Project Manager at Watercress Financial Group LLC – Des Moines, Iowa

We are looking for an experienced and organized Project Manager to join our team and take full ownership of delivering complex projects on time, within budget, and to the agreed quality standards. You will serve as the central point of coordination between stakeholders, cross-functional teams, external vendors, and senior leadership — turning business needs and strategic initiatives into successfully delivered outcomes.

The Project Manager leads cross-functional initiatives that span business and technology domains, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and timely delivery. This role is responsible for managing complex projects, and driving continuous improvement in project execution. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, and a passion for operational excellence.

Project Management Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of multiple concurrent projects (scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk, resources)
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, detailed schedules, resource plans, and budgets
• Create and manage project charters, RACI matrices, communication plans, and change management processes
• Facilitate effective project kick-offs, status meetings, steering committee meetings, and retrospectives
• Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues — driving timely resolution
• Manage scope change through formal change request processes
• Track and report project health using KPIs, earned value metrics (when applicable), and executive dashboards
• Build and maintain strong relationships with sponsors, business owners, product managers, engineering, design, marketing, finance, legal, and external partners
• Ensure projects align with company strategic objectives and OKRs
• Drive continuous improvement of project management practices, templates, and governance within the organization
• Mentor and support junior project coordinators / associate project managers (when applicable)

Project Leadership & Execution

• Lead enterprise-wide projects from initiation through delivery, managing scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Develop detailed project plans, resource forecasts, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Facilitate weekly status meetings and steering committee meetings.
• Ensure stakeholder alignment and manage expectations across departments.
• Assess requirements to ensure they are complete and contemplate impacts on the entire business application / systems when solutioning.

Team & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with internal teams, vendors, and external partners.
• Work with business and IT teams to ensure technical solutions meet business needs.

Governance & Reporting

• Maintain project documentation including requirements, status reports, and dashboards.
• Track KPIs and success metrics; escalate risks and issues proactively.
• Support PMO governance processes and contribute to portfolio prioritization.
• Foster a positive and ethical work environment while establishing effective communications of matters and timely resolution of issues

Process Optimization

• Champion project management best practices and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to streamline workflows and improve delivery efficiency.