Strategic IT Project Portfolio Lead

Clarity Partners LLC; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Clarity Partners LLC in Chicago, IL, is hiring a Project Portfolio Analyst to establish and enhance IT project management practices. This onsite role oversees lifecycle standards, metrics, resource planning, and reporting to ensure technology initiatives are delivered according to scope, schedule, and budget.

The ideal candidate will bring strong project management, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across technical and business teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field required; Master's degree preferred.
• 7 years of direct IT project management experience preferred, including experience with project planning, execution, process development, and stakeholder management.
• PMP or other PMI certification preferred.
• Experience developing and implementing project management best practices, policies, procedures, methodologies, and governance processes.

Responsibilities

• Establish, implement, and continuously improve IT project and portfolio management best practices, policies, procedures, and processes.
• Define project scope, goals, deliverables, and success criteria in collaboration with senior leadership and key stakeholders.
• Direct and manage projects throughout the full project lifecycle, from initial planning through implementation and post-project evaluation.
• Develop comprehensive project plans, schedules, milestones, resource estimates, and communication documents.
• Track project milestones, deliverables, budgets, resources, risks, and overall portfolio performance.
• Establish formal methodologies for defining and measuring project KPIs and allocating resources.
• Develop and deliver project status reports, proposals, requirements documentation, presentations, and executive-level updates.
• Proactively identify and manage changes in project scope, risks, issues, and potential challenges while developing contingency plans.
• Communicate project expectations, priorities, responsibilities, and timelines clearly to project teams and stakeholders.
• Determine frequency and content of project status reporting, analyze results, and troubleshoot areas requiring corrective action.
• Conduct project postmortems and develop recommendations identifying successful project elements and opportunities for improvement.
• Estimate resources and participants necessary to achieve project objectives.
• Plan and schedule project timelines and milestones using appropriate PM tools.
• Coach, mentor, motivate, and supervise project team members and contractors while promoting accountability for assigned work.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with stakeholders and business partners.

Skills

Project management

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IS/BA

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Project

PM software

Job description

Clarity Partners LLC in Chicago, IL, is hiring a Project Portfolio Analyst to establish and enhance IT project management practices. This onsite role oversees lifecycle standards, metrics, resource planning, and reporting to ensure technology initiatives are delivered according to scope, schedule, and budget.

The ideal candidate will bring strong project management, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across technical and business teams.