Project Lifecycle Lead

Project Lifecycle Lead

Anywhere

Our client has exited SAFe and adopted a Project Lifecycle framework that exists but requires operationalization. The Project Lifecycle Lead will embed with IT delivery teams to translate the framework into daily practice across Solution Design & Delivery and Delivery organizations. This role will drive execution, produce artifacts, align Jira configuration to PLC gates, and establish intake, reporting, release planning, and resource planning standards so leadership gains consistent, real‑time visibility.

Rate: $130.00 to $120.00/hr. w2

Benefits:
Medical, Dental, Vision benefits; 401(k) with company matching; life insurance; and other benefits for W2 employees working 30+ hours per week, including pre‑tax accounts, voluntary benefits, disability insurance, and sick time as required by law.

• Conduct structured discovery of existing PLC framework documentation, templates, and RACI.
• Identify gaps between the documented framework and current practices and define closure steps.
• Lead working sessions with project managers, scrum engineers, and delivery leads to validate the framework against live projects.
• Develop and maintain a PLC Playbook with practical day‑to‑day PM guidance across SaaS, data implementations, enhancements, and break/fix in an SDLC‑Agile hybrid model.
• Define deliverable expectations by role and project type across phase gates.
• Coordinate with the Jira rebuild team to reflect PLC phase gates and workflow standards in Jira.
• Design and stand up a project management function for governance, reporting, and planning consistency across IT delivery.
• Establish standard project intake and status reporting tied to PLC stage gates, including health, milestones, risks, and blockers.
• Build or adapt release planning and dependency management aligned to Scrum and Kanban.
• Develop a resource planning model to flex contractor and SI support based on demand.
• Maintain regular cadence with senior stakeholders and surface issues early.
• Coordinate closely with the Jira rebuild lead to keep tooling and process in sync.
• Interface with the strategic PMO at the defined boundary focused on IT project delivery.
• Support the Delivery Lead in executive status reporting.

• 8+ years in project management, PMO leadership, or delivery governance within an IT delivery organization.
• Proven experience operationalizing an existing project management framework or PMO function.
• Strong working knowledge of SDLC delivery in an Agile hybrid environment.
• Experience developing PM playbooks, onboarding guides, and role‑based delivery expectations.
• Ability to drive adoption of a process or framework with a skeptical or resistant audience.
• Experience working across multiple delivery organizations with interdependent teams and shared resources.
• Preferred:
  Insurance or regulated financial services background.
• Preferred:
  Experience in post‑SAFe transition environments.
• Preferred:
  Familiarity with Jira and PLC‑Jira integration.
• Preferred:
  Experience with embedded delivery and knowledge transfer to internal teams.

Eliassen Group is a strategic consulting firm that helps organizations reach further and achieve more through our technology, business advisory, and life sciences solutions. For nearly 40 years, we have combined exceptional people, deep domain expertise, and intelligent capabilities to expand our clients’ capacity and accelerate meaningful outcomes. We are driven by a purpose to positively impact the lives of our employees, clients, consultants, and the communities we serve.

Eliassen is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We are an Equal Opportunity and affirmative action Employer and all employment decisions are based on merit, performance, and business needs. Eliassen does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender identity or expression, sexual preference or orientation, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), marital status, creed, religion, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, age, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, prohibited criminal record inquiries of applicants and employees, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local laws.