Project Manager III

Location: Lansing, MI

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Duration: Long-Term Contract

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager III to lead and oversee large-scale, strategic projects and programs with high organizational visibility. The ideal candidate will have a strong background managing complex initiatives involving cross-functional teams, diverse stakeholders, vendors, multiple dependencies, and technology/system integrations.

This role requires strong leadership, executive-level communication, project governance, risk and issue management, and the ability to manage projects through the full lifecycle from initiation and planning through execution, implementation, and closeout.

The successful candidate will ensure projects remain aligned with organizational priorities, established project management methodologies, and approved scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead complex projects and programs involving cross-functional teams, stakeholders, vendors, and interdependent schedules.
• Manage stakeholder and vendor relationships and provide regular project updates to leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Lead sponsor and stakeholder meetings, communicating project health, progress, risks, issues, dependencies, and key decisions.
• Establish and maintain project controls to provide timely visibility into changes affecting scope, schedule, cost, and quality.
• Develop comprehensive project plans, staffing strategies, schedules, milestones, deliverables, and reporting processes.
• Manage projects in accordance with established project management methodologies, governance standards, and organizational priorities.
• Oversee all phases of the project lifecycle, including initiation, planning, execution, implementation, monitoring, and closeout.
• Direct day-to-day project activities and coordinate tasks, milestones, deliverables, and dependencies.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project objectives, timelines, requirements, and deliverables.
• Identify, assess, track, and proactively mitigate project risks, issues, dependencies, and competing priorities.
• Monitor project performance and implement corrective actions when projects deviate from approved scope, schedule, budget, or quality expectations.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration among project teams, business stakeholders, vendors, and leadership.
• Build consensus, resolve conflicts, negotiate outcomes, and support timely project decision-making.
• Analyze project data and information to identify challenges, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, status reporting, and governance materials.
• Perform additional project management responsibilities as needed to support organizational objectives.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience working effectively in team environments within matrixed organizations.
• 5+ years of experience managing complex, high-priority conflicts, competing requirements, and stakeholder expectations.
• 5+ years of experience applying project management principles, methodologies, and industry best practices.
• 5+ years of experience working with system development methodologies for developing new systems and enhancing existing information systems.
• 5+ years of experience gathering, analyzing, and translating stakeholder needs into actionable project requirements.
• 5+ years of experience analyzing data, identifying problems, and developing effective solutions.
• 5+ years of experience communicating across teams, facilitating working sessions, building consensus, and negotiating outcomes.
• 5+ years of experience managing stakeholder relationships and resolving project-related issues effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a government, public-sector, or highly regulated environment.
• Experience in one or more of the following roles:
  • Project Manager
  • Program Manager
  • Project Lead
  • Project Coordinator
  • Project Management Lead
  • Other project management leadership or support roles

Key Skills & Competencies

• Project & Program Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Executive Communication
• Vendor Management
• Risk & Issue Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Project Planning & Scheduling
• Budget & Cost Management
• Quality Management
• Scope & Requirements Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Consensus Building
• Systems Development Methodologies
• Data Analysis & Problem Solving
• Facilitation & Negotiation
• Project Governance
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management