Role Description The Project Manager I leads assigned projects or significant workstreams within large, complex initiatives from initiation through closeout. This role serves as a central point of coordination across cross-functional teams, driving planning, execution, and delivery while maintaining alignment with organizational objectives, contractual commitments, and client expectations. The PM I operates with increasing independence, applying sound project management judgment, fostering stakeholder relationships, and contributing to Essex’s culture of continuous improvement through awareness of industry trends and emerging methodologies. Responsibilities - Project Lifecycle Management - Manage all project phases — initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout — ensuring each phase meets defined quality and governance standards. - Lead project teams on medium-to-large projects or significant segments of complex programs. - Develop and maintain project roadmaps, schedules, budgets, and resource allocations that are aligned to contractual scope and organizational objectives. - Ensure adherence to established project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid) and governance structures. - Stakeholder Engagement & Communication - Engage proactively with internal and external stakeholders to gather business requirements, build alignment, and maintain transparency throughout the project. - Facilitate regular project team meetings, status reviews, and stakeholder communications; prepare monthly status reports and project-specific documentation. - Coordinate cross-functional teams — including business analysts, technical staff, and client stakeholders — fostering collaboration and accountability. - Build and sustain productive working relationships; navigate conflicts and negotiate effectively with team members and stakeholders. - Risk, Issue & Quality Management - Identify, analyze, and manage project risks, issues, and dependencies; develop and implement mitigation strategies. - Escalate risks and issues to program leadership and Essex management as appropriate and in a timely manner. - Monitor key performance indicators and project milestones; participate in quality assurance activities to ensure deliverables meet contractual requirements. - Analyze complex project challenges and implement practical solutions across scope, schedule, technology, and methodology. - Financial & Documentation Management - Support financial management activities including budget tracking, forecasting, and cost control. - Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation: project management plans, communication plans, risk registers, decision and action logs, and project-specific deliverables. - Support application systems lifecycle activities including development, maintenance, and production support planning. - Complete required Essex and client training; maintain current knowledge of Essex and client policies to ensure ongoing compliance. Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, Health Informatics, or a related field; or commensurate combination of education and experience. - 3–6 years of experience in project management or directly related roles. - Demonstrated experience managing projects or leading workstreams within complex, cross-functional, matrix organizations. Requirements - Proficiency in Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid project management methodologies; ability to operate with minimal guidance. - Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools such as MS Power Suite, Jira, Confluence, GitHub, or comparable platforms. - Experience supporting application systems lifecycle activities (development, maintenance, production support). - Familiarity with financial management concepts including budgeting and cost tracking. Core Competencies - Strong analytical and problem-solving ability; skilled at developing effective, practical solutions to complex project challenges. - Confident risk identification and escalation; ability to make timely, informed decisions and adapt to changing conditions. - Effective leadership skills; able to motivate and guide project teams toward shared goals. - Excellent planning, organizational, and time management skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities. - Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; focused, engaged listener with strong stakeholder management capability. Preferred Qualifications - PMP, CAPM, or equivalent project management certification. - Experience supporting or working on projects associated with federal health agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). - Familiarity with federal contracting environments, government program governance, and compliance requirements. Benefits - Flexible Approved Time Off - Tuition Reimbursement - 401k Retirement Plan - Work From Home Anywhere in the US - Maternal/Paternal Leave - Casual Dress Code & Work Environment