Director of Project Management

Aragon Technical Providers - Montgomery, AL

Full-time - Senior

Montgomery, AL

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

The State of Alabama's Office of Information Technology (OIT) is seeking a highly experienced and dynamic Director of Project Management to lead PMO operations on a Contract to Hire basis. This role requires a leader with extensive expertise in IT project management, change management, and strategic alignment to drive the successful completion of a broad spectrum of IT projects. The Director will ensure that projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget while fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the organization. In this position, the Director will lead and manage the Project Management Office (PMO), setting the strategic direction and ensuring alignment with organizational goals. This includes developing and implementing PMO policies, procedures, and methodologies to ensure effective project delivery. The Director will oversee the management of multiple concurrent IT projects, ensuring proper resource allocation, risk management, and quality control. Regular tracking of project progress will be essential, with adjustments made as necessary to ensure successful project completion. Collaboration is key in this role, as the Director will work closely with senior executives, business stakeholders, and project managers to prioritize and execute projects that align with strategic objectives. The Director will facilitate communication between project teams and stakeholders, ensuring compliance with all relevant policies, standards, and regulations. Additionally, the Director will provide leadership and guidance to project managers and teams, promoting professional development and best practices while fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture within the PMO. Performance monitoring will be a critical responsibility, with regular project reviews and audits conducted to ensure compliance with PMO standards and to identify opportunities for improvement. The Director will also manage the PMO budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources and cost-efficiency, while monitoring financial performance and implementing cost-saving measures when possible. Reporting on project status, issues, and risks to executive stakeholders will be a key function, requiring the preparation and presentation of comprehensive reports to the executive team.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the PMO, setting the strategic direction and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Develop and implement PMO policies, procedures, and methodologies to ensure effective project delivery.
• Oversee the management of multiple, concurrent IT projects, ensuring resource allocation, risk management, and quality control.
• Collaborate with senior executives, business stakeholders, and project managers to prioritize and execute projects aligned with strategic objectives.
• Provide leadership and guidance to project managers and teams, promoting professional development and best practices.
• Conduct regular project reviews and audits to ensure compliance with PMO standards and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Manage the PMO budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources and cost-efficiency.
• Report on project status, issues, and risks to executive stakeholders and prepare comprehensive reports for the executive team.

Requirements

• 10-15 years of IT and business/industry work experience, demonstrating increasing levels of responsibility and leadership.
• At least 7 years of leadership experience in a managerial role, with 5 years managing significant and complex IT projects.
• Proven expertise in IT project and program management with a strong track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget.
• In-depth knowledge of project management methodologies and standards (e.g., EVM, PMBOK, PMI, Agile, Lean).
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills with the ability to inspire and drive high-performance teams.
• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities (e.g., scope, issues, risk, and corrective action plan management).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, capable of influencing at all levels.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools, such as Microsoft Project, JIRA, or similar.
• Advanced knowledge of change management principles and practices.
• Experience in a government or public sector environment.
• Familiarity with IT governance frameworks and compliance standards.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, with the ability to manage budgets and resources effectively.

Nice-to-haves

• Demonstrated experience in developing and managing a PMO in a large enterprise environment, with a focus on strategic alignment and performance improvement.
• Extensive experience working within the public sector or large-scale government projects, with a deep understanding of the unique challenges and requirements of such environments.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and other large-scale IT implementations.