Project Manager, Forecasting Finance Excellence

Project Manager, Forecasting Excellence
Location: North Chicago, IL OR Mettawa, IL
Schedule: Hybrid (3 days onsite Tuesday–Thursday, 2 days remote Monday & Friday)
Contract Duration: 18 Months (with potential for extension based on performance and business needs)
$63/hr-$68/hr based on benefit elections
 
Orion Group is seeking an experienced Project Manager, Forecasting Excellence to support high-impact initiatives focused on strengthening forecasting capabilities, data integration, reporting, and decision support within our pharmaceutical client’s global finance organization.

This role will be responsible for coordinating multiple concurrent projects, partnering with finance and technology teams, and driving the successful implementation of forecasting tools, data solutions, and process improvements. The ideal candidate is a highly organized project manager who excels at stakeholder communication, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration within complex, matrixed environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage project schedules and execution plans for forecasting, reporting, and data integration initiatives.
• Coordinate multiple medium- to high-impact projects simultaneously while ensuring alignment to business priorities.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, milestones, deliverables, assumptions, dependencies, and risk logs.
• Facilitate project meetings to gather status updates, identify risks and issues, and drive accountability across stakeholders.
• Partner with Finance, Technology, and external vendors to align project goals and ensure successful delivery.
• Coordinate deployment activities for new tools, reporting capabilities, and forecasting solutions.
• Support the implementation of standardized reporting and visualization tools to enhance forecast communication and business decision-making.
• Monitor project scope and evaluate proposed changes to minimize risk to timelines, quality, and outcomes.
• Identify project risks, dependencies, and roadblocks; develop mitigation strategies and escalate issues when necessary.
• Prepare project status reports, executive summaries, and presentations for senior leadership.
• Apply structured problem-solving methodologies to drive continuous improvement and project success.
• Support change management activities, communication plans, training initiatives, and adoption strategies for new processes and tools.
• Coordinate effectively with globally distributed teams, including stakeholders across North America and Europe.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of project or program management experience in finance, forecasting, business operations, technology, or a related field.
• Proven experience managing cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience facilitating project meetings, tracking action items, and driving execution across complex organizations.
• Strong organizational, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience preparing executive-level project updates and status reporting.
• Ability to manage risks, dependencies, and project timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with financial forecasting processes, planning cycles, and supporting business systems.
• Experience working with teams across multiple regions and time zones.

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to forecasting, budgeting, or financial planning processes.
• Experience supporting data integration, analytics, reporting, or visualization initiatives.
• Familiarity with Power BI or similar reporting and visualization platforms.
• Experience with project management tools such as Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, Jira, or similar solutions.
• Experience supporting organizational change management, communication planning, or training programs.

Key Competencies

Project Leadership
Ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, and drive projects to successful completion.

Strategic Thinking
Ability to connect project objectives to broader business goals and organizational priorities.

Collaboration
Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to influence and work effectively across Finance, Technology, and external partners.

Problem Solving
Ability to identify challenges early, assess options, and implement practical solutions that keep projects moving forward.

Technical Acumen
Working knowledge of forecasting processes, reporting tools, data systems, and business technology environments.

What You'll Be Working On
This team is focused on advancing forecasting excellence through modern data solutions, standardized processes, scalable reporting tools, and enhanced decision-support capabilities. By partnering across business and technology functions, the team drives greater visibility, efficiency, and effectiveness in planning and forecasting operations.
 


People are our business worldwide
 
Orion Group was founded in 1987 and is now one of the largest, independent, international recruitment companies. We have a network of 200 employees working from 24 offices, delivering a range of services – Talent Acquisition, Recruitment Outsourcing Services, Retained Search, Global Workforce Solutions, Completions & Commissioning and Materials Management – across 68 countries. As a global leader in workforce solutions, we recruit personnel across the Engineering & Technical, Office & Commercial, Scientific and Skilled Trades disciplines, for sectors including Oil & Gas, Life Science, Power & Utilities, Constructions & Infrastructure, Manufacturing and Renewables.