IT Project Manager

Position : Project Manager
Job Type: 3-Month Contract-to-hire
Compensation : $45.00 - 55.00/per hour
Location : East Lansing, MI (Onsite)

About this role:

We are seeking a hands-on Project Manager to help organize, document, and drive delivery of technology initiatives using JIRA within an Agile/Scrum environment. This role will work closely with end users, Business Analysts, and Developers to translate business needs into well-defined user stories, manage timelines, and ensure projects stay on track. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who is comfortable operating with minimal oversight and thrives in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.

Key Responsibilities of the Project Manager:

• Organize and manage project work in JIRA , translating business and user input into well-structured epics, stories, and tasks
• Write and maintain user stories, acceptance criteria, and test plans within JIRA
• Track tickets, dependencies, progress, and risks throughout the project lifecycle
• Facilitate meetings with end users, Business Analysts, and Developers , ensuring alignment and clear next steps
• Maintain strong project documentation (requirements, workflows, decisions, and timelines)
• Keep stakeholders accountable to timelines, priorities, and deliverables
• Provide project and Agile reporting using JIRA and AI-enabled tools (e.g., Claude connected to JIRA), following standard Agile reporting frameworks
• Support Agile ceremonies and workflows, primarily Scrum , with some Kanban for smaller, short-duration efforts

Preferred Skills:

• Proven experience as a Project Manager in a technology or systems-focused environment
• Strong working knowledge of Agile Scrum methodologies (Kanban exposure preferred)
• Experience using AI tools such as Claude (preferred) , Copilot, or ChatGPT in a project or reporting context
• Hands-on experience with JIRA (story creation, ticket management, reporting)
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively across diverse personality types and roles
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and shifting priorities
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and process-driven
• Self-starter who can operate independently without extensive training in project management or JIRA
• Creative, out-of-the-box thinker with a strong drive to get things done

Bonus Skills:

• Advanced JIRA experience, including JIRA Admin capabilities
• Technical background as a Java or SQL Developer
• Experience working in banking or regulated environments (regulatory compliance exposure)
• Familiarity with Jack Henry systems