Manager, Software Project Management (Chicago, IL - US)

Interested in joining a growing company where you will work with talented colleagues, enhance a supportive and energetic culture, and be part of the climate solution? At Energy Solutions, we focus on the big impacts. And we believe that market-based programs can be a powerful force to deliver large-scale energy, carbon, and water-use savings. Since 1995, we’ve harnessed that power to offer proven, performance-based solutions for our utility, government, and institutional customers. Energy Solutions is currently seeking a Manager, Software Project Management to join our fast-paced Information Systems Team. This role owns and oversees the software delivery portfolio, providing senior-level operational oversight across approximately fifteen active projects to drive revenue and delivery performance. Operating with high autonomy, this role is directly accountable for portfolio health, including budget, scope, schedule, resourcing, and risk management—while enabling leadership to make timely, data-informed decisions. As a central connective hub, the Manager, Software Project Management collaborates across product, engineering, finance, and contracting partners to establish portfolio routines, prioritize work based on capacity, identify dependencies, and strategically resolve conflicts. Additionally, this position manages, coaches, and develops a team of three to five Software Project Managers, balancing hands-on operational ownership with team performance, process improvement, and delivery consistency to ensure predictable, high-quality outcomes. The person filling this role will be required to work in a hybrid work environment adjacent to one of our offices in Oakland, CA; Orange, CA; Portland, OR; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; and New York, NY  Responsibilities include but are not limited to:    Establish, maintain, and monitor portfolio health metrics, including delivery timelines, capacity utilization, risks, dependencies, and budget alignment Own portfolio‑wide resource management by forecasting, allocating, and rebalancing capacity to meet utilization targets Provide senior oversight for complex, high‑risk, and cross‑functional software projects and programs Anticipate, assess, and escalate delivery risks related to scope, schedule, cost, resourcing, and technical dependencies Serve as an escalation point for project, delivery, and stakeholder issues not resolved at the individual Project Manager level Partner with Software Project Directors and Associate Directors to support internal subcontract and vendor contracting activities, ensuring scope, estimates, and plans are aligned Review and guide project‑level inputs for IS contracting processes, including scope, resourcing assumptions, timelines, and dependencies Collaborate with  IS leadership, Finance, and business stakeholders to ensure contracts align with portfolio priorities, budget constraints, and delivery capacity Monitor contracting‑related risks and communicate portfolio‑level impacts, options, and recommendations to senior stakeholders Set clear expectations for on‑time delivery, operational excellence, portfolio thinking, stakeholder communication, and professional conduct Conduct performance reviews, provide ongoing feedback, and support career development and growth planning Foster an inclusive, collaborative environment that promotes accountability, learning, continuous improvement, and psychological safety Serve as the primary IS point of contact for portfolio‑level communication with executive, product, engineering, finance, and business stakeholders Minimum Qualifications:   Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business Administration, or a related field. 7 years of progressively responsible experience managing complex software projects or programs, including multi‑workstream or enterprise‑scale initiatives Demonstrated experience supervising and mentoring software project managers and/or software engineers, including delegating work, monitoring performance, and providing coaching and feedback Proven experience owning end‑to‑end project delivery, including scope, schedule, budget, quality, and client satisfaction Experience supporting or contributing to business development efforts, such as proposal development, project scoping, and cost estimation Track record of identifying, assessing, and mitigating delivery risks and opportunities across multiple concurrent projects Strong working knowledge of software development lifecycles (SDLC) and project delivery methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, and hybrid approaches Proficiency with project management and delivery tools, including Jira (required) and platforms such as Monday.com or equivalent Solid understanding of financial and commercial project management, including budgeting, cost control, margin awareness, and invoicing Ability to translate technical concepts into clear project plans, timelines, and client‑ready communications Exceptional problem‑solving, analytical, and decision‑making skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities in fast‑paced environments Strong client management and stakeholder communication skills, including working effectively with external clients and internal teams at all levels Demonstrated capability to anticipate risks, manage dependencies, and resolve complex issues independently Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive‑level presentations and reporting The salary range for this role is $125,000 - $147,000 with a target compensation of $130,000 - $138,000 based on experience and qualifications Compensation is commensurate with experience and includes a generous retirement package. Energy Solutions provides an excellent benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, other pre-tax contribution plans and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). AI