Project Manager III

About the role As a contributing member of the Enterprise Program Management Office (EPMO), this role is responsible for planning and leading multiple, large, unrelated projects or one very large project of strategic importance to the Benefits Division. These projects will typically have budgets ranging from $1 - $5 million, multiple customers/stakeholders across many departments and functions, a large project team (possibly in multiple locations), external partners or vendors, and a complex technology component. What you will do • Lead large-scale, complex, cross-functional projects and programs that support strategic business objectives within the Benefits Division, managing initiatives with budgets ranging from $1M to $5M and significant organizational impact. • Partner with executive sponsors and business leaders to develop business cases, cost-benefit analyses, project charters, and strategic plans that align project investments with organizational goals. • Establish and manage project scope, schedules, budgets, resource plans, deliverables, and success metrics to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and according to customer expectations. • Build, lead, and motivate cross-functional project teams, including business partners, technology teams, vendors, consultants, and stakeholders across multiple departments and locations. • Apply and tailor project management methodologies, frameworks, and software development approaches, including Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery models, based on project needs and organizational objectives. • Identify, assess, and proactively manage project risks, dependencies, issues, and changes throughout the project lifecycle, implementing mitigation strategies and escalation plans as needed. • Facilitate project governance activities, steering committee meetings, status reviews, and decision-making forums to ensure alignment, accountability, and timely resolution of challenges. • Develop and deliver executive-level communications, project dashboards, status reports, and performance metrics that provide transparency into project progress, financials, risks, and outcomes. • Manage relationships with external vendors and partners, ensuring contract deliverables, timelines, and project expectations are met. • Drive organizational change management activities to support successful adoption of new processes, systems, and business capabilities resulting from project implementations. • Promote project management excellence by championing best practices, tools, standards, and governance processes that improve project delivery across the organization. • Serve as a mentor, coach, and trusted advisor to project managers and business partners by sharing expertise, providing guidance, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Who You Are • You are a strategic and results-oriented project leader with a proven ability to deliver large, complex initiatives that drive meaningful business value. • You are an exceptional communicator who can effectively engage executives, sponsors, stakeholders, team members, and vendors while building alignment across diverse groups. • You are a skilled problem solver who remains calm under pressure, proactively identifies risks, and develops creative solutions to keep projects moving forward. • You are a collaborative leader who inspires, motivates, and develops high-performing teams while fostering accountability, trust, and strong working relationships. • You are highly organized and adaptable, capable of managing competing priorities, navigating ambiguity, and balancing strategic objectives with day-to-day execution. Nice to Haves • Bachelor s degree in business, Information Technology, Finance, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent work experience. • 8-10 years of experience leading large-scale business, operational, and technology projects in a complex organizational environment. • Proven success managing projects with significant budgets, multiple stakeholders, cross-functional teams, and executive visibility. • Strong knowledge of project management methodologies, including Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid approaches. • Professional certifications such as PMP, PMI-ACP, Scrum Master, Lean, or other project management-related credentials. • Experience in risk management, change management, financial management, vendor management, and project governance. • Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders, drive consensus, and lead organizational change within highly matrixed environments. • Track record of mentoring project managers and contributing to the advancement of project management best practices and organizational maturity. Why Work at Symetra Here s what some of our employees have to say about why they work at Symetra: Working across different departments at Symetra has been a fantastic experience. What truly stands out is how much the leaders genuinely care about every emplo...