Cybersecurity Project Manager

Spectraforce Technologies; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Spectraforce Technologies is seeking a Cybersecurity Project Manager in Chicago, IL (Hybrid) to drive execution of strategic cybersecurity projects across PAM, IGA, IAA, and Data Protection. The role leads global teams and partners with stakeholders to ensure successful delivery, manage risks, and maintain project artifacts within our SDLC framework.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years in financial services, 5+ years leading high-visibility tech projects, and strong analytical, communication, and

Qualifications

• Ten years of overall experience including Financial Services.
• At least 5 years in leading high-visibility technology projects.
• Cybersecurity project management experience in IAM, PAM, Data Protection, or related areas.
• Experience in a matrixed organization delivering complex projects.
• Strong problem solving and data-driven decision making.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proactive initiative and delivery-focused mindset.
• Expert analytical skills with ability to analyze trends and draw conclusions.
• Budget management experience from $250K up to $3M.
• Knowledge of SDLC methodologies (Agile/Scrum, Waterfall).
• Experience in demand and capacity management.
• Familiarity with MS Project, Azure DevOps Boards, Clarity PPM.
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau for reporting.
• Collaboration tools: MS Office 365, MS Teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead global cross-functional teams (technical and non-technical) to drive strategic cybersecurity projects.
• Partner with stakeholders to define benefits and ensure successful delivery.
• Identify, assess, and manage risks, issues, and dependencies.
• Develop project schedules with effort estimates and task sequences.
• Resolve conflicts and escalations to support delivery.
• Create and submit accurate status reports per guidelines.
• Maintain project artifacts and ensure adherence to software delivery methodology.

Job description

Job Title: Cybersecurity Project Manager

Location: Chicago, IL - Hybrid

Duration: 5 months

Project Overview:

The client seeks a Cybersecurity Project Manager to drive execution of strategic cybersecurity projects in support of one or more of our key cybersecurity control areas: Privileged Access Management (PAM), Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), Identity Authentication and Authorization (IAA), and Data Protection (DP.) This role is accountable for successful project delivery of highly visible, mission-critical projects.

Contractor's Role:

• Lead global teams consisting of technical and non-technical employees and consultants to drive successful execution of strategic cybersecurity projects and programs.
• Partner with key business and technology stakeholders to define expected project benefits and outcomes and ensure successful achievement through project completion.
• Identify, assess, and manage project risks, issues, and dependencies to ensure successful project completion.
• Develop project schedules including effort estimates and task sequences and assignments and ensure they are adhered to; ensure projects are optimally sequenced and coordinated for efficiency.
• Lead resolution of conflicts or escalations in support of project or program delivery.
• Create and submit project/program status reports that are accurate and comply with team guidelines.
• Establish and maintain project artifact repository; review project deliverables to ensure quality and ensure project adheres to internal software delivery methodology.

Qualifications:

• A successful candidate for the role will have at least 10 years of overall experience including in Financial Services industry, with at least 5 years' experience leading and managing high-visibility technology projects.
• Cybersecurity Project Management Experience - leading and driving execution of cybersecurity projects related to Identity & Access Management (i.e., Privileged Access Management (PAM), Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), Identity Authentication and Authorization (IAA)), Data Protection, Security Operations, or Attack Surface Management.
• Organizational Savvy - experience working within a matrixed organization to drive delivery of complex projects involving multiple disciplines.
• Problem Solving Skills - ability to handle ambiguous or complex issues including ability to identify creative resolution paths and gaining necessary alignment and support from leadership and stakeholders to bring to resolution.
• Superior Communication Skills- ability to articulate ideas and information verbally and in writing for varying audiences.
• Initiative - evidence that they take initiative at suggesting improvements and anticipating the needs of leadership, program stakeholders and team members.
• Organizational Skills - able to handle multiple simultaneous work deliverables and prioritize them accordingly.
• Delivery Mindset - has a delivery mindset with a bias for action, curiosity to learn, challenge, and enhance processes.
• Expert Analytical Skills - able to assemble data and analyze patterns, trends and draw conclusions and recommendations; rely on data to guide decisions.
• Financial Management Experience - managing project budgets up between $250K to $3M and comprised of internal and external labor.
• Knowledge of and experience working in software delivery lifecycle methodologies (e.g., Agile/ Scrum, Waterfall, etc.)
• Experience in demand & capacity management
• Project planning tools such as: MS Project, Azure DevOps (ADO) Boards, or similar
• Clarity PPM for project financial and status reporting (or similar)
• Collaboration tools such as: Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), MS Teams
• Reporting tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or similar data reporting and analytics tools.

Nice to Have:

1. 1. A College or University degree; MBA or relevant advance degree a plus.
2. 2. Current PMP certification strongly preferred, but not required.

Tasks & responsibilities:

Communication and Stakeholder Management-

• Develop project charters; develop and execute project communication plans.
• Facilitate engagement with cross-impacted technology and business stakeholders.
• Identify and execute approaches to resolve complex problems through critical thinking

Change/Risk Management -

• Define and document project scope and ensure scope alignment to project objectives and goals.
• Perform and follow project change control procedures for scope, resources, and financials where required.
• Ensure adherence to technology Change Management requirements and procedures or system implementations.

Financial Management-

• Oversee financial management and performance for projects including:
  • developing and/or managing project-specific capital and expense budgets including all financial form submissions required by internal finance teams
  • preparing and submitting timely monthly forecasts (i.e., Clarity PPM)
  • proactively analyzing and managing monthly budget variance
  • optimizing spend for assigned projects
  • participation in annual budget planning

Staff Management-

• Identify project resource needs and work with leadership to ensure staffing requirements are met
• Manage project resources to deliver tasks, optimize resource utilization and resolve conflicts.
• Provide constructive performance feedback regarding staff performance to leadership and line managers.
• Foster a supportive project delivery environment that encourages participation, teamwork, and collaboration.