Senior IT Project Manager

Description

Sargent & Lundy is a global leader in power and energy consulting, where innovation meets integrity, diversity, and a commitment to quality. Our distinctive capabilities provide domestic and international clients and partners with a thoroughly reliable source of comprehensive expertise. Sargent & Lundy offers challenge, flexibility, competitive salaries and benefits.

We are seeking a Senior IT Project Manager to join our Technology Business Operations team. This individual will be responsible for driving the planning, execution, and delivery of IT projects and initiatives across the organization, ensuring they are completed on time, within scope, and aligned with strategic business objectives.

We are looking for someone who is naturally curious, proactive, driven and doesn't wait for direction but actively seeks out opportunities to improve how work gets done. The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in project management methodology and a demonstrated track record of developing, documenting, and enforcing project management processes, standards, and guidelines that elevate team performance and delivery quality. This role requires someone who will champion structure and discipline while remaining adaptable and collaborative across diverse stakeholder groups.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Planning & Execution

• Lead the end-to-end management of IT projects of varying size and complexity—from initiation and planning through execution, monitoring, and closure.
• Define project scope, objectives, deliverables, timelines, milestones, and resource requirements in collaboration with stakeholders and senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, work breakdown structures, and schedules; proactively manage scope, schedule, and budget.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues; maintain a risk register and escalate appropriately.

Process Development & Methodology Enforcement

• Design, document, and continuously improve project management processes, frameworks, templates, and guidelines for consistent execution across the portfolio.
• Establish and enforce project governance standards—including gate reviews, status reporting cadences, change control procedures, and documentation requirements.
• Champion and embed Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid) across project teams; coach team members on Agile principles and ceremonies.
• Drive adoption and adherence to defined methodologies, holding teams accountable to established standards while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Portfolio & PPM Tool Management

• Leverage Asana (or equivalent PPM tools) to manage project tracking, task management, reporting dashboards, and portfolio visibility.
• Ensure project data integrity within the PPM platform; develop standardized templates, workflows, and reporting views.
• Provide regular portfolio-level status reporting, KPIs, and project health summaries to leadership and stakeholders.

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned projects, managing expectations and communications across business units, IT teams, vendors, and executive sponsors.
• Facilitate steering committee meetings, project reviews, and working sessions; prepare and present clear, concise project updates and decision-support materials.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams (engineering, IT operations, business units, vendors) to align priorities, manage dependencies, and remove impediments.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Provide guidance and mentorship to project coordinators, junior project managers, and cross-functional team members.
• Foster a team culture rooted in accountability, transparency, intellectual curiosity, and a bias toward action.
• Lead by example—driving momentum, asking the right questions, and pushing initiatives forward with purpose and urgency.

This position offers the flexibility of a hybrid schedule with the expectation of 3 days per week in our downtown Chicago office, and 2 days remote from home.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Business Administration, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• 5+ years of experience managing IT projects in a corporate, professional services, or technology environment.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and enforcing project management processes, standards, and governance frameworks.
• Proven proficiency in Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, or hybrid); experience facilitating Agile ceremonies and coaching teams on Agile practices.
• Hands-on experience with Asana or comparable PPM/project management platforms (e.g., Smartsheet, Jira, Microsoft Project).
• Strong organizational and multitasking skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and competing priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to distill complex information into clear, actionable updates for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships across all levels of an organization.
• Self-starter with a proactive mindset. Someone who actively identifies gaps, asks questions, and drives solutions without requiring direction to do so.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP (Project Management Professional), PMI-ACP, or CSM (Certified ScrumMaster) certification.
• Experience in the energy, engineering, utilities, or professional services industry.
• Experience managing ERP implementations, infrastructure migrations, or enterprise-level technology transformation programs.
• Familiarity with IT service management (ITSM) principles and tools (e.g., ServiceNow, Ivanti).
• Experience with business process improvement, change management, or organizational readiness initiatives.
• Exposure to vendor management, contract oversight, and third-party delivery governance.
• Knowledge of financial management principles related to IT project budgeting and cost tracking.

Key Attributes for Success

• Curious & Forward-Thinking: Actively seeks to understand the "why" behind business needs and continuously explores better ways to deliver.
• Process-Oriented: Brings structure and repeatability to project delivery while knowing when to adapt.
• Ownership Mindset: Takes end-to-end responsibility—treats projects as their own and drives them to completion.
• Bias Toward Action: Moves things forward with urgency and purpose; doesn't let ambiguity stall progress.
• Collaborative & Influential: Builds trust across teams and stakeholders; can navigate complex organizational dynamics with professionalism and clarity.
• Resilient & Adaptable: Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment; stays composed under pressure and pivots when circumstances change.

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Award-Winning Benefits

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Compensation Range

$87,378 - $133,494

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well-being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

Awards & Recognition

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.