Senior IT Project Manager Lead

Charles Schwab; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles Schwab in Austin, TX, is looking for a Senior IT Project Manager Lead to guide large-scale, cross-enterprise programs, including a major integration initiative and modernization efforts.

This role emphasizes leadership, governance, and stakeholder engagement in a matrixed, finance-focused environment with strong on-site collaboration and delivery excellence.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of project management experience, preferably within financial services.
• 10+ years of experience leading large, cross-functional, enterprise-wide initiatives with significant business and technology impact.
• Proven ability to balance scope, schedule, cost, and quality in complex programs.
• Leadership and influencing skills to align stakeholders in a matrixed, fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Agile fundamentals, Agile delivery practices, Scrum, and hybrid approaches.
• Strong communication translating complex concepts for executives and teams.
• Experience identifying risks, issues, and interdependencies with Risk Management practices.
• Analytical thinking to make decisions in complex and ambiguous environments.
• Experience leading multiple concurrent workstreams and driving execution across organizations.
• Bachelor's degree or related work experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for large-scale, high-visibility cross-enterprise programs.
• Establish governance, manage dependencies, and drive execution across workstreams.
• Engage stakeholders at all levels and influence decision-making.
• Foster transformation and operational excellence through Agile delivery.
• Mentor teams and promote best practices in project, portfolio, and organizational change leadership.

Skills

Project Management

Leadership

Agile methodologies

Communication

Risk management

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional leadership

Multi-workstream leadership

Executive influencing

Education

Bachelor's degree or related work experience

Job description

Your opportunity

At Schwab, you're empowered to make an impact on your career. Here, innovative thought meets creative problem solving, helping us challenge the status quo and transform the finance industry together.

We believe in the importance of in-office collaboration and fully intend for the selected candidate for this role to work on site in the specified location(s).

The Schwab Technology Services (STS) Portfolio & Project Management organization partners with business and technology leaders to prioritize and deliver strategic initiatives that drive meaningful outcomes across the enterprise.

As a Senior IT Project Manager Lead, you will provide leadership for large-scale, high-visibility cross-enterprise programs and projects that support business transformation, technology enablement, and operational excellence. This role is being hired primarily to support a major integration initiative, a critical modernization effort and key dependency for Schwab's broader broker-dealer modernization strategy.

We are seeking a senior-level IT Project Manager who can immediately step into a complex, highly visible modernization initiative and provide leadership, structure, and execution oversight. More than a traditional project manager, you will navigate ambiguity, influence across multiple teams, organize large bodies of work, and drive alignment within a challenging enterprise environment. Success requires the ability to bring clarity to complex initiatives, establish governance, manage competing priorities, and effectively engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

In this role, you will work across a highly matrixed environment to bring together business stakeholders, technology teams, product leaders, and senior executives to align priorities, manage dependencies, and deliver measurable value. You will influence decision-making, drive planning and execution across multiple workstreams, identify and mitigate risks, and provide visibility into progress and outcomes.

Success in this role requires exceptional project and program leadership, strong executive communication skills, the ability to navigate uncertainty, and a passion for solving complex business challenges. You will help cultivate a culture of transparency, collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and Agile delivery while mentoring team members and promoting best practices in project, portfolio, and organizational change leadership. Through your work, you will directly impact Schwab's ability to execute strategic initiatives, accelerate modernization efforts, optimize technology investments, and deliver innovative solutions that support our clients and business partners.

What you have

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of project management experience, preferably within financial services.
• 10+ years of experience leading large, cross-functional, enterprise-wide initiatives with significant business and technology impact.
• Demonstrated expertise in Project Management to successfully deliver complex, cross-enterprise programs while balancing scope, schedule, cost, and quality objectives.
• Proven ability to apply Leadership and Influencing Others skills to align stakeholders, drive decisions, and achieve business outcomes within a matrixed, fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency using Agile Fundamentals, Agile delivery practices, Scrum methodologies, and hybrid project delivery approaches.
• Strong Communication skills with the ability to translate complex concepts into concise messages tailored to executive leaders, business partners, and technical teams.
• Experience identifying, assessing, and addressing project risks, issues, and interdependencies through effective Risk Management practices.
• Proven ability to apply Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving skills to make sound decisions in complex and ambiguous environments.
• Experience leading multiple concurrent workstreams and driving strategic execution across organizations.
• Bachelor's degree or related work experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within the financial services industry.
• PMP, PMI-ACP, CAPM, or related project management certification.
• Demonstrated success building executive-level partnerships and influencing leaders at the VP level and above.
• Experience mentoring, coaching, and developing team members.
• Strong Process Improvement capabilities with a track record of improving organizational effectiveness and delivery outcomes.
• Experience supporting portfolio management, strategic planning, and technology investment prioritization.
• Advanced understanding of software development lifecycle practices and technology delivery organizations.
• Experience facilitating cross-functional planning, dependency management, and large-scale transformation initiatives.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without employer sponsorship.

In addition to the salary range, this role is eligible for bonus or incentive opportunities.

What's in it for you

At Schwab, you're empowered to shape your future. We champion your growth through meaningful work, continuous learning, and a culture of trust and collaboration- so you can build the skills to make a lasting impact. Our Hybrid Work and Flexibility approach balances our ongoing commitment to workplace flexibility, serving our clients, and our strong belief in the value of being together in person on a regular basis.

We offer a competitive benefits package that takes care of the whole you - both today and in the future:

• 401(k) with company match and Employee stock purchase plan
• Paid time for vacation, volunteering, and 28-day sabbatical after every 5 years of service for eligible positions
• Paid parental leave and family building benefits
• Tuition reimbursement
• Health, dental, and vision insurance