Senior Project Manager

Guidewire is the platform P&C insurers trust to engage, innovate, and grow efficiently. We combine digital, core, analytics, and AI to deliver our platform as a cloud service. More than 540 insurers in 40 countries run on Guidewire, from new ventures to the largest and most complex in the world.

About the role

The Senior Project Manager (PM) serves as a foundational role in the delivery of Guidewire projects, focusing on the execution of smaller, more contained projects while building the skills and knowledge required to progress toward the Engagement Manager (EM) role. You will manage project timelines, deliverables, and customer scope to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget. You will coordinate across teams, develop strong client relationships, and work closely with senior leaders, including Engagement Managers, Principals, and Guidewire Partners, to achieve project success and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Project Delivery and Execution
  • Manage the successful execution of Guidewire projects, ensuring alignment with customer objectives and project goals.
  • Serve as the primary contact for day-to-day project communication with clients, working to understand their needs and challenges.
  • Develop project plans, schedules, and budgets, tracking project progress and adjusting plans as necessary to meet project goals.
  • Monitor project performance and report progress to stakeholders, managing schedule, scope, and customer budget.
• Customer Engagement and Communication
  • Build foundational relationships with clients but focus on project-level concerns.
  • Act as the day-to-day point of contact on assigned project tracks, focusing on clear communication, meeting immediate project needs, and delivering within agreed-upon parameters.
  • Foster positive working relationships with clients by actively engaging in status meetings, ensuring they feel informed and supported throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Collaborate closely with Engagement Managers and Principals on larger projects to gain exposure to program management best practices and customer relationship strategies.
• Risk Management and Issue Resolution
  • Using industry or technology expertise, identify and escalate potential project risks while collaborating with internal teams to develop mitigation strategies.
  • Proactively communicate risks and issues to project stakeholders, escalating as necessary to ensure effective resolution.
  • Maintain a problem-solving approach, working to address project challenges and remove obstacles that may impact project success.
• Resource Coordination and Collaboration
  • Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including Service Centers, Practices, and Guidewire Partners, to ensure seamless project delivery.
  • Develop and manage resource plans to support project scope, schedule, and customer budget, ensuring alignment with Guidewire's operational priorities.
  • Partner with Engagement Managers and Principals to gain experience in resource planning and strategy development at a broader program level.
• Financial Management and Budgeting
  • Maintain operational focus on financial tracking without primary responsibility for profit and loss.
  • Support the creation of project revenue forecasts.
  • Monitor project financial metrics to ensure alignment with customer budget goals.
  • Monitor and manage the internal cost of delivery and expected bookings, proactively address any financial risks.
  • Assist Engagement Managers and Principals in building business cases and budget proposals for complex engagements to develop financial management competencies.

Requirements

• 10+ years of Project/Program Management experience.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Multi-lingual experience is a plus, but not required.

Skills

• Communication and Stakeholder Management
  • Strong communication skills, with an ability to effectively engage with stakeholders at all levels, including regular status reporting and expectation management.
  • Comfortable presenting project updates and discussing project performance with project stakeholders, building trust and rapport.
  • Ability to help team members effectively prioritize and meet project commitments.
  • Ability to manage global teams and work with multiple partners or vendors to deliver value.
• Organization and Time Management
  • Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time effectively, and handle multiple project components simultaneously.
  • Detail-oriented approach to managing project activities, tracking deliverables, and ensuring key milestones are met.
• Problem Solving and Analytical Skills
  • Analytical mindset with a proactive approach to identifying potential project issues and developing practical solutions.
  • Discernment of when to escalate appropriate challenges with schedule, scope, and budget.
  • Ability to synthesize information, assess risks, and make decisions in a structured, thoughtful manner.
• Growth Potential and Development Focus
  • Demonstrated interest in progressing to the Engagement Manager role by showing initiative in building project management skills, business acumen, and Guidewire solution knowledge.
  • Actively seeks mentorship and guidance from senior leaders to gain insights into strategic planning, customer success, and program management.
  • Committed to developing knowledge of the Guidewire product suite, cloud solutions, and the insurance industry, focusing on building expertise aligned with future career progression.
  • Desire to build skills for appropriately identifying and matching customers' needs with Guidewire Services.
• Guidewire Knowledge and Industry Understanding
  • Familiarity with the Guidewire catalog and willingness to develop knowledge through training and certification.
  • Basic understanding of the insurance industry and trends within the region to better align project outcomes with industry needs.
  • Experience with a Professional Services or consulting organization coordinating projects managed via a contract.

Pay

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $139,000 - $234,000. Your base pay will depend on your experience, skills, education, training, and location among other factors.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Company-sponsored retirement plan.
• Some roles may be eligible for the annual company bonus plan, commissions, and/or long-term incentive awards, contingent on company and employee performance.