Job Description

Job Requisition ID: 52579 
Closing Date: 01/07/2026
​Agency:  Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

Salary: $86,257 - $134,561
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1

Please follow the directions below when applying for this position.

**DO NOT CLICK THE APPLY BUTTON**

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION PLEASE VISIT THE TRS WEBSITE:

The  Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS)is one of the largest public pension systems in the United States. We provide retirement, disability and survivor benefits to teachers, administrators and other public-school personnel employed outside the city of Chicago.

TRS serves over 456,000 members and manages a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio for the exclusive benefit of the membership.

TRS is an agency of the State of Illinois governed by a Board of Trustees. Full-and part-time employees are eligible for the State of Illinois comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental and vision coverage. All employees hired after August 17, 2001 participate in the TRS retirement pension plan. Employees also have the option to contribute to additional State of Illinois deferred compensation plans. The TRS pension plan is a participating reciprocal system under the Illinois Pension Code Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act.

Learn more about careers at TRS:  Careers | Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

Job Summary

Under the direction of the PMO Manager, the Junior Project Manager supports the planning, coordination, and execution of organizational projects within the pension system. This entry-level project management role blends responsibilities from traditional project management, business analysis, and product ownership to provide exposure across the full project lifecycle. The Junior Project Manager is responsible for assisting with project planning, requirements gathering, backlog refinement, stakeholder communication, documentation, and supporting change management activities.

The Junior Project Manager collaborates with cross-functional teams, facilitates small-scale meetings, captures business needs, documents user stories and requirements, assists in managing project schedules, and ensures alignment between technical teams and stakeholders. This role will also support Agile ceremonies, participate in quality assurance activities, and help monitor project progress, risks, and issues.

Essential Functions

• Assist with planning, coordinating, and monitoring project activities, schedules, milestones, risks, budgets, and deliverables to support successful execution.
• Maintain and update project documentation, prepare status reports and presentations, and help facilitate project meetings and Agile ceremonies.
• Support requirements gathering by collaborating with stakeholders, documenting business processes, and creating user stories, acceptance criteria, and process maps.
• Participate in refining requirements, supporting test planning and UAT, and validating new or updated functionality.
• Assist with product backlog refinement, prioritization, and evaluating business value to ensure alignment with project and product goals.

Essential Functions (Continued)

• Provide end-user support, gather feedback, document issues, and assist in incident triage and resolution.
• Support communication and organizational change management activities, including preparing training materials, documenting impacts, and sharing updates with stakeholders.
• Conduct basic research and data analysis to aid decision-making and scope definition, while building foundational understanding of system functionality and integrations.
• Use project management and Agile tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jira, MS Project) to support planning, tracking, and documentation activities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to convey ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in documentation.
• Foundational understanding of project management principles (Waterfall and Agile).
• Ability to analyze business processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
• Problem-solving mindset with the ability to research issues and propose options.
• Basic understanding of software development lifecycle (SDLC) and Agile frameworks.
• Comfortable facilitating small meetings or breakout discussions.
• Exposure to technical concepts, business requirements gathering, and backlog management preferred.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, Project Management, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 1–3 years of experience in project coordination, business analysis, product support, or related technical/business role.
• Exposure to Agile or Waterfall project methodologies.
• Experience documenting business requirements, user stories, or process flows.
• Experience working with project or task management tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jira, Trello, MS Project).
• Strong communication, analytical, and organizational skills.

Work Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F 
Headquarter Location:  2815 W. Washington St., Springfield, IL 62702-3397 
Work County: Sangamon
Agency Contact: Christina Lonbom 
Email : [email protected]
Phone #: 217-814-2226
Posting Group: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

TRS is a non-code state agency.

**APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS**

Candidates must submit applications through the TRS Careers Website:

Please follow all instructions and include all required documents. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.

TRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or completing any pre-employment testing, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at (217) 814-2111, or  [email protected]. Hiring decisions are not based on or affected by political factors, including political sponsorship, affiliation, or support.

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