PMO Project Associate

Cognizant Workday Practice is seeking a PMO Project Associate to support the Delivery organization by assisting our Service Delivery Managers (SDMs) and leadership in the strategic oversight of ongoing projects and post-production engagements.

The Project Associate will serve as a central pillar for the PMO function, ensuring that project health, financial data, and performance metrics are accurate and actionable. This individual will empower leadership with the insights needed to manage customer success, mitigate risks, and optimize delivery across the portfolio.

Responsibilities:

• Performance Reporting & KPIs: Aggregate data across multiple engagements to produce weekly/monthly dashboards, focusing on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as project margin, resource utilization, and milestone completion.
• Account Health Monitoring: Assist SDMs in tracking account health metrics to identify "at-risk" projects early, ensuring leadership has the visibility to intervene and ensure customer success.
• Financial Administration: Monitor project budgets, burn rates, and expenditures; coordinate with Finance to ensure accurate invoicing and financial forecasting for the delivery organization.
• Executive Presentation Support: Prepare high-level reporting decks for Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and internal leadership summits, translating complex project data into concise executive summaries.
• Project Governance: Ensure all projects adhere to the Cognizant Workday methodology; audit project collaboration sites for compliance with quality standards and mandatory documentation.
• Resource Management Coordination: Partner with Resource Management and SDMs to track staffing needs, identifying upcoming vacancies or over-allocations that could impact delivery.
• Action Tracking & Accountability: Maintain high-level logs for cross-project dependencies, risks, and strategic decisions, ensuring follow-through from senior stakeholders.
• Process Optimization: Standardize PMO templates and reporting cadences to streamline communication between the Delivery organization and functional groups (Legal, Sales, Finance).

Skills & Requirements:

• 3+ years of experience in a PMO, Project Coordination, or Operations role within IT Professional Services.
• Data Literacy: Strong ability to interpret data, identify trends, and create meaningful visualizations for leadership.
• Advanced Excel Skills: High proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, data modeling) to manage project financials and KPIs.
• Executive Presence: Excellent communication skills with the ability to interface with senior leadership and maintain confidentiality.
• Attention to Detail: Exceptional organizational skills, with a focus on data accuracy and the standardization of content across various media.
• Adaptability: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, remote environment, managing multiple priorities for different Service Delivery Managers simultaneously.
• Tool Proficiency: Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote); familiarity with Project Management software (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project) or PSA tools is highly preferred.
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, IT, or a related field.

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Why choose Cognizant:

• Entrepreneurial environment that welcomes your ideas
• Opportunity to do great work
• Outreach programs that support communities and tap into your volunteer spirit
• Learning opportunities to help current needs and advancement
• Global operations, with opportunities in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific
• An abundance of Affinity groups to meet your needs

Cognizant Core Values:

• Work as One: We think beyond roles, relying on each other’s strengths to win as a team.
• Raise the Bar: We always aim for excellence in how we work and what we deliver.
• Dare to Innovate: We push boundaries and take chances to reimagine what’s possible.
• Do the Right Thing: We all lead with integrity and always make the ethical choice.
• Own It: We own the outcomes for our company, colleagues, and community.