About Working at Commerce 

Building a career here is more than just steps on a ladder. It’s about helping people find financial safety and success, helping businesses thrive, and making sure people and their money are taken care of. And our commitment doesn’t stop there. Our culture is about our people, the ones in our communities and the ones that work with us.  

Here, you’ll find opportunities to grow and learn, to connect with others, and build relationships with the people around you. You’ll have the space and resources to grow into the best version of yourself. Because our number one investment is you.

Creating an award-winning culture doesn't come easy. And after 160 years, we know Commerce Bank is only at its best when our people are. If this sounds interesting to you, keep reading and let’s talk. 

For more than a century, Commerce Trust has been a leading provider of wealth management services including financial planning, estate and tax planning, investment management, private banking and trust administration services. Our approach to wealth management means assembling a team of seasoned wealth management professionals across disciplines who collaborate to ensure each client’s financial journey is uniquely crafted for their goals. Commerce Trust is a division of Commerce Bank.

About This Job

The main purpose of this job is to lead and execute complex projects and strategic initiatives for Commerce Trust Company. This role is responsible for developing and managing project plans, coordinating cross-functional resources, guiding stakeholders through project execution, and ensuring successful delivery of business objectives. The Lead Project Manager serves as a key partner to business and leadership teams, providing project leadership, managing risks and dependencies, and driving projects to successful outcomes while supporting continuous improvement of project management practices.

Essential Functions

• Work with Senior Management or the various Business Lines to understand the unique project needs and value.  Lead the effort to define the scope of the project, and initial timelines and budget.  Gain acceptance of the project with key stakeholders and establish project progress feedback mechanisms.

• Lead cross-functional project teams to deliver the agreed upon scope of the projects.  This includes overseeing resource planning, capacity constraints, and dependency management for the projects..

• Build and maintain strong relationships with project sponsors and stakeholders by providing regular updates, facilitating decision-making, and proactively addressing risks, issues, and dependencies.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with vendors and third-party entities to coordinate vendor deliverables, timelines, risks, and issue resolution. 

• Ensure that the project deliverables are on time, within budget and meet the acceptable level of quality while effectively managing project scope, risks, assumptions, and change requests.

• Work with the department manager to develop and implement PMO best practices, including Project Portfolio Management, Project Methodology improvements and project auditing

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and business stakeholders, providing strategic recommendations, influencing decision-making, and aligning project objectives with organizational priorities and long-term business goals.

• Drive continuous improvement across project delivery practices by analyzing project performance metrics, identifying process enhancement opportunities, and championing change initiatives that improve efficiency, governance, and overall project success.

• Provide informal leadership and guidance on complex or highly visible initiatives, serving as a resource to project teams and helping to resolve escalated project challenges.

• Mentor project team members and strengthen PMO delivery practices

• Perform other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

• Strong general banking knowledge, preferably in the wealth management field

• Strong knowledge of Agile project methodologies and processes

• Ability to lead complex, cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and interdependent workstreams

• Demonstrated skill in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with business leaders, project sponsors, team members, and external partners

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to evaluate alternatives and recommend appropriate solutions

• Ability to align resources with critical path activities to ensure timely completion of project tasks

• Ability to work independently and with executive presence

• Ability to flex methodology styles to meet the need of a particular project

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced team environment while maintaining a high level of accuracy

• Motivated and organized self-starter with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities

• Inquisitive, agile and strong team player with excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills

• Ability to remain adaptable and resilient to all situations with an optimistic outlook and cast a positive shadow that is aligned with our culture and Core Values

• Intermediate level proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, or Information Systems or equivalent combination of education and experience required

• 7+ years project management experience required

• 2+ years wealth management experience preferred

• 2+ years Information Technology processes experience preferred

• PMP Project Management certification preferred

• Certified Scrum Master or equivalent Agile certification preferred

***For individuals applying, assigned and/or hired to work in areas with pay transparency requirements, Commerce is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for some roles.  This compensation range is for the Lead Project Manager - CTC job and contemplates a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to location, skill sets, education, relevant experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for any applicable differentials (geographic, bilingual, or shift) that could be associated with the position or where it is filled. At Commerce, compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each situation. A reasonable estimate of the current base pay is $119,000 to $142,000 annually.

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Must be eligible to work in the US without sponsorship now or in the future.

The candidate selected for this position may be eligible for the following employment benefits: employer sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance, 401(k), life insurance, paid vacation, and paid personal time. In addition, we offer career development, education assistance, and voluntary supplemental benefits.  Click here to learn more.

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