Project Manager

Montana State Fund; Helena (MT); Hybrid; USD 98,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Education reimbursement

Job summary

Montana State Fund is seeking a Project Manager to translate organizational priorities into coordinated, high‑quality project outcomes. You will lead medium‑to‑large initiatives, guiding planning, milestones, risks, and governance across IT and business teams.

As a key partner, you will shape planning approaches, drive cross‑functional collaboration, and deliver thoughtful, transparent decision making that aligns with MSF’s mission and Montana’s people.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, project management, or related field.
• Minimum five years in project management with at least three years IT PM experience.
• PM certification (PMP, Agile, or similar).

Responsibilities

• Enterprise project leadership across IT and operations with strong alignment to priorities.
• Stakeholder engagement and clear, timely communications on status and risks.
• Analyze project performance, risks, and lessons learned to improve delivery.
• Coordinate planning, documentation, and cross‑functional collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Risk management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or related field

Project management certification (PMP/Agile)

Tools

Project management tools

Job description

Montana State Fund (MSF) is seeking a Project Manager who will help ensure MSF’s organizational priorities are translated into clear, coordinated, and well‑executed project outcomes. In this role, you will lead and deliver medium- to large‑scale initiatives that strengthen MSF’s operations, support enterprise alignment, and create meaningful impact across technical and business teams.

As a key partner within the organization, you will apply your project management expertise to shape planning approaches, guide cross‑functional collaboration, and support thoughtful, consistent decision‑making. This position blends strategic leadership with hands‑on coordination, offering a unique opportunity to contribute both to day‑to‑day execution and MSF’s broader organizational strategy.

You will work closely with IT teams, business units, and internal stakeholders to define project scope, manage milestones, communicate risks, and support transparent governance. The successful candidate brings strong judgment, clear communication, and a commitment to delivering high‑quality project outcomes that serve MSF’s mission and the people of Montana.

Key responsibilities include:

• Enterprise Project Leadership: Leads and delivers medium to large‑scale projects across IT‑related and organizational operations areas, ensuring strong alignment with enterprise priorities and operational needs. Guides project planning from conception through completion, defining scope, establishing milestones, and coordinating cross‑functional activities. Oversees day‑to‑day project operations, proactively addressing challenges and adjusting plans to sustain progress and accountability. Applies project management practices, leveraging established methodologies, tools, and templates to ensure consistent, high‑quality delivery. Facilitates planning sessions, status meetings, governance checkpoints, and other project activities that support transparency and decision‑making. Identifies project risks, develops thoughtful mitigation strategies, and escalates issues in alignment with organizational processes. Allocates and coordinates resources effectively to meet objectives and ensure comprehensive documentation throughout the project lifecycle, strengthening continuity, clarity, and long‑term project success.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication: Serves as a central communication partner for project teams, business units, technical groups, and leadership, ensuring stakeholders remain informed, aligned, and engaged. Provides clear and timely updates on project status, risks, decisions, and resource needs, promoting transparency and shared understanding. Builds strong collaborative relationships across the organization, addressing concerns, aligning expectations, and supporting seamless execution of complex project work. Communicates project goals, impacts, and requirements with clarity and consistency, reinforcing alignment with enterprise priorities and strengthening stakeholder confidence throughout the project lifecycle.
• Project Insights & Decision Support: Evaluates project performance indicators, data trends, risks, and outcomes to identify opportunities and lessons learned. Uses analytical insights to refine plans, strengthen processes, and improve resource strategies. Conducts research to inform decision‑making and enhance execution effectiveness. Contributes to post‑project evaluations and applies findings to support continuous improvement across the project portfolio.
• Project Coordination & Collaboration: Supports large, multifaceted projects through strong coordination, planning, and documentation. Contributes to scheduling, reporting, issue tracking, and workflow management at varying levels of complexity. Supports training, knowledge sharing, and capability development for project teams, reinforcing strong project management practices. Builds collaborative partnerships across business and technical groups to strengthen alignment and support enterprise‑level project success. Acts as a reliable project partner who blends coordination, communication, and problem‑solving to advance organizational priorities.

About You

To find success and satisfaction in this role, candidates will possess the following traits:

• A project leader who thrives in dynamic environments and is energized by shaping strong, strategic outcomes across technical and business teams.
• Skilled at translating complex project information into clear, practical guidance that supports coordinated execution.
• A thoughtful, organized project manager who balances strategic thinking with real‑time problem‑solving, demonstrates confidence in coordinating across multiple stakeholders with professionalism and clarity.
• Naturally collaborative, skilled at aligning teams, strengthening communication pathways, and supporting enterprise‑level consistency.
• Someone who approaches challenges with curiosity, maintains composure under pressure, and brings a solutions‑oriented mindset to both high‑visibility initiatives and everyday coordination.
• A relationship builder who values customer experience, maintains positive and empathetic interactions, and fosters trust across all levels of the organization.

At Montana State Fund, how we do our jobs matters to us as much as what we do. To support our customer‑centered workplace, successful candidates are team players who possess:

• Customer and growth mindset
• Empathy
• Accountability
• Resiliency

Minimum Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, project management, or a related field, and
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in project management with at least three (3) years in IT project management, and
• Project management certification (PMP, Agile, or similar).

An equivalent combination of education and experience of the above requirements may be considered.

Preferred:

• Proficiency in various project management methodologies (Agile, Scrum, Waterfall).
• Experience using project management tools.
• Experience in the insurance industry or similar.

About Montana State Fund

Montana State Fund is more than just an insurance company. We are a team of dedicated professionals committed to making a positive impact. Our mission is to partner with employers and their employees to care for those injured on the job and champion a culture of workplace safety for our fellow Montanans.

Job location

This role is hybrid position, with three (3) days onsite in the Helena, MT office and the option for remote work two (2) days a week.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary for this exempt position begins at $98,400 - $123,000 per year.

Montana State Fund offers excellent benefits, paid time off, and a competitive compensation program, including:

• Excellent health insurance with dental, vision, life, long‑term disability and more, with optional dependent coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts for dependent care and medical expenses.
• Public employees’ retirement plan tax‑deferred contributions with a generous employer match.
• Optional 457(b) deferred compensation to further increase retirement savings.
• Higher education reimbursement and other training and development programs.
• Robust personal leave, paid holidays, and extended leave.