Senior Project Manager

Manages projects that are non-cyclical and varied, aligning with the project management life cycle (initiating/defining; planning; executing; close-out) and supporting business priorities. May also perform some project work, such as research and analysis. As part of the Field Operations Strategy and Practices team, this role will be responsible for acting as a day-to-day operations manager for one or more GRS Field Operations executives, as well as, overseeing longer-term regional and national projects. Works across GRS, organizes and operationalizes distribution initiatives. Develops and deploys tactics to achieve critical operational objectives. Analyzes key performance indicators to understand business flow, identify opportunities and inform strategies. Serves as a primary liaison for Field Operations to drive countrywide consistency across practices. At this level, manages a portfolio of projects to include those considered complex in nature with function-wide and/or SBU-wide impact. Provides updates to manager and collaborates with manager regarding highly complex matters requiring escalation.

Responsibilities:

• Works with assigned Field Operations leaders with the national distribution organization and with cross-functional areas such as underwriting and claims.
• Supports the assigned executives in the development of regional strategies, including opportunity identification, tactical planning, deployment and results monitoring.
• Leads development for internal and external meetings and develops communications.
• Manages a portfolio of projects to include those considered complex in nature with function-wide and/or SBU-wide impact. Examples of complexity: highly technical, substantial budget, high visibility, long tail, many stakeholders crossing multiple functional groups, outside U.S. arena, etc.
• Defines the business case with input from stakeholders. Identifies and gains agreement on project objectives, scope, timing, and resources.
• Plans activities/tasks that will deliver the desired results and oversees day-to-day work and monitoring of progress towards goals. Ensures resources are optimally sourced and deployed.
• Conducts project meetings and prepares regular reports to communicate the status of projects to stakeholders within and beyond the project team.
• Adeptly builds consensus and gains buy-in among stakeholders across the organization.
• Escalates and works to resolve issues that serve as roadblocks and/or place project objectives at risk. Identifies and provides visibility into trade-offs between options, while strongly influencing recommended approach.
• In addition to project management, may also perform some of the work defined in the project roles and responsibilities.
• Performs project close-out steps to include identifying lessons learned/best practices to inform the success of future projects. Applies continuous improvement methodologies throughout the project management lifecycle.
• Provides mentoring to less experienced staff.