Job Title
Sr. Project Manager
Job Description Summary
Job Description
The Senior Project Manager is accountable for the successful delivery of complex, high-risk, and high-visibility initiatives. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and judgment, anticipating delivery risks and executive decision needs before escalation is required.
Senior Project Managers are trusted delivery leaders who engage confidently with sponsors, steering committees, and executives (VP and C-suite). They consistently translate complexity into clear options, guide executive decision-making, and model strong delivery and leadership behaviors across the PMO. Senior Project Managers maintain executive trust through transparent delivery health reporting, credible financial forecasts, and early identification of risks and trade-offs.
Responsibilities:
Delivery Leadership
Lead end-to-end delivery of complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives across scope, schedule, budget, risk, and qualityAnticipate delivery risks, dependencies, and constraints beyond what is explicitly documentedProactively identify and address issues before they require executive escalationDrive disciplined execution while adapting approach based on project complexity and business contextOwn project financial management, including budget planning, forecasting, variance analysis, and proactive identification of cost risks and trade-off optionsEnsure formal project closeout, transition to operations, and lessons learned capture
Governance & Decision Readiness
Operate with PMO standards and governance as baseline expectationsPrepare executive-ready deliverables that anticipate leadership questions and decision frictionPresent clear options, trade-offs, impacts, and recommendations to sponsors and steering committeesEngage governance forums proactively rather than reactivelyProvide clear, accurate financial insights and options to support timely executive and steering committee decision-makingEscalate material issues through appropriate channels with complete context and options
Executive & Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as a primary delivery interface with senior leaders, including CIO, VPs, and CXOsTailor communication style and content to executive audiencesBuild and maintain strong sponsor relationships through transparency and credibilityNavigate competing stakeholder priorities with maturity and emotional intelligence
Vendor & Partner Leadership
Lead vendor and partner delivery activitiesHold implementation partners accountable to contractual commitments, delivery milestones, and quality expectationsIdentify vendor risks early and escalate with recommended actions when requiredEnsure vendor activities align with overall project objectives and governance standards
PMO Influence & Mentorship
Model mature delivery leadership and professional behaviors for Project Managers and CoordinatorsMentor other PMs through influence, example, and informal coachingShare lessons learned and delivery insights to improve PMO practicesContribute to continuous improvement of delivery processes, governance, and standardsResponsibilities may vary within the range of tasks and activities described.
Decision Authority & Escalation
Full authority for project-level delivery decisions, prioritization, and risk mitigationResponsible for preparing and presenting decision-ready options to sponsors and steering committeesEscalates cross-project, systemic, or portfolio-level risks to the Portfolio ManagerOperates as a trusted advisor in executive decision forums
Financials & Budget
Provide oversight and guidance on project financials for assigned initiativesHelp identify financial risks and trends as visibility improvesPartner with Project Managers to improve budget tracking, forecasting practices, and financial narrativesSupport clearer communication of financial risks and trade-offs to senior leadersContribute to improving financial maturity over time through coaching, standardization, and lessons learned
Success Measures
Predictable delivery of complex initiatives with minimal surprisesExecutive confidence and trust in delivery leadershipEarly identification and mitigation of risks and dependenciesHigh-quality escalation materials that enable efficient decision-makingPositive influence on PMO delivery maturity and team capability
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field. Master’s or MBA preferred8+ years of years of progressive project management experience, including complex, enterprise-level initiatives Project Management qualification such as PMP, and/or Scrum Master strongly preferredAbility to travel 10% or less of time
Knowledge & Experience:
Experience leading complex, multi-system initiatives involving data, integrations, and enterprise platforms, with the ability to coordinate across technical and business teams without acting as a functional subject matter expertProven ownership of project financials, including budget planning, forecasting, variance management, and clear financial reportingProficiency using Smartsheet as a primary project planning and tracking tool; experience with other project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Asana, or Azure DevOps is beneficialSolid understanding of software development life cycles, with experience applying both Agile and traditional (predictive) project management approaches based on project needsWorking knowledge of data governance concepts, financial planning processes, and system optimization from a delivery leadership perspectiveDemonstrated ability to manage and lead remotely located, cross-functional project teamsHighly organized and adaptable, with the ability to prioritize effectively, manage competing demands, and operate confidently under pressure
Skills & Personal Qualities:
Demonstrated emotional intelligence with the ability to read situations, adapt communication styles, and navigate complex stakeholder dynamicsStrong leadership presence with the ability to influence outcomes without formal authorityExceptional communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information clearly and confidently to technical teams, business partners, vendors, and executive audiences (VP and C-suite)Proven ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and organizational boundariesSound judgment and decision-making capability, particularly in ambiguous or high-pressure situationsStrong sense of ownership and accountability for delivery outcomes and overall project successAbility to set, manage, and recalibrate priorities to meet aggressive timelines and changing demandsBusiness-oriented mindset with the ability to understand and articulate the purpose and value of initiativesHigh attention to detail while maintaining focus on broader objectives and outcomesStrong written communication skills, including executive-ready status reporting and decision materialsEffective time management and organizational skills to manage multiple competing prioritiesFlexibility to adjust working hours as needed to support critical project phases, stakeholder needs, or executive engagementActs as a role model for delivery discipline, professional behavior, and leadership within the PMO
Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.
The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.
The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.
The compensation for the position is: $ 124,780.00 - $146,800.00
Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.
INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”