Project Manager

MUST RESIDE IN ILLINOIS

*Home Base location is flexible with periodic travel throughout the state to attend internal and external meetings, events, conferences, and client meetings. IMEC headquarter location is in Peoria, IL.

*Work authorization required. IMEC is unable to sponsor visas for this role.

Summary /Purpose:

The Project Manager supports project work delivered to IMEC clients and serves as the primary point of contact for assigned projects. This role manages client projects that may span one or more departments, providing oversight of project resources, schedules, financial performance, risks, issues, and change requests to support successful and timely project delivery.

The Project Manager works independently and collaboratively across the organization, balancing multiple priorities while maintaining strong communication with clients, internal teams, solution providers, and other stakeholders. Success in this role requires strong judgment, organization, problem-solving, communication, and project management skills, along with the ability to handle confidential matters with discretion.

Why Join IMEC?

IMEC offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial well-being, and time away from work, including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision coverage
• Up to 8% employer 401(k) match
• 5 weeks of PTO to start, with increased accrual based on years of service
• 10 paid holidays plus an annual year-end organizational closure
• Company-paid life, AD&D, and disability coverage
• Eligibility for a year-end incentive bonus based on organizational and individual performance

Essential Responsibilities:

Project Planning & Execution

• Manage all aspects of assigned projects to ensure activities align with the project plan and designated requirements and guidelines.
• Develop, implement, and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
• Coordinate day-to-day project activities and required resources.
• Schedule and organize complex project activities.
• Ensure project materials are procured and provided as specified.
• Coordinate with managers to ensure adequate resources are available to support on-time project completion.
• Manage special initiatives as needed.

Project Performance, Quality & Risk Management

• Provide project oversight to support high-quality performance and successful project delivery.
• Monitor project financial status and identify potential risks.
• Identify project plan deficiencies and coordinate corrective action plans.
• Manage project issues, risks, and change requests.
• Serve as an internal quality control check and participate in problem resolution.
• Provide status reporting on project milestones, deliverables, risks, and issues to appropriate stakeholders.
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement of IMEC’s project management process.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned projects.
• Lead regular interactions with clients and solution providers.
• Develop trusted adviser relationships with clients, project stakeholders, and program stakeholders.
• Provide project leadership to the IMEC team to accomplish project milestones and goals.
• Communicate effectively across departments and organizational levels.

Systems & Administration

• Maintain accurate project records and documentation.
• Maintain appropriate project information within the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks and maintain excellent attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with staff, clients, external partners, and stakeholders.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills with technical and non-technical audiences at all organizational levels.
• Strong leadership and motivational skills, including the ability to lead up, across, and down the organization.
• Demonstrated decision-making, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to work creatively and analytically while demonstrating teamwork, innovation, and excellence.
• Highly resourceful team player with the ability to work effectively and independently.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and adapt to competing priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to high levels of client service and responsiveness.
• Ability to achieve performance goals and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Forward-looking mindset with the ability to identify opportunities and propose solutions.
• Ability to work effectively with a geographically dispersed, remote team through both in-person and electronic interaction.

Project Management Experience

• Demonstrated experience successfully leading projects and programs to completion on time, on schedule, and within budget.
• Experience tracking, planning, and managing projects.
• Experience gathering and documenting client and business requirements.
• Experience developing and submitting budget proposals and recommending budget changes when necessary.
• Ability to research and analyze project-related issues and products.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Three to five years of related professional experience, preferably within a nonprofit organization.
• Experience with internal and external communications.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Adobe Acrobat; Salesforce; and social media/web platforms.

Work Environment:

Office, Hybrid, or Remote work environment and standard hours with extended hours and weekend work as required. Applicants for this position must have access to reliable transportation to ensure timely attendance at both internal and external meetings as required by the job responsibilities. The ability to commute to various locations for meetings is essential for effective collaboration and participation in team activities. Applicants must be capable of accessing manufacturing facilities which may not be ADA accessible.

Application Requirements:

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and complete contact information for a minimum of three professional references with telephone numbers. Please submit all materials at the time of initial application.

Please submit an electronic application, including (1) cover letter, (2) resume, and (3) the names and contact information for three references. IMEC, University of Illinois, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, and Bradley University conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

IMEC and its Subrecipient organizations, including Bradley University, SIU, NIU, and UIC are EOE/AA/M/F/Disabled/Veteran Employers.

About IMEC

Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) is a team of improvement specialists dedicated to providing manufacturers in Illinois with the tools and techniques to excel and compete globally. The experienced hands-on team at IMEC works closely with its clients to plan critical business improvements in all areas of their organization from: Leading their Company, Planning for Success, Growing their Business, Improving their Operations, Focusing on their People, and Deciding with Data.

With more than 50 full-time staff and partners positioned statewide, IMEC delivers the local expertise to not only plan and strategize, but to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of client improvements. In fact, IMEC assists more than 3,000 companies each year with successful business improvement projects.

As a result, IMEC has demonstrated a return on investment that exceeds 19:1. This is made possible as organizations become more effective and efficient.

IMEC team members enjoy their jobs because of the challenge of working with a variety of organizations in a broad range of industries. They also gain satisfaction from providing assistance and advisement to help organizations succeed in a demanding marketplace. Click HERE to learn more about IMEC.