Project Manager - AI & SDLC

Our client in Northern New Jersey is seeking a Project Manager / Product Owner consultant who is the operational engine of an AI-enabled product delivery team. They convert product strategy into actionable work, maintain a clean and prioritized backlog, and drive predictable, high-quality execution across Agile teams. This role sits at the intersection of product, engineering, and delivery operations. It requires mastery of backlog management, Agile execution, Jira operations, cross-team coordination, and responsible integration of AI into the SDLC.

This position is hybrid 3 days onsite in Northern NJ. Local candidates only/No relocation.

This role is not eligible for employer-sponsored work authorization (e.g., H-1B, OPT, CPT, etc.) or transfer. Candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization

Core Responsibilities (Distilled to What Actually Matters):

Backlog & Requirements:

• Own backlog grooming, prioritization, and sprint readiness.
• Translate product direction into epics, features, and user stories using AI-assisted workflows.
• Ensure clarity, traceability, and technical feasibility before work enters a sprint.
• Maintain alignment between Jira Product Discovery (strategy) and Jira Software (delivery).

Delivery Execution:

• Run daily Agile rhythms: planning, standups, reviews, retros.
• Maintain delivery timelines, roadmaps, and reporting dashboards.
• Remove blockers, manage dependencies, and coordinate releases.
• Apply AI responsibly across SDLC workflows to improve speed, quality, and reporting.

Team Enablement:

• Act as the engineering team’s primary point of contact for requirements and priorities.
• Reduce ambiguity and context switching by ensuring work is fully defined.
• Lead workshops, change management, and adoption of AI-enabled practices.

Stakeholder Communication:

• Provide structured updates on progress, risks, and delivery health.
• Escalate trade-offs with clear context and recommended options.
• Maintain transparent dashboards and reporting for leadership.

Continuous Improvement:

• Champion Agile discipline and delivery consistency.
• Track velocity, DORA metrics, and quality indicators.
• Drive improvements in tooling, automation, and team workflows.

Required Strengths (What the Hiring Team Will Screen For):

• 5–7 years in PM/PO or Agile delivery roles.
• Expert-level Jira usage (backlog, automation, reporting).
• Strong story-writing and acceptance criteria skills.
• Proven partnership with engineering teams.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and prioritization.
• Ability to manage ambiguity and maintain delivery momentum.

Preferred (Signals You’re a Top-Tier Candidate):

• Experience in AI-enabled or highly automated SDLC environments.
• Jira Product Discovery familiarity.
• DevOps/CI/CD exposure and understanding of DORA metrics.
• BI reporting experience (Power BI, Tableau, Looker).
• Agile certifications (CSPO, SAFe PO/PM, PMI-ACP).