Project Manager

Project ManagerThe Project Manager is a strategic leader responsible for driving the successful planning, execution, and delivery of high-impact projects that support both internal company initiatives and customer engagements, with a focus on IT, change management, and cross-functional business needs. This role ensures that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to defined quality standards while delivering meaningful value to stakeholders.Project Managers in our PMO serve as collaborative leaders, ethical stewards of resources, and change enablers. They tailor their approach based on project needs, drive stakeholder engagement, and promote a culture of transparency, agility, and continuous improvement. They combine empathy with decisiveness, bringing executive presence to confidently facilitate discussions and negotiate scope, budget, and timeline while maintaining trust and collaboration.An ideal candidate brings critical thinking, systems awareness, and strong interpersonal skills to lead initiatives that support our organization's evolving priorities. Successful candidates will demonstrate a proactive mindset, the ability to navigate ambiguity, and a commitment to aligning project outcomes with strategic business goals.In addition to managing scope, schedule, and resources, the Project Manager plays a key role in risk mitigation, stakeholder communication, and performance measurement. They foster cross-functional collaboration, champion best practices in project governance, and continuously seek opportunities to optimize delivery processes.This position offers the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide initiatives, contribute to organizational growth, and drive innovation through structured execution and strategic foresight.Responsibilities:Define and manage project scope, goals, timelines, and deliverables in collaboration with cross-functional teamsApply appropriate project management methodology (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid) based on project typeDevelop and maintain project documentation such as scopes, project plans, change requests, and closing reportsCoordinate internal and external resources to meet project requirements and deliverables and hold them accountable to deadlines and quality standardsPractice servant leadership by supporting team members, removing blockers, and enabling progress toward project goalsFoster an inclusive, collaborative team environment by clarifying roles, promoting accountability, and facilitating communicationDeliver stakeholder updates and status meetings, including difficult conversations involving scope, budget, or timeline tradeoffs, with confidence and professionalismNegotiate project scope, timelines, and resource needs with stakeholders, knowing when to make decisions independently versus escalate to leadershipEnsure the appropriate sense of urgency is utilized towards moving projects forward or handling issuesProactively and consistently engage with stakeholders and team members throughout the project lifecycle to build trust, gather input, manage expectations, and ensure alignment on goals and outcomes.Track progress, budgets, risks, and issues to ensure successful delivery of outcomesEnsure quality by defining clear acceptance criteria and validating deliverables with stakeholders at key checkpoints throughout the project lifecycleFollow established change management processes to ensure alignment with project scopes, minimize scope creep, and maintain delivery focus.Contribute to PMO initiatives, including process improvement, training, and knowledge sharingRequirements:Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Business, Information Systems, or a related field; or equivalent experience5+ years of experience independently leading (not solely coordinating or supporting) projects in a business or technical environment; with a primary focus in one or all of the following areas: network infrastructure, process automation, cyber security, cloud/data migrations, AI implementations, etc.Demonstrated, verifiable track record of leading projects end-to-end while owning scope, budget, schedule, and stakeholder decisionsDemonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and communicate effectively across stakeholder groupsDemonstrated executive presence with the ability to confidently present, facilitate, and negotiate with stakeholders at all levels, including C-LevelAbility to balance empathy with decisiveness, comfortable making the call, pushing back on stakeholders (including leadership and clients) when needed, and holding a line without requiring consensusStrong organizational skills that include software tool utilization (MS Office Suite, Note/Journaling software)Strong communication skills to a wider range of audience including internal and external stakeholders up to C-LevelDemonstrates ability to explain detailed solutions for a technical audience, and produce clear written communications for a non-technical audienceAbility to establish and maintain a professional relationship with team members, vendors, and clientsAbility to multi-task in a fast-paced multifaceted environment is necessaryAvailable to support project escalations, time-sensitive client discussions, and cross-departmental meetings as needed, maintaining responsiveness via phone, Teams, and email during business hours and after hours as neededStrongly Preferred:IT MSP experience, delivering projects to end customer organizationsPMI certifications (PMP, PgMP, PfMP, PMI-CPMAI, PMI-PBA, PMI-ACP, CAPM)Agile, Scrum, or Six Sigma certificationsIT certifications (ITIL, CompTIA, etc)Toastmasters equivalent public-speaking experience, demonstrating comfort presenting and advocating in front of a groupBenefits:GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE: After a 30-day waiting period, full-time employees (who work at least 30 hours per week) and their dependents, are eligible to enroll in health benefits utilizing the Cigna network. Health options include a choice of 2 PPO plans or a High Deductible Health Plan with employer contributions to a Health Savings Account (HSA). In addition, Dental benefits are available through Mutual of Omaha as well as a Vision PPO plan utilizing the EyeMed network. Proven also offers voluntary worksite benefits including critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, short-term disability insurance, supplemental life and pet insurance. Additional offerings include an employee discount program, home and auto insurance services and commuter/transit FSA.EMPLOYER PROVIDED LIFE/AD&D INSURANCE: After a 30-day waiting period, Proven IT provides a flat $25,000 Life Insurance benefit, administered by BlueCross BlueShield, to all full-time employees (who work at least 30 hours per week). Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) benefit payments are determined based on the type of loss incurred and are payable up to the full Life Insurance benefit amount. Life and AD&D Insurance coverage amounts are reduced at ages 65, 70 and 75.EMPLOYER PROVIDED LTD: Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance is an employer-provided benefit and provides protection from loss of income in the event that an employee is unable to work due to illness, injury, or accident for a long period of time. The elimination period is 90-days, and the maximum benefit is 60% of covered payroll up to $6000/month. This benefit is paid entirely by Proven IT and has no cost to the employee.EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: All employees may utilize the Disability Resource Services through BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois to assist themselves and their immediate family with convenient resources to help address emotional, legal and financial issues. Telephonic counseling and web-based services are available as well as a limited number of geographically accessible face-to-face sessions.401K PLAN: All employees are eligible after 120 days of service to contribute on either a pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) basis to the 401K plan, administered by Principal Financial Services. Proven offers an employer match equal to 100% of the first 3% of deferrals plus 50% of the next 2% of deferrals.FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES: Proven IT partners with Merrill Lynch to offer financial advisement to all employees. Merrill Lynch financial advisors are available to assist employees at no cost, with their 401k and retirement questions.PERMISSIVE TIME OFF POLICY: Proven provides a competitive paid time off policy for all full-time regular employees after a 90-day waiting period. Proven IT empowers their employees to work with their managers and team to coordinate all time off. Managers may impose a limit to requests for time off based on performance and tenure.PARENTAL LEAVE: Proven IT offers a generous parental leave policy for new parents. After 24-months of employment, Proven provides full-time regular employees with 90-days of paid Maternity leave and 10-days of paid Paternity leave. Employees with less than 24-months of service may take the same amount of unpaid time off.FITNESS CENTER: