Client Engagement Manager/Project Manager

About this role

Who We Are

Ardent offers a small company feel, with big company results. We’re a custom training provider that helps organizations thrive through their people — by unlocking their potential and improving business performance. Our three decades of success is due to Ardent’s tenacious team who embody client services in all we do. We’re always on the lookout for innovative, curious, and passionate people who can help us continue to support our clients and achieve our goals. And we’re growing! Currently, we’re looking for a Project Manager (based in the Orange County area) who will be a key member of our team. Our ideal candidate will bring excellent project management experience to their accounts, and is a top knotch communicator both internally and with our clients and vendors. Their goal is to maximize client project success and account satisfaction by developing strong relationships with key stakeholders across accounts. We’re excited to connect with candidates who align with our values and the qualifications outlined below. Be sure to learn more about our Benefits & Perks, Core Values, and Holistic Approach to Learning here: https://www.ardentlearning.com/careers. What You’ll Be Doing Leads the full lifecycle of client engagements and oversees design, development, and production of projects to ensure client specifications and deadlines are met

Ensure timely and efficient milestone handoffs internally and externally throughout project

Provide proactive status updates to team members, management and clients. Hold internal and external status meetings. Document and communicate decisions and actions from each status meeting

Adhere to Ardent’s project management standards and best practices, embracing flexibility where possible

Develop, maintain, and monitor progress reports, project plans, timelines and budgets with focus on attention to detail and client satisfaction — speaking up when deliverables are not in alignment with Ardent standards

Develop detailed project plan(s) to monitor and track progress

Manages people and vendor resources required for client engagements – reworking plans and prioritizing needs effectively with Resource Manager

Provide project support to participating internal and external talent

Develop purchase orders, track projects from purchase order through invoicing

Obtain client feedback and work through edits and revisions

Escalate any project changes that may affect scope, time, cost and or quality

Perform risk management to minimize project risks

Stay in tune with client needs, strengthening Ardent’s position as learning consultants

Travel locally to and from the client location weekly

Other duties as assigned

What You’ll Bring Bachelor's degree or equivalent years of experience required

5+ years’ experience as a client facing Project Manager; experience in the learning industry is a plus

Experience with Smartsheet, Microsoft Project or other project management tools

Competency in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, and Outlook

Proven ability to manage budgets

Willingness to support clients across multiple timezones (EST, CST, PST)

High competence in project and client services management; able to embrace the flexibility and ambiguity needed in our client services environment

Effective client communications, including being confident having difficult conversations

Work creatively to manage project scope and changes by problem solving, identifying risks / issues and negotiating win-win solutions

Demonstrated ability to launch new client engagements and projects

Reporting on project success criteria / metrics, milestones, risks and issues – internally and with the client

Proven track record for successful delivery of projects and working cross-functionally across internal and external teams

Ability to be flexible in diving into project detail when necessary, while keeping the overall picture in mind

Demonstrated ability to be responsive with both verbal and written communication, while maintaining a strong sense of urgency

What We Offer

Unlimited PTO. We trust our employees and want them to establish an ideal work-life balance. Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance. We offer excellent benefits for the health of our team and their families. 401K Plan. We support our employees in setting up a comfortable future. Cell Phone Reimbursement. We got you covered. Company Paid Community Service Time. We encourage employees to give back to their communities. Company Paid Parental & Adoption Leave. We value the importance of parents bonding with a new child. Company Paid Short & Long Term Disability. We help employees plan for the unexpected.

Equal Opportunity Employer Come as you are. Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. Compensation The salary range for this particular role is $85,000.00 to $100,000.00, which will ultimately take into account candidates’ level of experience, education, and geographic location. There is not a variable compensation element associated with this role.