Project Manager
Austin, TX

Job Description

Job Summary

The Project Manager is responsible for the management and delivery of critical and highly visible systems projects in support of National Western Life Insurance Company's strategic business objectives. The Project Manager will manage multiple IT projects of varying scope. The Project Manager must be comfortable working as both the project manager and business analyst on small project initiatives up to and including working as the program manager directing other project managers for larger project initiatives. The Project Manager has overall responsibility for managing scope, budget, schedule, internal staffing and outside vendors and contractual deliverable, while ensuring compliance with National Western Life Insurance Company's software development lifecycle (SDLC) processes.

Essential Functions

Leads the most complex projects ensuring project tasks are assigned and completed through assigned project staff (utilizing traditional waterfall and/or agile methodologies as required).

Performs facilitated planning sessions to build consensus among project team members regarding task definitions, task sequencing and task interrelationships within the project. Based on the finding from these sessions, creates, reviews, and updates program schedules, supporting documents and corresponding project management plans.

Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met.

Analyzes business needs and works with stakeholders to propose and deliver cost effective solutions in alignment with National Western Life Insurance Company objectives and architectural standards.

Manages the development, implementation, and maintenance of project management policies, standards, procedures in compliance with state, federal regulations and standards.

Manages and maintains accurate and current project plans utilizing industry standard project management tools.

Manages project sponsors expectations and collaborates with internal customers to acquire needed information and direction on assigned projects.

Provides project management services such as initiating, planning, and risk analysis/management for assigned projects as well as in support of the department's overall project portfolio.

Assigns resources to projects or programs in support of project initiatives and in coordination with resource managers and departmental resource planning.

Ensures project requirements are achieved in a high quality and timely fashion within budget guidelines.

Monitors compliance and consistency with lifecycle, architectural and enterprise standards.

Provides weekly project status reports against baseline budget, scope and schedule, ensuring risks and issues are appropriately communicated and escalated.

Actively influences an integrated approach to project delivery across all required IT teams and resource types.

Serves as a senior member of the IT project management team to improve the overall quality of processes and tools within the organization; including process improvement, facilitation and education through presentations and thought leadership on industry best practice.