Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Olympia Entertainment Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment is seeking a Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives to translate executive priorities into organized plans and drive cross-functional initiatives. You will manage planning, tracking, communication, and follow-through to advance complex programs across senior leaders and business units.

The role requires strong PM discipline, attention to detail, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with multiple stakeholders and confidential

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field.
• 5+ years of project management or equivalent experience coordinating cross-functional work.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong follow-through.

Responsibilities

• Translate executive priorities into organized project plans and measurable progress.
• Build and maintain project plans, track milestones, and identify risks and dependencies.
• Prepare status updates and stakeholder communications to move work forward.

Skills

Project management experience

Cross-functional coordination

Strong communication

Attention to detail

Discretion & judgment

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, project management, communications, operations, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Planner

Smartsheet

Wrike

Asana

Monday.com

Job description

Job Summary

The Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives supports the Executive Business Partner, Strategic Initiatives in translating executive priorities into organized project plans, coordinated action, and measurable progress. This role helps manage the day-to-day planning, tracking, communication, and follow-through required to advance cross-functional initiatives across Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. The Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives provides structure, organization, and execution support for projects that involve senior leaders, business units, and functional teams. This individual is responsible for building and maintaining project plans, tracking milestones and action items, preparing status updates, identifying risks and dependencies, and ensuring stakeholders have the information needed to move work forward. The role requires strong project management discipline, attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, project management, communications, operations, or a related field.
• Five or more years of experience in project management, business operations, strategy execution, executive support, or a comparable role coordinating cross-functional work.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, organize complex information, track details, and drive follow-through in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create clear project updates, meeting summaries, reports, and stakeholder communications.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, and problem‑solving skills with a high level of accuracy, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Ability to influence outcomes, gain alignment, and drive accountability across teams without direct reporting authority.
• Sound judgment and the proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Agile, Lean, or similar certification.
• Experience in sports, entertainment, media, hospitality, or a similarly dynamic, multi-brand enterprise.
• Experience using project management or collaboration tools such as Microsoft Planner, Smartsheet, Wrike, Asana, Monday.com, or similar platforms.
• Experience supporting executive-level initiatives, leadership meetings, strategic planning processes, or enterprise-wide operational projects.
• Familiarity with basic data analysis, reporting, and visualization to support project tracking and decision-making.
• Familiarity in making executive presentations.

Core Competencies

• Adaptability: Thrives amid ambiguity and shifting priorities, remaining organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented.
• Project Management: Builds structure around complex work, manages timelines and deliverables, tracks progress, and keeps stakeholders aligned.
• Execution & Accountability: Follows through on commitments, clarifies ownership, documents decisions, and helps ensure next steps are completed.
• Communication: Shares information clearly and professionally through project updates, meeting materials, summaries, and stakeholder communications.
• Organization & Attention to Detail: Maintains accurate records, trackers, schedules, and documentation while balancing multiple priorities.
• Collaboration: Builds effective relationships across teams, coordinates input from multiple stakeholders, and supports a productive team environment.
• Adaptability: Remains flexible, proactive, and solutions-oriented amid shifting priorities, ambiguity, and time-sensitive needs.
• Discretion & Judgment: Handles confidential information appropriately and demonstrates professionalism in executive-level work.

Working Conditions

Works primarily in a professional office environment. May require extended hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to support the operating calendars of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers. Occasional travel may be required. This role requires frequent visual and auditory attention in an environment with regular interruptions, shifting priorities, and time-sensitive project needs.

The above is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all supplemental duties, responsibilities, or nonessential requirements. The Company has the right to change, modify, suspend, interrupt or cancel in whole or in part any job functions outlined in a job description at any time and without advance notice to the colleague. All items listed above are illustrative and not comprehensive. They are not contractual in nature and are subject to change at the discretion of Olympia Entertainment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Olympia Entertainment is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to that individual’s race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Company will strive to provide reasonable accommodations to permit qualified applicants who have a need for an accommodation to participate in the hiring process (e.g., accommodations for a job interview) if so requested.

Privacy Policy

Ilitch Companies and our colleagues are committed to being the best in all that we do - whether it's providing a delicious, quality meal from Little Caesars, delivering fresh food to our Little Caesars restaurants, baking quality food products at Champion Foods, supporting world-class teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers or offering unforgettable live entertainment at top-rated venues like Little Caesars Arena, the Fox Theatre, Pine Knob and other area locations.

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment’s (IS+E) mission to amaze, inspire and unite. Our colleagues are driven by a commitment to provide world-class sports and entertainment experiences for fans, guests and partners across multiple world-class venues. Ilitch Sports + Entertainment serves as the combined business operations of the Detroit Red Wings, an 11-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the NHL’s Original Six franchises, and the Detroit Tigers, a four-time World Series champion and charter member of MLB’s American League. IS+E also maintains a joint venture interest in 313 Presents, Detroit’s premier live entertainment company. The company operates such major venues as the award-winning and state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena, home to the Red Wings and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons; Comerica Park, home of the Tigers and concerts; and the iconic Fox Theatre, one of the most historic music venues in North America. IS+E also provides facility management services at Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, and Pine Knob Music Theatre - the top amphitheater in the world according to Pollstar’s 2022 Year-End Rankings.