Client Engagement Manager (Project Manager)

Ardent Learning•Irvine, CA

3d•Remote

About The Position

This position is a temporary (contract to hire) role with no specific time period but could be extended or shortened as needed; work can be done remotely. Summary Description: The Client Engagement Manager is vital to client satisfaction, project health, and the anchor for our internal project teams. Their goal is to maximize client project success and account satisfaction by developing strong relationships with key stakeholders across accounts. The Client Engagement Manager brings excellent project management experience to their accounts, and is a top knotch communicator both internally and with our clients and vendors.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of experience required
5+ years’ experience as a client facing Project Manager; experience in the learning industry is a plus
Experience with Smartsheet, Microsoft Project or other project management tools
Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook
Proven ability to manage budgets
Willingness to support clients across multiple timezones (EST, CST, PST)
High competence in project and client services management; able to embrace the flexibility and ambiguity needed in our client services environment
Effective client communications, including being confident having difficult conversations
Work creatively to manage project scope and changes by problem solving, identifying risks / issues and negotiating win-win solutions
Demonstrated ability to launch new client engagements and projects
Reporting on project success criteria / metrics, milestones, risks and issues – internally and with the client
Proven track record for successful delivery of projects and working cross-functionally across internal and external teams
Ability to be flexible in diving into project detail when necessary, while keeping the overall picture in mind
Demonstrated ability to be responsive with both verbal and written communication, while maintaining a strong sense of urgency

Nice To Haves

experience in the learning industry is a plus

Responsibilities

Leads the full lifecycle of client engagements and oversees design, development, and production of projects to ensure client specifications and deadlines are met
Act as a Client advocate – ensuring our internal project teams are aligned and able to prioritize deliverables
Adhere to Ardent’s project management standards and best practices, embracing flexibility where possible
Develop, maintain, and monitor progress reports, project plans, timelines and budgets with focus on attention to detail and client satisfaction — speaking up when deliverables are not in alignment with Ardent standards
Develop detailed project plan(s) to monitor and track progress
Ensure timely and efficient milestone handoffs internally and externally throughout project
Provide proactive status updates to team members, management and clients. Hold internal and external status meetings. Document and communicate decisions and actions from each status meeting
Manages people and vendor resources required for client engagements – reworking plans and prioritizing needs effectively with Resource Manager
Provide project support to participating internal and external talent
Develop purchase orders, track projects from purchase order through invoicing
Obtain client feedback and work through edits and revisions
Escalate any project changes that may affect scope, time, cost and or quality
Perform risk management to minimize project risks
Stay in tune with client needs, strengthening Ardent’s position as learning consultants
Travel locally to and from the client location as needed
Other duties as assigned