Senior Project Manager

Section 1: Position Summary

A Senior Project Manager is responsible for managing initiatives that increase in size and complexity, such as leading enterprise-wide initiatives, to accomplish organizational strategic priorities. Expectations of the role include leading and engaging cross-functional teams in the development and execution of project plans to incrementally meet project objectives that deliver value to Ascensus. The Senior Project Manager collaborates closely with Product Owners, other business and technology leaders, external parties, and teams of subject matter experts to ensure broad organizational readiness, effective risk management, and transparent and timely communications with stakeholders and management. The Senior also invests in others as a mentor and advocates for agile and lean project management to improve enterprise agility.

Section 2: Job Functions, Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Project Management

• Communicate roles and responsibilities to teams of subject matter experts responsible for organizational readiness.
• Apply established best-practices while working lean (eliminating waste) and agile (being adaptive, resilient, flexible and appropriate to the situation or project).
• Coordinate internal resources in conjunction with product owners.
• Manage vendor relationships as needed.
• Lead and support cross-functional teams in the creation, integration and execution of an accurate and well-defined project plan, inclusive of external activities, to achieve desired objectives in the most effective, efficient and expeditious manner feasible.
• Manage planning and coordination of broad organizational readiness such as launch, communication and training strategies, while ensuring alignment with technology team deliverables, in support of driving incremental value.
• Manage budget and forecast costs/hours for planning and reporting. Follow internal guidelines to accurately capture costs eligible for capital consideration.
• Perform risk management. Anticipate challenges and formulate viable solutions before issues or risks adversely affect the project or client relationship. Collaborate with scrum teams to provide visibility and transparency into issues, risks and dependencies which may impact overall readiness and delivery. Escalate to management as needed.
• Build and maintain communication channels and methods to provide updates on progress to both internal and external stakeholders timely and succinctly.
• Prepare reports for enterprise level PMO reporting.
• Manage project performance using appropriate tools and techniques.
• Develop subject-matter knowledge to the extent necessary to drive key project activities.
• Formally close the release or set of deliverables, as defined by objectives.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Leadership

• Continually improve workflow and maximize efficiency by eliminating impediments.
• Guide, navigate and support teams if initiatives are forced to adjust due to resource or priority changes.
• Advocate for agile and lean project management as well as process improvement across the enterprise; actively engage to implement change well.
• Provide mentoring and leadership to less experienced team members.
• Proactively invest in the training and learning opportunities to advance project team effectiveness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for protecting, securing, and proper handling of all confidential data held by Ascensus to ensure against unauthorized access, improper transmission, and/or unapproved disclosure of information that could result in harm to Ascensus or our clients.
• Our I-Client service philosophy and our Core Values of People Matter, Quality First and Integrity AlwaysÂŽ should be visible in your actions on a day to day basis showing your support of our organizational culture.
• Assist with other tasks and projects as assigned

Supervision

• N/A

Section 3: Experience, Skills, Knowledge Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience.
• A minimum of 6 years of project management experience within the financial services, recordkeeping or similar field of work preferred. Knowledge and application of agile methodologies preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools: Word, Excel, MS Project.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills including attention to detail and multitasking skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills to lead complex initiatives through collaboration with internal & external clients and vendors.
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work in a time sensitive environment while managing multiple, complex initiatives.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

Ascensus is a place to have a career, not just a job. As the largest US independent retirement and college savings services provider, we put our focus on people. Our culture is guided by sound principles, is committed to high standards, operates with transparency, and welcomes diversity. When you join our team, you get to go to work every day knowing that you help over 6 million Americans save for retirement and college.