Lead Project Manager – Minneapolis, MN

Summary

As the Lead Project Manager, you will create and operationalize Cogency’s PMO within your first 90 days— establishing a unified framework for how projects are prioritized, governed, and delivered. You’ll partner with business leaders, vendors, technology teams, and Agile product groups to ensure alignment and visibility across all major initiatives, including acquisition integrations, process improvements, and technology implementations. Once the PMO is launched, you’ll continue to lead a small team of project managers, drive continuous improvement, and ensure consistent delivery practices that support Cogency’s growth and operational excellence. Within a year, you’ll be recognized as the trusted leader who established a lasting framework for project excellence across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish an enterprise wide PMO, including governance, reporting, and methodology within the first 3 months.
• Lead the development of project portfolio dashboards, status reporting, and performance metrics.
• Partner with business and technology leaders to prioritize and align initiatives with strategic goals.
• Coordinate cross-functional transformational initiatives and acquisition integration projects.
• Mentor and guide project managers in delivering consistent, transparent, and successful outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with leadership, product managers, product owners, vendors, and Scrum-based product teams to ensure cohesive execution across Agile and traditional project streams.

Required Qualifications

• PMP certification required; Agile or PMO certifications a plus.
• 8+ years of project management experience with demonstrated success in establishing or formalizing a PMO.
• Proven ability to implement governance structures and portfolio reporting across diverse business functions.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills; adept at influencing without authority.
• Experience coordinating cross-departmental and acquisition-related projects.
• Ability to bridge Agile and traditional project delivery approaches effectively.
• Expected Behaviors & Competencies
• Leadership – Inspires confidence and sets clear expectations for project excellence.
• Collaboration – Builds strong partnerships across departments and project delivery teams.
• Strategic Thinking – Anticipates challenges, aligns initiatives to company strategy, and provides forward-looking insight.
• Communication – Delivers clear, concise updates to executives and teams; actively listens and adapts messaging to diverse audiences.
• Change Leadership – Guides teams through process adoption and cultural change with empathy and clarity.
• Values Alignment – Uphold the Cogency Mission, Deliver Technical Excellence, Be a Team Player and Continuously Improve.

Additional Information

Job Type: Full Time, M-F Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Salary Range: $100K –$135K