AI Technical Project Lead

William Blair • Full-time • Chicago, IL, US • 1w ago

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You will be joining a high-performing and motivated Business & Technology team that works alongside Portfolio Managers, Analysts, Quantitative Strategists, and other members of the Institutional Investment Management division. You will also have direct exposure with a dedicated team of technologists with a variety of skill-sets developing & managing our proprietary front-office research platforms. The job will afford the opportunity to work within the business and interact closely with business partners to gain insight into our proprietary research, analytics & portfolio management processes that largely represent our competitive advantage.

Job Summary & Responsibilities

We are seeking a highly skilled AI Technical Project Manager to oversee the planning, execution, and completion of large-scale, complex AI projects. This role requires a professional with expertise in project management and systems development life cycle. The successful candidate will collaborate with business partners to define project objectives, scope, timing, and deliverables, ensuring that all targets are met on schedule and within budget. Responsibilities include developing and utilizing AI project management tools, balancing internal development with vendor solutions, and maintaining transparent communication with leadership regarding project status and critical issues.

Responsibilities Include But May Not Be Limited To

Lead substantial AI projects from inception to completion, ensuring alignment with business objectives and strategic goals.
Define project vision, goals, tasks, and resources in collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring comprehensive project planning and alignment with business needs.
Set project objectives, scope, timing, and deliverables in conjunction with business partners, facilitating clear understanding and agreement among all stakeholders.
Obtain stakeholder approval for scope, timeline, and budget, ensuring all project targets are met on schedule and within budget constraints.
Coordinate project personnel and vendors to achieve objectives efficiently, utilizing resource management techniques to optimize team performance and productivity.
Manage the daily operational aspects of AI projects, providing clear direction and support to the project team and vendors.
Utilize AI project management tools to enhance effectiveness and ensure success.
Develop robust relationships with business areas to understand their strategic goals and challenges, enabling the identification of AI solutions that drive business success.
Identify potential AI projects and analyze their costs and benefits in collaboration with business partners.
Develop AI project roadmaps prioritizing feasibility and strategic impact.
Monitor and report on the progress of AI projects, resolving any issues that arise with a proactive approach to problem-solving and stakeholder communication.
Keep leadership informed of project status, changes, and any issues impacting success, providing regular updates.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Advanced degree or certification in AI, Project Management, or related areas is a plus.
10+ years of IT project management experience with a record of leading project teams.
Proven experience in technical project management with a focus on execution.
Ability to manage large, complex AI projects.
Deep understanding of AI technologies and their business applications.
Experience working with cross-functional teams to deliver AI solutions.
Experience in using advanced project management tools.
Solid understanding of cloud-native solutions, including Kubernetes (K8s) and Argo Workflows.
Strong expertise in the FinTech sector, particularly within the asset management domain.
Strong relationship-building skills to engage with business areas and understand their needs.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to promptly inform leadership of key issues.
PMP certification preferred.
Expert project management skills in all phases of technology projects, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, execution, communication, documentation, project tools, and change management.
Expert knowledge of systems development life cycle.
Excellent collaboration and communication skills, including presentation skills and the ability to convey technical concepts to multiple audiences.
Strong vendor management experience.
Strong knowledge of investment industry concepts and IT trends and their potential impact on business strategies and operations.
Commitment to quality, including satisfying internal and external customers.
Proven ability to take ownership of issues and see them to resolution.
Proven ability to influence outcomes without formal authority.
Proficient in utilizing Azure or other cloud computing platforms, with a strong emphasis on Azure AI Studio and Copilot Studio.a

William Blair is an equal opportunity employer. It complies with all laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in employment practice because of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, marital status, gender, age, national origin, sexual orientation, unfavorable discharge from the military service or on the basis of a physical or mental disability that is unrelated to the employee's ability to perform the duties of the job applied for. EOE m/f/d/v

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