for adequate training and documentation, and the business has completed user acceptance
• Budgets are established and tracked for projects from concept to completion, which are effectively and efficiently managed
• Applies principles of scope, resource, time, and quality management including identifying & managing dependencies and critical paths
• In addition, the IT Project Management Specialist will be responsible for the development and management of an overarching communication plan that includes status reporting, executive, and board overviews
• They will be responsible for the development and maintenance of KPIs, risk and issue logs, and budget management
• Controls IT projects through effective management of the project/program resources and schedules ensuring teams do not have past due work in any active project schedules
• Work with Business, Technical Leads, Solution Architecture, Product Owners, Business Analysts and Developer to ensure the work is understood and delivered with business approval
• Facilitates teams in the requirements gathering and planning of project and programs into project goals, deliverables, tasks and milestones utilizing the organizations project systems
• Ensure that project goals are in line with business objectives and achieved
• Facilitates teams in the establishment of full project plans including schedules, marketing and communication plans, release plans, and risk and issue management plans, and effectively and efficiently manages those plans
• Assists in managing vendors required for projects including budget, resources, and deliverables review
• Schedules agenda-driven meetings and provides meeting minutes as required
• Supports continuous improvement efforts across the PMO by facilitating post-implementation reviews, documenting lessons learned, and contributing to the ongoing enhancement of project management tools, templates, and techniques
• Provides consistent project and program reporting through the organizations standardized systems, supports COBIT governance activities (e.g., business cases, project proposals, gate reviews), and assists with developing PMO documentation and reporting practices

Full Description

This is a exciting contract to hire position with a very reputable, stable, global professional organization within the IT/Security industry.

This role fully intends to go fulltime/permanent after 6 months as a contractor through LHH Recruitment Solutions.

This role is nearly fully remote but candidates should reside in the Chicagoland area and have the ability to get into the Schaumburg office for occasional meetings and company events.

The IT Project Management Specialist is responsible for supporting technology related projects and program development activities of varying size and complexity from initiation through completion across cross-functional project teams including vendor management.

Must have experience in blending traditional project management principles and practices with an agile development approach in the right proportions to provide the right balance.

Ensuring that full project plans are established and managed, that staff and supporting resources are appropriately utilized.

Ensure there is planning for adequate training and documentation, and the business has completed user acceptance.

Budgets are established and tracked for projects from concept to completion, which are effectively and efficiently managed.

Applies principles of scope, resource, time, and quality management including identifying & managing dependencies and critical paths.

In addition, the IT Project Management Specialist will be responsible for the development and management of an overarching communication plan that includes status reporting, executive, and board overviews.

They will be responsible for the development and maintenance of KPIs, risk and issue logs, and budget management.

• Controls IT projects through effective management of the project/program resources and schedules ensuring teams do not have past due work in any active project schedules. Work with Business, Technical Leads, Solution Architecture, Product Owners, Business Analysts and Developer to ensure the work is understood and delivered with business approval.

• Facilitates teams in the requirements gathering and planning of project and programs into project goals, deliverables, tasks and milestones utilizing the organizations project systems. Ensure that project goals are in line with business objectives and achieved.

• Facilitates teams in the establishment of full project plans including schedules, marketing and communication plans, release plans, and risk and issue management plans, and effectively and efficiently manages those plans.

• Assists in managing vendors required for projects including budget, resources, and deliverables review.

• Schedules agenda-driven meetings and provides meeting minutes as required.

• Supports continuous improvement efforts across the PMO by facilitating post-implementation reviews, documenting lessons learned, and contributing to the ongoing enhancement of project management tools, templates, and techniques.

• Provides consistent project and program reporting through the organizations standardized systems, supports COBIT governance activities (e.g., business cases, project proposals, gate reviews), and assists with developing PMO documentation and reporting practices.

Required Field of Study:

• Bachelor’s Degree in IT or Business or related field of study from an accredited university or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Minimum Years of Experience Required:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a similar role or capacity, with a demonstrated record of success.

Description of Minimum Experience Required:

• Successfully managing system implementations, software releases

• Proven track record serving as a project manager in cross functional projects/programs utilizing MS Project or other similar project tools.

• Utilizing and managing outsource service provider resources on large scale projects.

Description of Preferred Experience:

• Awareness of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concepts, with exposure to AI-driven capabilities (e.g., Salesforce Einstein, Azure AI Services, or generative AI integration).

• Experience managing data integration tools and pipelines (e.g., Azure Data Factory, Salesforce Data Cloud, or equivalent ETL/ELT) for unifying and activating enterprise data.

• Experience with major system implementation such as CMS, CRM, FMS and AMS

• Served as project manager on cross functional projects/programs in an international environment

• Professional Association/volunteer engagement

• Vendor Management experience

• Sourcing experience

Certification and Licensing Requirements Preferred:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (preferred)

Certification and Licensing Requirements Preferred:

• Agile Scrum Master certified

• PMI-ACP certification

Competencies/Skills Required:

• Working knowledge of PMI process groups: initiating, planning, executing, controlling, and closing.

• Solid understanding of IT systems, software development, infrastructure and cybersecurity.

• Ability to communicate effectively with technical teams and stakeholders.

• Familiar with IT governance frameworks (e.g., COBIT, Agile, Scrum).

• Solid understanding of and demonstrated experience in using Agile Project Management tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, DevOps, Rally, VersionOne)

• Experience with MS Project, Office 365 tools and Teams, Planner

• Identifies areas/opportunities for collaboration within and across functions/business areas

• Brokers consensus among stakeholders with conflicting need.

• Ability to manage a variety of project teams, including project teams comprised of internal employees, vendors, consultants, and combinations thereof.

• Delivering and/or supporting others in writing documents such as policy documents, business cases, requests for information and contracts.

• Must be able to communicate effectively and tactfully with all levels of personnel, both in-person and on the phone, and written (reports, emails, etc.).

• Strong attention to detail and understand written and oral instructions.

• Strong time management abilities.

• Must be able to handle multiple tasks with changing priorities.

Perks and Benefits:

• Generous PTO and strong health insurance will be offered up conversion to full time employee.

• Extremely stable company with a lot of growth potential.

• Nearly 100 percent remote.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

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