IT Project Manager (Hybrid - Chicago, IL)

Our customer is a large United States insurance company that is backed by more than 100 years of experience and provides insurance products and services for businesses and professionals in the United States., Canada and Europe. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, they have more than 20 US locations.

We are seeking a contract IT Project Manager to support our Customer's business needs. This role is hybrid (on-site at least 2 days a week) in Chicago, IL.

This role will be responsible for leading large-scale, cross-functional enterprise projects and mentoring project teams. This role ensures successful project delivery by aligning goals, mitigating risks, and managing communications, resources, and financials across multiple teams and vendors.

Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership for enterprise-wide projects, ensuring alignment with business goals and objectives.
• Identify and resolve issues and risks proactively to ensure timely project delivery.
• Mentor project teams in best practices, including scope, time, cost, communication, and risk management.
• Define project roles, responsibilities, and accountability for all team members.
• Remove organizational barriers and foster collaboration across IT and business units.
• Review and assess new project initiatives for feasibility, resource needs, timelines, and ROI.
• Ensure accurate financial tracking and reporting, including budgeting, accruals, and capital vs. expense activities.
• Drive consistency in project management practices and build a community of practice among PMs.
• Set and enforce project governance standards, processes, and tools across the organization.

Experience and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, IT, or a related field (Master’s preferred). PMP or other relevant project management certifications are highly desirable
• 10–12+ years of project management experience, with at least 5 years in leadership roles managing complex, high-budget, multi-vendor initiatives.
• Demonstrated success managing multi-million dollar cross-functional projects, including MSPs and third-party vendors.
• Deep understanding of project accounting, budgeting, operational costs, and capital/expense delineation.
• Experience influencing senior executives and navigating matrixed organizations.
• Expertise in project management methodologies and tools (e.g., MS Project, JIRA, Smartsheet)
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• Self-starter with a solution-oriented mindset
• Highly organized and detail-focused
• Ability to manage ambiguity and scope creep effectively
• Executive presence and the ability to influence across functions
• Resilient and adaptable in dynamic environments
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Capable of building trust and collaboration among diverse teams

Preferred Technical Knowledge:

• Security tool implementation and upgrades
• Identity and Access Management (IAM)
• Enterprise Change Management systems

We offer a competitive salary range for this position. Most candidates who join our team are hired at the median of this range, ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Contractor benefits are available through our 3rd Party Employer of Record (Available upon completion of waiting period for eligible engagements)

Benefits include: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.