Project Manager

Role:

The Project Manager is responsible for leading strategic projects through their entire lifecycle, applying enterprise project management methodologies and industry guidelines. This includes managing internal team members and external vendors to meet project goals, addressing risks and issues, and exercising judgment in escalation and decision-making. Effective interaction with management at all levels is essential for driving organizational change and ensuring project success.

Location: Our headquarters are based in Syracuse, NY. We work in a Hybrid Model requiring a minimum of 5 days in office per month.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

25% Project Management:

- Lead strategic projects through the full lifecycle using enterprise project management methodologies and industry best practices.

- Manage activities and deliverables of internal teams and external vendors to achieve project objectives.

- Identify, assess, and address project risks and issues, making informed decisions and escalating as necessary.

- Act as a change agent, driving organizational change with maturity and flexibility.

- Utilize strong soft skills to interact effectively with all management levels and stakeholders.

25% Project Timeline Management:

- Oversee the coordination of business, IT, and external service provider teams.

- Schedule and align activities to meet project milestones.

- Address and escalate performance concerns to the Project Sponsor and functional managers.

- Ensure effective communication among all project stakeholders to align objectives and resolve issues promptly.

- Monitor and adjust project timelines, ensuring that projects stay on track and within scope.

25% Project Scope & Deliverables:

- Lead the development of business cases and project benefits during the initiation phase.

- Develop and manage a detailed project scope, including any subsequent change orders, ensuring necessary approvals.

- Create and maintain a detailed project schedule, addressing variances and ensuring successful execution.

- Oversee the creation and maintenance of essential project deliverables, including Vendor Contracts, - Communications Plan, Testing Plan, Training Plan, and Implementation Plan.

- Ensure high quality and consistency in all project artifacts and outputs throughout the lifecycle.

20% Reporting & Communication:

- Provide regular project status updates to stakeholders through team meetings, reports, and other communication methods.

- Escalate issues and decisions appropriately with the Project Sponsor and PMO.

- Advocate for the continuous improvement of the organization’s Project Management Methodology.

5% Perform all other duties as assigned.

Performance Measurements:

See Dayforce (HRIS) Performance Management for Goals upon start in role, and annually.

Knowledge and Skills:

Experience: 5 to 7 years of project management experience leading strategic initiatives, with a strong focus on applying Project Management Institute (PMI) standards and guidelines. Experience in implementing new software technology or managing system conversions is highly desirable, and experience within the financial industry is considered a plus.

Education: Bachelor's degree is preferred. Project Management certification or training (e.g., PMP, Scrum Master) is beneficial but not required.

Interpersonal Skills: Work involves extensive personal contact with all levels of the organization. This contact will require a significant level of diplomacy and confidence to effectively communicate project needs. Work will involve motivating others to complete project activities or soliciting cooperation and it will be vital to maintain good working relationships with all departments. Work will require strong planning, analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to think through details and tactics without losing sight of overall project goals.

Other Skills:

- Demonstrated business acumen and strong negotiation skills.

- Highly developed oral and written communication skills, with strong presentation capabilities.

- Proven ability to concurrently manage multiple projects at different stages of their lifecycle.

- Excellent organization and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines independently.

- Expertise in resource planning, project scheduling, and adjusting project plans as necessary.

- Ability to synthesize and summarize both business and technical project status.

Physical Requirements: Extended working hours may be required, along with periodic travel to conferences and seminars, which may involve out-of-town trips. The physical demands necessary to perform the essential functions of this role include standing for long periods, using hands to finger, handle, or feel, and the ability to talk and hear. Occasionally, the employee may be required to walk, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Additionally, the role may involve lifting or moving up to 35 pounds. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This Job Description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising the position.