Project/Program Manager IT 4

Role: Project/Program Manager IT 4
Location: Chicago, IL or Peoria, IL
Work Arrangement: Hybrid initially; must be willing to work onsite 5 days/week if the requirement changes

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced IT Project/Program Manager to join a Digital Application Program Management team. This role will lead cross-functional project teams responsible for delivering software solutions that integrate common services across an enterprise application portfolio and systems used by customers and dealers.

The Project/Program Manager will manage projects from initiation through implementation, ensuring successful delivery on schedule, within budget, and according to quality expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead project planning and execution from initiation through completion.
• Manage cross-functional and multifunctional project teams across business and engineering organizations.
• Develop and maintain project charters, schedules, plans, budgets, communications, metrics, and reporting.
• Establish project scope, ways of working, milestones, and completion dates with stakeholders.
• Coordinate projects through concept, prototype, pilot, implementation, and follow-up stages.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks/issues, and communicate impacts to appropriate stakeholders.
• Recommend solutions and alternatives to resolve project challenges.
• Lead change management and support timely decision-making.
• Develop detailed project schedules reflecting scope, dependencies, timelines, costs, and affected functions.
• Use professional project management tools and techniques for reporting, tracking, scheduling, and delegation.
• Work closely with Product Owners, Engineering teams, Business Partners, Product Managers, and other stakeholders.
• Manage approximately 2 3 projects concurrently, with an annual volume of approximately 8 10 projects depending on project and Agile sprint cycles.
• Coordinate with distributed teams across the U.S., India, and Slovakia.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university plus 8+ years of experience, OR
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline plus 6+ years of experience.
• 6+ years of direct project management experience working with software engineering teams in an Agile software development environment.
• 6+ years of experience managing projects from inception through completion, including leading teams toward alignment.
• Experience leading end-to-end program management within a cross-functional/matrix organization.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams, business partners, and product managers.
• Experience managing large organizational change initiatives.

Technical Skills

• Strong experience with project management concepts, including:
  • Project charters
  • Project planning and scheduling
  • Scope definition
  • Project execution and delivery
  • Risk/issue management
• Experience with ticketing/project management systems such as Jira, Microsoft Azure/Azure DevOps, or similar tools.
• 2+ years of experience with Azure DevOps (formerly VSTS) and Confluence.
• Advanced proficiency with:
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
• Strategic thinking, alignment, and direction-setting capabilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Scrum Master (CSM)
• PMP Certification
• Change Management Certification
• Six Sigma Black Belt
• Scrum Master experience in addition to project/program management experience
• Experience working within large enterprise organizations
• Experience with eCommerce applications/projects
• 2+ years of Power BI experience
• Experience working with Agile software development teams

Key Soft Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong project management and team leadership abilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects effectively.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across teams.
• Ability to handle sensitive issues and work effectively with stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.