Project Manager II

A #remote contractor-position for a Project Manager is open at CSAA Insurance Group!

CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, offers automobile, homeowners and other personal lines of insurance to AAA Members through AAA clubs in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

Founded in 1914, we have been rated “A” or better by A.M. Best for more than 90 years and are one of the top personal lines property casualty insurance groups in the United States, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Benefit options available depending on contract factors and upon meeting requirements.

• Responsible for coordination, status reporting and stability of project oriented work efforts. Establishes and implements project management processes and methodologies to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, adhere to high quality standards and meet customer expectations.
• Uses professional concepts and company objectives to resolve complex issues in creative and effective ways. Works on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Exercises judgment in selecting methods, techniques and evaluation criteria for obtaining results. Determines methods and procedures on new assignments may provide guidance to other lower level project managers. Manages complex projects
• Manages cross-functional teams of 5 - 10 resources spread across multiple geographical locations through meetings and progress measurement activity which bring specific projects to completion both on time and within budget

Initiating the Project:

• Define and/or reviews the project statement of work
• Develops and/or reviews an audience list, determines how much involvement is necessary from the stakeholders, SMEs and other team members. Determines and assesses need for additional staff and make the appropriate recruitments during the project cycle. Provides clarity on roles and responsibilities.
• Identifies risks, restrictions and constraints of the project and verbalizes assumptions. Develops a project strategy to mitigate risks. Researches on the organization's approach for similar projects.
• Conducts and presents a feasibility study/ cost-benefit analysis to the business stakeholders.
• Clearly defines project objectives. Sets goals and determines measures to track progress.

Planning:

• Develops and a project schedule. Estimates span times for all activities. Identifies all dates that must be met. Develops a schedule for regular project meetings and progress reports.
• Creates Gantt charts. Identifies skills and knowledge necessary to perform the project activities.
• Ensures that resources are available throughout the project.
• Develops a project budget. Consults with Strategic Sourcing to determine the costs of resources. Prepares a detailed budget estimate. Seeks approval for the budget estimate. Coordinates with Finance to set up charge codes. Monitors project activities to determine if budget revisions are necessary.
• Identifies risks and assesses the potential effect on the project. Develops and recommends plans to mitigate risks. Monitors status of risks throughout the project. Informs key audiences of these risks.
• Creates a well-organized team. Selects and determines the team's operating practices and procedures.

Executing the Project:

• Accomplishes objectives within time and budget targets.
• Regularly monitors schedule performance against plans and handles problems that arise. Assesses project status by comparing actual activity/event dates to planned dates.
• Evaluates the hours budgeted for each member to spend on each activity. Compares the actual hours spent to the budgeted hours. Encourages team members to record the actual hours worked.
• Monitors, analyzes and documents financial expenditures and validates that they are in accordance with the project plan.
• Evaluates, recommends and possibly implements corrective actions when the performance deviates from the project plan.
• Recommends all possible strategies and approaches to get the project back on track. Revisits the project plan and adopts a new baseline if and when necessary.
• Reports on project progress. Reviews performance highlights, details, problems, risks, changes and next steps.

Skills

Required:

• Ability to apply project management best practices and methodology
• Ability managing Projects from 10,000 to 100,000 Hours
• Ability to motivate project teams and stakeholders
• Knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Visio, MS Project, MS Access, Adobe Acrobat and NT.
• Effective written and oral communications skills
• Proven decision-making abilities

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in related area or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 years project management principles and methodologies obtained by assisting/coordinating complex projects
• 5 years Project delivery experience (10,000 - 100,000 Hours)

Preferred:

• Experience in one of AAA�s business lines a plus

Pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness, meet client expectations, standards, and accompanying requirements, and safeguard business operations and company reputation.