Plan, execute, and deliver complex initiatives that move Hastings forward.
Location: Hybrid (Hastings, MI) or Fully Remote. Candidates in MI, OH, IN, IL, or WI preferred.
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
About the Role:
The Project Manager oversees end-to-end delivery of complex business and technology projects, from initial planning through execution, closure, and post-project review. This role is accountable for defining scope, timelines, budgets, and success criteria, coordinating cross-functional resources, managing risk, and maintaining consistent communication with sponsors and stakeholders. The Project Manager balances structure and adaptability while driving projects to completion on time, within budget, and to established quality standards.
What You'll Do:
Project Planning
- Partner with senior management, project sponsors, and stakeholders to define:
- Project scope
- Budget
- Required resources
- Timelines and milestones
- Success criteria and deliverables aligned to business objectives
- Develop detailed project plans and communication strategies for stakeholders.
- Estimate resource needs and required participants in collaboration with business and technical subject matter experts.
- Communicate project expectations clearly and consistently to team members and stakeholders.
- Set and manage project expectations throughout the lifecycle.
- Plan, monitor, and manage project timelines and milestones using appropriate tools.
- Develop and deliver regular project status and progress reports to sponsors.
- Proactively identify, manage, and mitigate project risks and issues.
Project Execution
- Monitor and manage project timelines, milestones, and deliverables using established tools.
- Collaborate with leadership to secure and allocate required project resources.
- Track plan versus actual project spend and provide recommendations when variances occur.
- Assess the need for additional staff or external consultants and support recruitment efforts as required.
- Identify, manage, and resolve issues, conflicts, dependencies, and critical paths.
- Proactively manage scope changes, identify potential risks or crises, and develop contingency plans.
- Coach, mentor, and motivate project team members and contractors to promote accountability and performance.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams, vendors, and business partners.
- Identify opportunities for operational and process improvements aligned to project deliverables.
- Partner with sponsors and team members to assess and implement improvement opportunities.
- Conduct project postmortems and document successful and unsuccessful project elements with recommendations.
Additional Responsibilities
- Participate in professional development, continuing education, and self-improvement activities.
- Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.
Additional Role Highlights: - Regular interaction with employees and leaders at all levels of the organization.
- Ongoing collaboration with vendors and external business partners.
- Work performed independently and within a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
- Standard work hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with flexibility for project demands and occasional extended hours.
- This role can work remotely or in a hybrid format. Preference will be given to candidates who reside in (or can relocate to) West Michigan. Candidates residing elsewhere in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois or Wisconsin will also be given preference.
What You'll Bring: - Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
- Minimum of three to five years of experience in a project management capacity, overseeing projects through full lifecycle delivery.
- PMI certification preferred, or equivalent education, designation, or experience.
- Experience with continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean or Six Sigma.
- Knowledge of industry-standard software development lifecycles and ITIL.
- Strong attention to detail with sound problem-solving and decision-making skills.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and balance competing workloads.
- Ability to adapt to shifting priorities, demands, and timelines.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate with and influence stakeholders across departments and leadership levels.
- Experience working with diverse teams and communication styles.
- Proven ability to manage conflict and defuse tension within project teams.
- Demonstrated experience managing project resources.
- Strong familiarity with project management software, including Microsoft Project.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficient use of Microsoft Office products.
About Us: At Hastings Insurance, we're more than an insurance provider- we're a trusted partner to our agents, policyholders, and the communities we serve. For over 135 years, we've been helping individuals, families, and businesses protect what matters most and rebuild after loss. We're proud to be rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company, recognizing our enduring financial strength and stability.
While our heritage runs deep, we're always looking ahead. We embrace emerging technologies, cultivate strong partnerships with independent agents, and continuously evolve our products to meet the needs of today's customers. Our strategy is focused on responsible growth, expanding our reach while staying innovative, agile, and committed to personalized service.
Our people are the heart of everything we do. Our talented team members, many recognized as industry experts, are passionate about delivering exceptional service, driving progress, and making a real impact. At Hastings Insurance, we foster a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and appreciation for the diverse skills and ideas our employees bring.
Our Commitment as an Employer: We believe that diverse perspectives and inclusive teams drive innovation and strengthen our organization. We're committed to fostering a workplace where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we make employment decisions based on business needs, role requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, appearance, disability, veteran status, family status, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
We also understand the importance of providing a welcoming and accessible experience for all candidates. If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please reach out to our Talent Acquisition Specialist or contact us at 800-###-####.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.