Principal Project Manager at Sparq in St. Louis, MO

Job description

• At Sparq, we help companies solve the right problems—not just build more technology.
• We’re a modern product engineering partner blending strategy, craftsmanship, and speed to help organizations modernize confidently in the age of AI. From data ecosystems to digital products and AI acceleration, we turn complexity into clarity and ideas into impact.
• If you’re driven to build what’s next, lead with empathy, and deliver excellence without ego, you’ll feel right at home at Sparq.
• C2C is not available
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship

Responsibilities

• Lead a highly complex, portfolio-aligned IT program from initial discovery and scope definition through execution, transition, and closeout.
• Develop and manage an integrated program plan across multiple concurrent application development projects, ensuring timelines, milestones, and deliverables remain aligned.
• Partner with the Program Sponsor, Portfolio Manager, and other senior stakeholders to establish reporting cadences and provide clear, executive-level updates on program health, progress, financials, risks, and decisions.
• Collaborate across a large, distributed organization to define program scope, navigate ambiguity, build stakeholder alignment, and identify dependencies across projects and business areas.
• Own program financial management, including cost estimates, budget development, forecasting, and forecast-to-actual tracking.
• Work onsite in the St. Louis, Missouri area as business needs require, up to once per week or three times per month.
• Monitor program risks, issues, dependencies, and health indicators, escalating significant concerns and leading resolution of the most complex challenges.
• Direct third-party and vendor activities by integrating external deliverables into the overall program plan and tracking performance against contractual commitments.
• Oversee resource needs across the program, review requests from project managers, and escalate capacity or skill constraints that may affect delivery.
• Apply Waterfall, Agile, or blended delivery approaches based on the needs of the program, projects, and stakeholders.
• Lead interim and post-program reviews to evaluate outcomes, capture lessons learned, and identify opportunities to strengthen future execution.
• Actively use AI tools, including Claude through our Anthropic partnership, to streamline tasks, improve the quality of your work, and share best practices with teammates while continuously seeking new ways to integrate AI into your everyday workflows
• Mentor project managers and reinforce consistent project management standards, governance practices, and reporting expectations across the PMO.
• Support organizational change activities by anticipating stakeholder impacts, strengthening adoption, and maintaining effective relationships throughout the program lifecycle.

Requirements

• Consultative approach and problem solving skills to successfully align digital solutions with long-term business goals of the client
• Hands-on experience using AI tools to enhance daily work, or a strong desire to do so, including a willingness to experiment, learn, and champion AI adoption within your role
• Claude Certified Developer or Architect highly preferred; possible opportunity to obtain as a Sparq colleague
• Commitment to understanding and exceeding client expectations
• Ability to perform project oversight and execution of deliverables
• Flexibility to adapt within a high-growth organization
• Ability to lead, mentor and motivate those around them
• Hunger for continuous learning and professional development
• Intellectual curiosity to provide creative solutions
• Full understanding of the software development life cycle
• Ability to positively impact fellow colleagues through effective leadership, presentations, coaching, etc.
• Desire to work in a team environment
• Good interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills

Skills

Required

• Desire to work in a team environment

Preferred

• Claude Certified Developer or Architect

Benefits

• Opportunity to work alongside a talented, diverse team in a collaborative and creative environment
• Ongoing investment in your growth through training, mentorship, and industry certifications
• Hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies across multiple industries
• Recognition programs and employee awards within an inclusive culture that celebrates great work, including our AI Innovators Program
• Remote or hybrid work options
• Competitive salary
• Robust benefits package, matching 401(k) plan, and substantial PTO
• Tuition reimbursement