Time to get to work! LRS Consulting Services is seeking an experienced IT Engagement Lead Manager for our client in Central Illinois. This is 6-month contract to hire opportunity for the right person. If you’re that person and if you have the IT Engagement Lead Management expertise that we need, submit your resume now!

LRS Consulting Services has been delivering IT excellence for over four decades. Our reputation for quality, flexibility, and strong relationships with our clients keeps them turning to us to meet their IT consulting needs. Our contacts, combined with your technical expertise, equals career possibilities for you. So let’s get to work!

Key Responsibilities Include:

• The Engagement Lead Manager is a leadership role within the Digital organization responsible for aligning business demand with delivery execution. This individual serves as the central point of intake for digital initiatives, maintains visibility across the full department portfolio, and ensures priorities, resources, and outcomes are aligned with strategic objectives.
• In addition to portfolio and engagement leadership, this role directly manages and develops Business Analysts (BA), Quality Assurance (QA), and User Experience & Design (UXD) professionals, driving talent growth and delivery excellence across the organization.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with IT and business partners to support strategic goals and objectives. Assist in the development and ongoing updates of the department’s Strategic Portfolio. Partner with IT and business leaders to maintain and refine digital roadmaps. Review and analyze project and operational metrics; identify risks, trends, and concerns, and recommend actions.
• Maintain comprehensive visibility into all departmental delivery efforts, including projects, operational work, documentation, and backlog commitments. Refine and validate goal outcomes prior to executive reporting, ensuring accuracy and strategic alignment. Monitor risks across initiatives throughout the Project Life Cycle (PLC) and escalate issues appropriately. Support vendor engagements, including contracting, Statements of Work (SOWs), and Technology Review process.
• Serve as the primary intake point for all digital requests across the organization. Maintain deep awareness of all active initiatives and operational efforts within the department. Attend team standups and maintain ongoing engagement with delivery and operational leaders to understand priorities, progress, and constraints. Ensure alignment between backlog priorities, roadmap commitments, and available capacity.
• Directly manage BA, QA, and UXD team members. Provide day-to-day leadership, assignment guidance, and performance coaching. Develop talent through mentoring, feedback, and professional growth planning. Foster collaboration across cross-functional teams and ensure effective partnership with development and operations leaders. Mentor and develop less experienced engagement specialists and leads.
• Review and analyze project and operational metrics; identify risks, trends, and concerns, and recommend actions. Assist with departmental resource planning, capacity modeling, and budget monitoring. Identify and implement opportunities to improve departmental processes, efficiencies, and delivery outcomes.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to build trusted partnerships across IT, business units, and executive leadership.
• Strong interpersonal presence; approachable, collaborative, and able to influence at all organizational levels.
• Proven experience leading and developing professional teams, including coaching and performance management.
• Ability to connect strategy to execution and manage a portfolio view of work.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret metrics, identify trends, and recommend action.
• Experience with resource planning, capacity modeling, and budget oversight.
• Solid understanding of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), PLC and digital delivery practices.
• Experience managing intake processes, roadmap planning, and prioritization frameworks.
• Familiarity with vendor management processes, SOWs, and financial coordination.

Must have 6+ years of experience in the following:

• Digital delivery, portfolio management, product engagement, or related leadership roles.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams.

This role is ideal for a strategic yet hands-on leader who thrives at the intersection of people, process, and portfolio—someone who can see the big picture while ensuring the details are executed with discipline and clarity.

• Candidate must be able to effectively communicate in English (written & verbal)
• Candidate must have permanent authorization to work in the USA for any employer
• Corp to corp candidates will not be considered

The base range for this contract position is $40 - $75 per hour, depending on experience. Our pay ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hires of this position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

LRS is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for employment will receive consideration without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, gender identity, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, citizenship, status or protected veteran status.

In some cases, LRS Consulting uses generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) in support of our hiring processes. LRS takes steps to ensure the use of AI does not result in discrimination based on protected class(es). AI may be used in the hiring process solely in support of the assessment of candidate qualifications. All decisions in the hiring process are made by LRS employees. If AI will be used in the hiring process for the position for which you are applying, you will be notified and will have the opportunity to opt out. If you have any questions, please contact us by clicking here.