Project Manager

IMEC Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center • Peoria, IL

21d • $70,000 - $90,000

About The Position

The Project Manager supports project work delivered to IMEC clients and serves as the primary point of contact for assigned projects. The role manages client projects that may span multiple departments, overseeing resources, schedules, financial performance, risks, issues, and change requests to support successful and timely delivery. The Project Manager works independently and collaboratively across the organization, balancing multiple priorities while communicating with clients, internal teams, solution providers, and other stakeholders. Applicants must reside in Illinois and have work authorization; IMEC cannot sponsor visas. The home-base location is flexible, with periodic travel throughout Illinois for internal and external meetings, events, conferences, and client meetings. IMEC is headquartered in Peoria, Illinois.

IMEC is an improvement organization that works with Illinois manufacturers to plan, implement, and evaluate business improvements. Its team provides clients with expertise across company leadership, planning, business growth, operations, people, and data-informed decision-making. IMEC has more than 50 full-time staff and partners statewide and assists more than 3,000 companies each year.

The work environment may be office-based, hybrid, or remote, with standard hours and extended hours or weekend work as required. Reliable transportation and the ability to commute to meeting locations are essential. The role may require access to manufacturing facilities that are not ADA accessible.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Three to five years of related professional experience; nonprofit experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading projects and programs to completion on time and within budget.
• Experience tracking, planning, and managing projects.
• Experience gathering and documenting client and business requirements.
• Experience developing and submitting budget proposals and recommending budget changes when needed.
• Ability to research and analyze project-related issues and products.
• Experience with internal and external communications.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including prioritization and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with staff, clients, external partners, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills with technical and non-technical audiences at all organizational levels.
• Strong leadership and motivational skills, including the ability to lead up, across, and down the organization.
• Demonstrated decision-making, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work creatively and analytically while demonstrating teamwork, innovation, and excellence.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team player.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and adapt to competing priorities.
• Commitment to client service and responsiveness.
• Ability to meet performance goals and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to identify opportunities and propose solutions.
• Ability to work effectively with a geographically dispersed, remote team through in-person and electronic interaction.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Adobe Acrobat; Salesforce; and social media/web platforms.
• Must reside in Illinois and have work authorization; visa sponsorship is unavailable.
• Must have reliable transportation and be able to commute to various meeting locations and access manufacturing facilities that may not be ADA accessible.
• Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information, including telephone numbers, for at least three professional references with the initial application.

Nice To Haves

• Related professional experience within a nonprofit organization.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned projects to ensure activities align with project plans, requirements, and guidelines.
• Develop, implement, and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate day-to-day project activities, resources, and complex project schedules.
• Ensure project materials are procured and provided as specified.
• Coordinate with managers to ensure sufficient resources are available for on-time project completion.
• Manage special initiatives as needed.
• Provide project oversight to support quality performance and successful delivery.
• Monitor project financial status and identify potential risks.
• Identify project plan deficiencies and coordinate corrective action plans.
• Manage project issues, risks, and change requests.
• Serve as an internal quality control check and participate in problem resolution.
• Report project milestones, deliverables, risks, and issues to appropriate stakeholders.
• Contribute to improvement of IMEC’s project management process.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned projects.
• Lead regular interactions with clients and solution providers and develop trusted adviser relationships with clients and project stakeholders.
• Provide project leadership to the IMEC team to accomplish project milestones and goals.
• Communicate effectively across departments and organizational levels.
• Maintain accurate project records and documentation, including project information in the CRM system.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Up to 8% employer 401(k) match.
• Five weeks of PTO to start, with increased accrual based on years of service.
• Ten paid holidays plus an annual year-end organizational closure.
• Company-paid life, AD&D, and disability coverage.
• Eligibility for a year-end incentive bonus based on organizational and individual performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level