Lead Project Manager

Join the FHLBC team!
At the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, employees come first - that’s why we offer a highly competitive compensation and bonus package, and access to a comprehensive benefits program designed to meet the needs of our employees.

• Retirement program (401k and Pension)

• Medical, dental and vision insurance

• Lifestyle Spending Account

• Generous PTO plan

• 11 paid holidays per year

• Hybrid working model

Who we are:

FHLBank Chicago partners with our members in Illinois and Wisconsin to provide them competitively priced funding, a reasonable return on their investment in the Bank, and support for their community investment activities. We are one of 11 Federal Home Loan Banks created by Congress in 1932 as a government sponsored enterprise to support mortgage lending and community investment. We are member owned and member focused. Our members include banks, credit unions, insurance companies and CDFIs.

What it’s like to work here:

At FHLBank Chicago, we bring people together. Our regular All-Staff meetings keep employees informed and our values drive the work that we do. Our Buddy Program pairs new hires with tenured employees to guide their onboarding. Through our Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), we host signature and employee-led events to celebrate our differences and learn from each other and identify volunteer opportunities to strengthen our communities; and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and culture teams create connections around shared interests and experiences. We offer live and on-demand professional development opportunities to grow your skillset and your career.

What you’ll do:

The role of the Lead Project Manager is to apply knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques throughout the entire project lifecycle in to deliver projects successfully with high quality. This requires planning, managing team and project progress, collaborating and communicating with multiple stakeholders, and resolving any issues timely and effectively.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Drive Strategic Alignment: By defining project scope, goals, and deliverables in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders, the Lead Project Manager ensures that projects align with the organization's strategic objectives, fostering a unified direction and purpose.
• Optimize Resource Utilization: Through effective negotiation with department managers for the acquisition of required personnel and the identification, acquisition, and adjustment of resources, the Lead Project Manager maximizes resource efficiency, ensuring that projects are well-supported and on track to meet their goals.
• Enhance Team Collaboration and Performance: By managing cross-functional teams, delegating tasks, and resolving conflicts, the Lead Project Manager fosters a collaborative environment that enhances team performance and ensures that project milestones, deliverables, timelines, and budgets are met.

What you can expect:

• Define project scope, goals and deliverables in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders.
• Develop project plans, timelines and milestones using appropriate tools.
• Effectively communicate project expectations to team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion.
• Identify, obtain and adjust resources needed to achieve project goals.
• Negotiate with department managers for the acquisition of required personnel
• Set and continually manage project expectations with team members and other stakeholders.
• Delegate tasks and assignments to appropriate team members.
• Identify and resolve issues and conflicts within the project team.
• Identify and manage project dependencies and critical path.
• Track progress on project milestones, deliverables, timeline and budget
• Manage cross-functional teams effectively
• Collaborate with different areas of IT and the business to provide appropriate solutions for the Bank
• Provide escalation path for problems, issues, or risks that project teams cannot resolve or manage on their own, such as a shortage of funding, resources, or deadlines that cannot be met
• Follows Bank’s delivery and governance framework during the entire delivery lifecycle

What you’ll bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience in project management
• Must have experience using MS Office tools (Word, Excel, Power Point)
• 7+ years of experience in project management
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or Agile Certified Professional (ACP) certification desired.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Organized with attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Persuasive, encouraging, and motivating
• Ability to influence stakeholders
• Ability to defuse tension among project team
• Ability to bring project to successful completion, addressing any challenges along the way
• Adept at conducting research into project-related issues and products
• Must be able to learn, understand, and apply new technologies
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks
• Highly self-motivated and directed
• Results driven with a keen attention to detail
• Ability to absorb and retain information quickly
• Ability to present ideas in user-friendly way
• Ability to problem solve and think critically

The perks:

At FHLBank Chicago, we believe in rewarding our high performing workforce. We offer a highly competitive compensation and bonus package, and access to a comprehensive benefits program designed to meet the needs of our employees. Our retirement program includes a 401(k) and pension plan. Our wellbeing program supports employees at work and in their personal lives: Our generous PTO plan provides five weeks of vacation for new employees and 11 paid holidays per year; our Lifestyle Spending Account provides an annual stipend for employees to support wellbeing activities; and our central downtown location at the Old Post Office provides easy access to public transportation and breathtaking views from our award-winning rooftop. Step into a brighter future with us. #LI-Hybrid