Project Manager – Internship

Athene•West Des Moines, IA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Manager Intern supports the delivery of Operations projects, assisting with business and IT initiatives that drive business growth, operational optimization, and system implementations. Under the guidance of experienced Project and Portfolio Managers, the intern gains hands-on exposure to project management practices and supports assigned tasks and deliverables rather than independently leading projects. The internship provides professional development, social and networking events, volunteer and community involvement opportunities, and collaboration with other interns. Eligible interns may have a paid housing option. Internships run from mid-May to early August. The role is an in-office internship at Athene’s location at 7700 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. Candidates must be enrolled at an accredited college or university for Fall term 2027. Interns will also gain experience in a workplace where AI and emerging technologies are changing how work is done. The role offers opportunities to use AI-enabled tools to analyze information, streamline routine work, generate ideas, improve processes, and solve business challenges, while learning to use AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

Requirements

Must be enrolled at an accredited college or university for Fall term 2027.
A bachelor's degree in progress or recently completed in Business, Information Systems, Operations Management, or a related field is preferred; relevant coursework, certifications, or equivalent experience will also be considered.
No prior professional project management experience is required.
Foundational understanding of, or strong interest in learning, project management and SDLC processes.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Curiosity about, or hands-on experience with, AI tools and interest in applying them to project management workflows.

Nice To Haves

Prior coursework, internship, or extracurricular project experience.
Exposure to, or interest in, a cross-functional Agile environment.
Interest in large system implementations or the insurance and financial services industry.
Familiarity with MS Project.
Familiarity with Atlassian Jira or similar tools.

Responsibilities

Support coordination of multiple parallel work streams and delivery of Operations projects involving cross-functional IT and business resources.
Assist in tracking and reporting on projects delivered using Agile or iterative methodologies.
Help monitor and document project deliverables to support measurable outcomes.
Support tracking project resource demand and allocations in alignment with EPMO metrics.
Assist with project planning and delivery through the gated process, documenting and tracking scope, cost, and schedule.
Participate in the PM community of practice, learning current processes and helping communicate updates across the team.
Support Portfolio Approval Committee (PAC) preparation and general project management governance activities.
Assist with stage gate planning, material preparation, and development of epics and milestones under senior project managers’ guidance.
Help prepare materials for Project Steering Group meetings and support prioritization efforts across the vertical.
Assist in maintaining the roadmap of initiatives across vertical and horizontal teams and tracking cross-functional interdependencies.
Collaborate with the PMO to learn and support consistent project delivery practices across the IT organization.
Support exploration and piloting of AI-powered tools, such as generative AI and automation, to streamline project tracking, status reporting, and documentation.