Portfolio Manager II

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

About The Position

PRIMARY PURPOSE: The Portfolio Manager II ensures that the most valuable IT requests are prioritized and flow through intake and governance processes at the right time to maximize impact for USF. They do this by enabling clarity across the portfolio, coaching stakeholders on standards and readiness, and actively managing portfolio health using data-driven insights. As an activator of flow and decision-making, they ensure high-quality work moves forward, barriers are swiftly addressed, and portfolio processes continuously improve. They maintain strong relationships across business and technology to align priorities with USF’s strategic objectives. This role is pivotal in enabling and operating lean-agile delivery, supporting the Agile Transformation Office’s (ATO) efforts to provide agile training, coaching, tools, and governance. The position works closely with Product Managers and Release Train Engineers (RTEs) to enhance agile practices and align with SAFe principles. ORGANIZATIONAL SUMMARY: Located in the vibrant and diverse Tampa Bay region of Florida’s gulf coast, the University of South Florida (USF) is a Preeminent State Research University with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee. Rated as one of the top places to live in the U.S., Tampa Bay offers a high quality of life, year-round sunshine, and easy access to top-rated entertainment. USF is one of the nation’s largest public universities, serving more than 50,000 students with an annual budget of $1.8 billon. Over the past five years, USF has been the fastest-rising university in the nation, public or private, on the U.S. News and World Report's list of best universities, which it ranks as the 44 th best public university in America. USF is proud to be an innovating partner within the Tampa Bay region, listed by Forbes as the top emerging tech city in the country. USF Information Technology (USF IT) provides technology services and support for the University of South Florida. The IT team, led by the Vice President and CIO, provides the following services: Administrative Services, Client Support, Communication Services, Teaching and Learning, Analytics and Reporting, Mobile and Web Services, Consulting Services, Cybersecurity Service and Research Technologies. For more information, please visit : Information Technology | University of South Florida (usf.edu) ADDITIONAL INFO FOR APPLICANTS: The selected candidate must have current work authorization in the United States. This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. USF offers GREAT BENEFITS to full time employees!! Medical Insurance Dental Insurance Vision Insurance Paid Vacation Days Paid Sick Days 11 Paid Holidays Various Retirement Options , including 401K employer match Tuition Assistance (available for yourself, spouse, partner or dependent) For more information about your total compensation package and other USF benefits, please visit: Work at USF

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or an IT-related field AND at least 2–4 years of progressive experience in IT portfolio management, project/program management, or related fields (e.g., product management, business analysis) OR an equivalent combination of education and experience demonstrating increasing responsibility in technology governance, project intake, or strategic prioritization.
Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
(a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
(b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
(c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
(d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
(e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.
Experience in Agile environments, Lean Portfolio Management, or Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
Facilitation
Strategic communication
Coaching mindset

Responsibilities

Flow Leadership: Own the visibility and prioritization of work within the portfolio, ensuring decision-makers have timely, accurate data. Use Flow and health metrics to identify patterns, propose course corrections, and improve throughput. Ensure governance events are efficient and lead to clear, actionable decisions.
Governance Activation: Guide requests through the governance process, ensuring each is high-quality and reaches the appropriate decision-makers. Coach Product Managers, Architects, and Requestors to improve quality of inputs and minimize churn. Actively remove or escalate blocks to portfolio flow and follow through until resolved.
Coaching & Enablement: Lead coaching and education across roles to align work to strategic goals and raise delivery quality. Serve as a go-to resource for portfolio process questions and facilitate alignment across stakeholders.
Portfolio Reviews & Continuous Improvement: Lead recurring Portfolio Reviews to assess progress and identify strategic adjustments. Translate review insights into recommendations that optimize value and alignment. Identify and drive improvement opportunities to raise portfolio performance.
Strategic Relationships & Communication: Manage relationships with Executive Sponsors and Governance Members to ensure sustained engagement. Communicate portfolio health, risks, and progress through clear, consistent reporting. Ensure stakeholders have a transparent and current view of intake and prioritization.