Project Manager

About the Role

This role is responsible for leading cross‑functional technology initiatives within Our Client's Enterprise Project Management Office. The Project Manager will guide Agile teams through the full software development lifecycle, ensuring delivery of high‑quality solutions that support critical financial and case‑management processes. Working in a hybrid environment, the candidate will collaborate closely with stakeholders from multiple departments, balancing strategic objectives with day‑to‑day execution. Success in this position directly impacts the efficiency and compliance of the organization’s payment processing and debt‑collection systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Agile teams as Scrum Master, facilitating Sprint Planning, Daily Stand‑ups, Backlog Refinement, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives.
• Coordinate project schedules, resource allocation, and deliverable tracking using Azure DevOps to ensure milestones are met on time and within scope.
• Translate business requirements into actionable user stories and acceptance criteria, maintaining a clear product backlog.
• Drive continuous improvement by implementing SAFe, Nexus, or LeSS frameworks tailored to the organization’s scale.
• Manage risk, issue escalation, and stakeholder communication, providing transparent status reports to senior leadership.
• Oversee quality assurance activities, including regression testing, user acceptance testing (UAT), and post‑deployment validation.
• Ensure compliance with Secure Application Development Lifecycle (SADLC) and DevOps best practices throughout the project.
• Facilitate cross‑departmental collaboration, negotiating priorities and aligning technical solutions with business goals.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum 7 years of experience serving as a Scrum Master in Agile software development environments.
• Advanced knowledge of Scrum, Kanban, and Scaled Agile frameworks such as SAFe, Nexus, or LeSS.
• Strong understanding of the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Secure Application Development Lifecycle (SADLC).
• Hands‑on experience with Azure DevOps for backlog management, sprint tracking, and release pipelines.
• Proven ability to lead Agile ceremonies and coach teams toward high performance.
• Associate’s degree or higher; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Preferred certifications: SAFe Scrum Master (SSM), SAFe Advanced Scrum Master (SASM), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Professional Scrum Master (PSM I/II), or ICAgile Certified Professional – Agile Coaching (ICP‑ACC).
• Experience with debt‑collection, payment processing, or financial case‑management platforms is a strong plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

Tools & Technologies

• Azure DevOps – Agile lifecycle management, work item tracking, and CI/CD pipelines.
• Microsoft Teams / Outlook – Collaboration and stakeholder communication.
• Jira or similar issue‑tracking tools (commonly used alongside Azure DevOps).
• Confluence or SharePoint for documentation and knowledge sharing.
• Standard Office productivity suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for reporting and presentations.

Work Schedule & Duration

• Contract length: 1 year with possible extension.
• Hybrid work model: onsite two days per week (including Wednesdays) from day 1; no remote‑only option.
• Location: Lansing, Michigan office.

Interview Process

The interview process consists of two stages: an initial virtual interview to assess technical and Agile expertise, followed by an in‑person interview at the Lansing office for cultural fit and stakeholder alignment.

Position Details

• Employment Type: Contract
• Duration: Approximately 12 months (with potential for extension)
• Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the United States