Director of Project & Transformation Management (Director of Project Management) - 60023086

State of South Carolina • Lexington County, SC

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About The Position

The mission of the South Carolina Department of Education is to serve students, support teachers, empower parents, and engage the community so that every student graduates prepared to reach their full potential. The South Carolina Department of Education is transforming how it serves students, educators, and families — and this role is central to that mission. As Director of Transformation & Project Management, you will drive the Agency's modernization agenda: accelerating technology adoption, streamlining operations, and delivering high-impact initiatives that directly improve educational outcomes across the state. This is a senior role for a leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, technology, and people – someone who can translate a bold vision into disciplined execution while bringing teams along through meaningful change. This position is located in the Office of Implementation and Support.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree and experience managing large projects of significant complexity and risk.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Master's degree in a relevant discipline.
• Ten plus (10+) years of progressive project management experience, with at least five (5) years in a senior leadership role.
• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification; Agile/SAFe certifications a plus.
• Experience in a government agency, public sector, or education context.
• Demonstrated track record leading large-scale digital transformation or modernization efforts in complex organizations.
• Deep fluency in modern PM methodologies (Agile, Scrum, PMI/PMBOK, hybrid) and portfolio management tools.
• Exceptional executive communication, stakeholder management, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Familiarity with AI-powered project tools, enterprise platforms, and data analytics solutions.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and build high-performing teams in resource-constrained environments.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the Agency's digital transformation roadmap, aligning modernization priorities with strategic agency goals and directives.
• Champion the adoption of emerging technologies — including AI-assisted tools, cloud platforms, and data-driven decision systems — that improve Agency performance and mission delivery.
• Lead the Agency's Application and Website Development Governance Committee, overseeing prioritization, approval, and monitoring of digital projects, budgets, milestones, and launches.
• Benchmark the Agency's capabilities against best-in-class public sector and private sector peers; continuously identify opportunities to leapfrog legacy constraints.
• Oversee the full project portfolio, applying modern methodologies (Agile, hybrid, waterfall) to ensure projects are delivered on scope, on time, and within budget.
• Establish and institutionalize robust PM frameworks — standards, governance structures, reporting dashboards, and templates — that scale across divisions.
• Manage cross-divisional interdependencies, risks, and escalations; ensure resource allocation is transparent and optimized Agency-wide.
• Report regularly to Agency leadership and external stakeholders on portfolio health, key metrics, and transformation progress.
• Design and implement change management strategies that foster stakeholder buy-in, reduce friction, and build lasting organizational capacity for continuous improvement.
• Develop effective communications plans to keep executives, division leads, and frontline staff informed, engaged, and aligned throughout transformation initiatives.
• Partner with division leadership to build a high-performing project management function; mentor PM staff and cultivate a culture of accountability, agility, and innovation.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off
• Preeminent health care benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Pension
• 401(k)
• Health, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance for Employee, Spouse, and Children.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year.
• 15 days sick leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• State Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director