IT Project Manager

About the Role: 

The position blends Project Manager and Scrum Master responsibilities within a Kanban delivery model, focusing on flow, adaptability, and continuous improvement rather than rigid process. You’ll use your expertise in leadership, planning, communication, and agile practices to help teams move efficiently and continuously improve.  

You’ll partner with a collaborative, outcome‑driven team to lead work of varying complexity, adapt as scope and business priorities evolve, and build strong, trust‑based relationships with stakeholders. This is an ideal opportunity for a Project Manager who thrives in ambiguity, values influence over authority and is motivated by delivering meaningful business impact. 

This IT Project Manager role supports our Marketing & Communications and Risk Management teams and is based in our Milwaukee office with a hybrid work environment. 

The Impact You’ll Make: 

Team Leadership and Mentorship: 

• Lead and mentor team members by fostering collaboration, accountability, and ownership of work 

• Influence without authority, earning trust and credibility with peers and partners 

• Apply strong knowledge of agile team dynamics and ceremonies within a Kanban environment 

• Promote continuous improvement, learning, and team maturity 

Work Intake, Planning, and Organizing: 

• Manage day‑to‑day Kanban operations, including board hygiene, WIP limits, and daily stand‑ups 

• Partner with Business Analysts and stakeholders to understand backlogs and translate priorities into realistic delivery plans 

• Lead project efforts with varying levels of complexity and ambiguity, adjusting approach as outcomes evolve 

• Identify and resolve bottlenecks, dependencies, technical roadblocks, and process inefficiencies 

• Track and communicate progress using visual metrics and lightweight reporting 

• Simplify and optimize intake, triage, analysis, and planning processes for business requests, internal improvements, and routine maintenance 

Stakeholder Management: 

• Serve as a primary point of contact for Marketing & Communications and Risk Management partners 

• Communicate clearly and effectively across all levels of the organization to ensure alignment and transparency 

• Facilitate meetings with clear agendas, decisions, and outcomes 

• Partner with stakeholders to deliver solutions in a way that drives value and satisfaction 

Navigating Complexity: 

• Navigate organizational dynamics to escalate issues, drive decisions, and achieve results 

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks to support successful delivery 

• Build and maintain strong relationships across business and technology teams 

• Leverage cross‑team partnerships to resolve dependencies and remove obstacles 

• Demonstrate organizational awareness by connecting insights, people, and resources to move work forward 

Professional Knowledge and Growth: 

• Participate in the Project Manager Community of Practice (PMCoP) 

• Develop domain knowledge relevant to aligned delivery teams 

• Pursue ongoing professional development and share learnings with peers 

What You’ll Bring to Baird 

• Five or more years of IT experience, including at least three years in a Project Manager or similar delivery role. Prior financial services industry experience a plus 

• Strong understanding of project management and agile principles, with hands‑on experience in Kanban environments 

• Experience organizing and analyzing work using Azure DevOps Boards (preferred) 

• Proven ability to lead through influence, collaboration, and strong communication skills 

• Excellent organizational, time management, and problem‑solving capabilities 

• Passion for systems thinking, team dynamics, and continuous improvement 

• Confidence balanced with humility and adaptability 

• PMP, CSM, or PMI‑ACP certification a plus 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, MIS, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field preferred