HR Project Manager (Contract)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to support HR organizational projects and transformation initiatives across a complex, multi-center-of-excellence (COE) HR function.

This role partners with HR leaders, COE teams, HR Business Partners, and cross-functional stakeholders to plan and deliver work that improves operating models, processes, governance, and employee/manager experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project delivery for HR organizational initiatives
• Develop and maintain project plans, milestones, RAID logs (risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies), resource plans, and executive-ready status reporting
• Facilitate stakeholder alignment across HR sub-teams/COEs (e.g., Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards/Compensation & Benefits, HR Operations/Shared Services, HRIS/People Systems, Learning & Development, Talent Management, Employee Relations, Workforce Planning/Analytics)
• Create and manage project communications (message maps, announcements, leader talking points, FAQs, and audience-specific updates)
• Partner with external consulting teams: coordinate workplans, manage deliverables, ensure knowledge transfer, and integrate consulting outputs into sustainable internal processes
• Drive effective governance: set agendas, run working sessions and steering committees, capture decisions, and ensure follow-through on action items
• Cook up and coordinate across time zones and international stakeholders; establish team norms, meeting cadences, and collaboration practices to keep work moving

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience
• 5+ years of project management experience delivering cross-functional initiatives; at least 2+ years focused on HR, people, or organizational projects
• Working knowledge of how HR functions are commonly structured, including HRBPs and centers of excellence (COEs); ability to quickly learn an organization’s specific HR operating model
• Demonstrated experience supporting or leading transformation initiatives (process, operating model, technology enablement, or organizational change)
• Hands-on change management experience (e.g., Prosci/ADKAR or similar approaches), including change impact assessment, stakeholder engagement, and adoption planning
• Strong communications experience producing clear, audience-appropriate materials for leaders and employees
• Experience working with distributed and international teams across multiple time zones
• Proficiency with common project tools (e.g., Microsoft Project or similar planning tools, Excel, PowerPoint) and collaboration tools (e.g., Teams)
• Excellent facilitation, organization, and problem-solving skills; ability to manage ambiguity and drive decisions

Qualifications

• Project Management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent)
• Change Management certification (Prosci or equivalent)
• Prior experience working with external consulting firms on HR transformation and/or operating model work
• Experience in matrixed, global organizations with multiple stakeholder groups and complex governance
• Familiarity with organizational design concepts, role clarity/RACI development, and service delivery models

Skills

• Stakeholder management: Builds trust with HR leaders, COEs, HRBPs, and partner functions; influences without authority
• Structured delivery: Brings rigor to planning, tracking, and reporting while staying pragmatic
• Change leadership: Anticipates adoption barriers and drives clear actions to support lasting change
• Executive communication: Synthesizes complex information into concise updates, recommendations, and decision points
• Collaboration across time zones: Establishes ways of working that respect regional needs while maintaining momentum
• Continuous improvement mindset: Uses data and feedback to refine processes and improve outcomes

Benefits

• Competitive and comprehensive compensation package
• Medical/dental/vision plans, which start from day one!
• Life and accident insurance
• 401(K) and Roth options
• Tax-advantaged accounts (HSA, FSA)
• Education expense reimbursement
• Paid parental leave
• Other benefits include: Digital mental health services (Talkspace), Flexible work hours (availability varies by office and job function), Training programs, Gallagher Thrive program – elevating your health through challenges, workshops and digital fitness programs for your overall wellbeing, Charitable matching gift program, and more...