Project Manager

Project Manager

Position Summary

The Project Manager is responsible for driving operational excellence across the Customer Solutions Product organization by managing Jira Align governance, portfolio data integrity, vendor and financial operations, and strategic projects that fall outside the ownership of Product Managers. This role serves as a critical partner to Product Leadership, ensuring planning accuracy, organizational alignment, financial compliance, and successful execution of cross-functional initiatives.

The Project Manager combines portfolio administration, project leadership, process governance, vendor management, and financial administration to enable Product Managers and Product Directors to focus on product strategy, roadmap development, and customer outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Jira Align Governance & Product Operations Support (40%)

Serve as the primary operational lead supporting Product Managers and Product Directors in Jira Align while maintaining portfolio data integrity and planning discipline.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the Jira Align subject matter expert for the Product organization.
• Maintain governance standards and best practices across all product portfolios.
• Audit Initiatives, Capabilities, Epics, Features, and Stories to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Ensure all work is properly aligned to:
• Quarterly Releases
• Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)
• Strategic Initiatives
• Capabilities
• Product Teams
• Work Classifications (Top 40, KTLO, or Domain)
• Partner with Product Managers to maintain ongoing data hygiene and portfolio quality standards.
• Identify and resolve:
• Orphaned work items
• Incorrect release assignments
• Misaligned hierarchy relationships
• Missing OKR connections
• Incomplete planning records
• Support quarterly and annual planning activities by validating portfolio readiness.
• Generate executive reporting, dashboards, and portfolio metrics from Jira Align.
• Monitor roadmap execution and planning adherence across teams.
• Train and coach Product Managers on Jira Align processes, standards, and reporting capabilities.
• Develop governance documentation, procedures, and training materials.
• Facilitate portfolio review sessions to ensure strategic alignment and planning accuracy.
• Partner with Enterprise Planning teams to ensure compliance with organizational planning requirements.

Success Measures

• Portfolio data accuracy
• OKR alignment rates
• Quarterly planning readiness
• Reporting accuracy and timeliness
• Reduction in governance and data quality issues

2. Project Ownership & Cross-Functional Initiative Leadership (35%)

Independently manage and deliver projects that are outside the scope, bandwidth, or responsibility of the Product Management team.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the accountable owner for assigned strategic and operational projects.
• Lead project planning, execution, risk management, stakeholder communication, and delivery activities.
• Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, and status reporting.
• Coordinate resources across Product, Technology, Operations, Finance, Legal, Sourcing, CX, and other business functions.
• Identify and mitigate risks, dependencies, and project blockers.
• Facilitate working sessions, steering committees, and executive reviews.
• Track project budgets, timelines, deliverables, and success metrics.
• Drive process improvement initiatives identified by Product Leadership.
• Lead vendor implementation, transition, sunset, and operational readiness efforts when required.
• Manage projects that do not naturally align to a specific Product Manager or product portfolio.
• Produce executive-level updates and communications regarding project progress and outcomes.
• Ensure project objectives are achieved on time and within agreed-upon scope.

Examples of Project Ownership

• Vendor transitions and onboarding efforts
• Contract exit planning
• Operational process improvement initiatives
• Compliance-related programs
• Organizational readiness activities
• Strategic business initiatives spanning multiple product areas
• Executive-sponsored special projects

Success Measures

• On-time project delivery
• Stakeholder satisfaction
• Risk mitigation effectiveness
• Achievement of project objectives
• Successful execution of cross-functional initiatives

3. Vendor, Financial & Administrative Management (25%)

Manage vendor-related operational activities and support financial administration for the Product organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate vendor management activities and contract administration.
• Track contract renewals, expiration dates, and supplier obligations.
• Partner with Sourcing, Finance, Legal, and Procurement teams throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Create and manage purchase requisitions and purchase orders (POs).
• Process and track vendor invoices.
• Ensure timely invoice approval and payment processing.
• Reconcile invoices against contract terms and approved expenditures.
• Monitor spending against budget allocations.
• Maintain vendor performance documentation and operational records.
• Support annual budget planning and forecasting activities.
• Assist with business case development and cost-benefit analyses.
• Maintain accurate financial records and reporting related to vendor engagements.
• Coordinate software renewals, licensing updates, and procurement requests.
• Ensure adherence to corporate purchasing policies and financial controls.

Success Measures

• On-time invoice processing
• PO accuracy and compliance
• Contract renewal readiness
• Budget tracking accuracy
• Vendor performance and compliance

Required Qualifications

• Experience with Jira Align and Jira administration.
• Strong project management and portfolio management skills.
• Experience leading cross-functional business and technology initiatives.
• Financial administration experience including purchase orders, invoice management, and budget tracking.
• Strong reporting and analytical skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel, Power BI, and portfolio reporting tools.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to operate independently and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Product Operations experience.
• Experience supporting Product Management organizations.
• PMP, Agile, Scrum, or related certifications.
• Experience managing vendor contracts and technology suppliers.
• Experience supporting quarterly planning and OKR processes.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, and trusted to independently manage critical operational functions while leading strategic projects on behalf of Product Leadership. They enable Product Managers to focus on product strategy by ensuring portfolio data integrity, managing business operations, administering vendor and financial processes, and driving key initiatives to successful completion.