PACT Project Manager IV

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Project Manager (Project Manager IV) reports to the Director of the Project Advisory and Coordination Team (PACT) within the Strategic Business Office (SBO) under the Chief Medicaid and CHIP Services Officer. The individual in this position performs complex (senior-level) project management activities, including but not limited to the implementation of highly complex, highly visible federal, state, and leadership-directed initiatives related to the Medicaid and CHIP programs.Work involves coordinating the initiation and planning of projects; overseeing the execution of the work to complete project objectives; monitoring the progress and schedule of projects; conducting risk and issue management, and communicating with stakeholders, management, and other relevant parties. The position assumes a strong leadership role on the collaboration and coordination required to successfully implement initiatives to improve quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness of Medicaid and CHIP programs. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for engaging key stakeholders, managing expectations, and maintaining positive relationships with other partnering departments within MCS or other areas of the agency. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of federal and state Medicaid and CHIP laws, regulations as well as federal laws and legislation
• Knowledge of project management processes and best practices
• Skill in facilitating and coordinating effective meetings and leading teams
• Skill in synthesizing, analyzing, and evaluating highly complicated and technical information and translating it easily understandable and concise documents and oral presentations for agency executives, elected officials, and the public
• Skill in identifying project risks and gaps and developing creative and workable solutions to address complex problems and policy issues
• Skill in interpersonal relationships and emotional intelligence, including the ability to work with people under pressure, negotiate among multiple parties, resolve conflicts, and establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Skill in negotiation, coordination, collaboration, and facilitation
• Skill in Smartsheet and Microsoft Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Visio
• Ability to analyze complex information and develop plans to address identified issues
• Ability to manage complex initiatives with independent judgment
• Ability to lead, facilitate and coordinate teams across different departments
• Ability to apply independent judgment in making critical decisions
• Ability to think creatively and support creative thinking in staff, while effectively managing and motivating staff to achieve optimal performance
• Ability to plan, assign and/or delegate work to project team members
• Ability to lead and motivate a team to achieve agency and project goals
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college. Experience managing complex projects may substitute for college degree on a year-for-year basis.
• Minimum of three years’ experience as a project manager including leading complex, multi-year projects.

Nice To Haves

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, preferred. If not certified, must be eligible to obtain credential within 8 months of hire.
• Experience managing projects related to the healthcare payor industry, Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare preferred.
• Experience in Smartsheet Administration, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Initiates, manages, implements, and oversees projects using accepted project management methodologies and tools such as Smartsheet. Initiates projects, demonstrates business need and project feasibility, obtains authorization to proceed with project objectives, secures resources and commitment from internal project team members across departments, and develops stakeholder engagement plans associated with external stakeholders including state agencies, providers, managed care organizations, vendors, contractors, advisory committees or councils, elected officials, and legislative staff.
• Develops project concept form, project charter, communication plans, work break down structures, detailed work plans, resource plans (roles and responsibilities), gap analysis (current and future state) and cost estimates and projections. Uses project management tools and methods to evaluate and manage projects which may include agile project management. Ensures timely development of scope/schedules, including the identification of dependencies, assumptions, and constraints. Monitors and manages projects using Smartsheet to ensure they are completed on time, within budget and according to the approved project charter. Oversees changes needed to drive policy, contractual obligations, and other changes required to implement new or revised programs. May contribute to governance support, updating standardized project management templates, processes and procedures, and job aids.
• Communicates and reports on scope, objectives, major decisions, milestones, risks/issues, stakeholder engagement efforts, and overall updates to governance groups, leadership, project team members, and interested groups. Compiles and distributes project information, project status and progress reports, and project budget expenditures to various audiences. Plans for effective meetings, prioritizes work and decisions. Prepares high quality written project reports, updates, and summaries, and other documents as assigned or as needed. Maintains project documentation.
• Collaborates, coordinates, and facilitates the identification of project risks and issues. Develops detailed mitigation and response plans to address risks and issues. Obtains leadership approval for response plans for major risks and issues. Oversees execution of response plans, and tracks and monitors risks and issues.
• Develops team members on project management best practices to improve competencies to enhance overall team interaction, team environment and project performance. Contributes to MCS and PACT initiatives to support organizational project management maturity and continuous improvement. Participates in supporting Smartsheet Administration including but not limited to automation development, internal testing, user audit, and workspace provisioning.
• Performs other work as assigned. Participates in department activities related to legislative sessions, public hearings, committees, and executive initiatives, including activities related to disaster response.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
• defined benefit pension plan
• generous time off benefits
• numerous opportunities for career advancement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees