Project / Program Manager – IT

Direct Client

Job Title: Project / Program Manager – IT 
Location: Chicago, IL or Peoria, IL (Hybrid – 1 Day Onsite per Week; may increase)​
Interview Process: 2 Rounds (Virtual) 
 
Job Overview 
We are seeking an experienced Project/Program Manager – IT to lead and deliver complex 
technology initiatives. This role requires strong ownership of end-to-end project execution, 
ensuring delivery is on time, within scope, and within budget. 
The ideal candidate will have a solid background in software development environments, 
experience managing cross-functional teams, and the ability to drive alignment across 
Product, Engineering, and Business stakeholders. 
 
Key Responsibilities 
∙Own and drive end-to-end program delivery, including planning, execution, and 
reporting  
∙Develop and manage project plans, timelines, deliverables, and dependencies  
∙Ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget  
∙Identify, track, and resolve risks, issues, and dependencies  
∙Collaborate daily with cross-functional teams including Product, Engineering, 
Operations, and Business leadership  
∙Lead Agile ceremonies such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives  
∙Prepare and present status reports, dashboards, and executive updates  
∙Drive continuous improvement in processes, communication, and execution  
 
Team & Work Environment 
∙Highly collaborative environment with U.S.-based cross-functional teams  
∙Hybrid work model – minimum 1 day onsite per week (subject to increase)  
 
Required Qualifications 
∙Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of relevant experience, OR  
∙Master’s degree with 8+ years of relevant experience  
∙Proven experience managing technical/software projects  
 
Required Skills & Experience 
∙Strong background in software development or technical project environments  
∙Experience with JIRA, Azure DevOps, and Confluence  
∙Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and MS Project  
∙Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills  
∙Experience managing project charters, schedules, and delivery plans  
∙Ability to lead teams, influence stakeholders, and drive accountability  
∙Hands-on experience with Agile methodologies (Scrum ceremonies, sprint planning)  
∙Strong experience in risk management, dependency tracking, and issue resolution  
 
Preferred Qualifications 
∙Knowledge or certification in AWS  
∙Exposure to data design, data extraction, and big data transformation projects  
∙Experience with Power BI  
∙PMP certification (preferred)  
∙Certified Scrum Master (CSM) (preferred)  
∙Change Management certification (preferred)  
∙Six Sigma Black Belt (desirable)  
 
Soft Skills 
∙Strong leadership and team management capabilities  
∙Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills  
∙Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment  
∙Strong collaboration and influencing skills across teams  
 
Additional Notes / Disqualifiers 
∙Candidates must be local to Chicago, IL or Peoria, IL  
∙Candidates open to relocation must clearly state willingness to relocate at their own 
expense  
∙Frequent job changes / inconsistent tenure will be disqualified  
∙Not seeking Agile transformation specialists—focus is on execution within existing 
client processes