Senior Advisor/Project Manager

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

20h • Onsite

About The Position

Performs highly advanced (senior-level) project management work. Work involves establishing the strategic goals and objectives for financial projects; provides oversight to Finance projects, including but not limited to developing guidelines, procedures, rules, and regulation; and coordinating and evaluating program activities. May direct, assign, and evaluate the work of project staff. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of project management theories and practices applicable to projects that are highly complex in scope.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the administration of the project undertaken.
• Skill in project management monitoring.
• Skill in addressing changes in project scope and budget.
• Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Ability to manage project activities.
• Ability to establish project goals and objectives.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
• Ability to analyze complex information and develop plans to address identified issues.
• Ability to demonstrate negotiation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to identify project risks and gaps.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to direct, assign, and evaluate the work of project staff.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
• 4 years experience in project management in a state agency environment including cross-program coordination for major financial projects.
• Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.
• State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.
• As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.
• DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US.

Responsibilities

• Directs, develops, initiates, and evaluates projects, including multi-division/agency -level projects, using accepted project management methodologies.
• Coordinates and implements high level, critical, large impact cross-agency projects.
• Establishes strategic goals and objectives for assigned projects using accepted project management methodologies.
• Responsible for directing and developing project documentation and executive reporting for assigned projects.
• Represents executive leadership in cross-agency or internal program projects.
• Works independently with minimal supervision in order to initiate, evaluate and accomplish the desired outcomes of each assigned project.
• Oversees the distribution of project information and project status reports.
• Keeps the Chief Financial Officer and other executive leadership informed both in writing and verbally of all project activities.
• Maintains tracking and associated status reports for all assigned projects.
• Prepares and distributes status reports for stakeholders including, but not limited to, the Office of the Governor, Legislative Offices, State and Federal Oversight or Compliance Entities, and DFPS Executive Leadership.
• Oversees project budgets, schedules, work plans, resource requirements, and cost estimates and projections.
• Accountable for maintaining project budgets, work plans, resource allocations and associated reports for projects assigned.
• Directs, assigns, and evaluates the work of project staff to manage cost estimates and projections for assign projects.
• Coordinates project activities with other state agencies, governmental jurisdictions, or private sector partners and contractors.
• Develops and coordinates standard guidelines, procedures, rules, and regulations for project methodologies with external and internal stakeholders.
• Identifies and documents appropriate external stakeholders for projects assigned.
• Coordinates project activities with all external stakeholders.
• Reviews and approves proposed changes to project parameters and changes to original project plan and budget; oversees implementation of changes.
• Obtains appropriate executive approval for change management activities for projects assigned.
• Keeps up to date documentation and tracking of project activities including change management.
• Implements and documents parameters and changes in approved project changes into assigned projects.
• Develops project plans including strategy definition, project forecast allocation, timelines and milestones, and contingency planning.
• Develops written project documentation plans for executive approval.
• Maintains all project documentation in a project file, including project forecast allocations, timelines, milestones, and contingency planning.
• Develops and establishes project goals and objectives consistent with the agency’s strategic plan.
• Ensures all assigned projects further the agency’s strategic plan and mission by establishing project standards.
• Ensures all assigned projects are in alignment with executive management’s priorities through the goals developed.
• Develops criteria for evaluating programs, proposals, and other pertinent information related to project assignments.
• Creates standards to evaluate and prioritize proposals for new projects.
• Presents project proposals to the Chief Financial Officer and other executive management for consideration and approval.
• Develops and implements plans to communicate project methodology and processes to interested groups and team members.
• Creates communication plans for approved projects.
• Prepares and disseminates project information and documentation to internal and external stakeholders.
• Develops, reviews, and recommends proposals and bids to management.
• Develops and recommends written project proposals for executive approval.
• Prepares and oversees approved bids for services related to approved projects.
• Establishes comprehensive strategies and methodologies for identifying, assessing, reporting, managing, and mitigating risk for projects.
• Responsible for the successful assessment and initiation, managing daily oversight, and delivery of assigned reports and projects by establishing extensive plans and procedures.
• Monitors and manages project quality and cost to ensure that project deliverables are acceptable, fulfill the terms of the project contract or specifications, and are completed within budget.
• Coordinates and monitors project tasks and assignments, ensuring quality of project deliverables.
• Works on projects that are highly complex, that have large budgetary considerations and ensures projects are completed within budget.
• Responsible for leading projects throughout the full project lifecycle from project initiation through completion to ensure the terms of the project contact or specifications are fulfilled.
• Identifies potential project risks and difficulties, creates risk contingency plans, and designs strategies to mitigate or avoid them.
• When applicable will create risk contingency plans and develop methods and options to reduce risks to the objectives of assigned projects.
• Determines and implements the appropriate risk mitigation strategy based on risk tolerance measures agreed upon by the project sponsor.
• Identifies and implements process improvements in the area of project management.
• Evaluates program activities related to projects assigned to identify and implement process improvements.
• Develops appropriate project metrics in order to assess project success and guide project process improvements.
• Creates documentation procedures to capture and manage changes in original project plan.
• Implements specific strategies, plans, and steps that focus on the alignment of change requirements and the project goals.
• Develops project change management procedures in order to implement needed project changes while minimizing the impact on the projects overall goals and objectives.
• May occasionally oversee more than one project simultaneously, including multiple highly complex projects.
• Will be assigned projects concurrently that are large and complex in scope, have long-range time frames, include the project supervision of large groups of staff, and have a high level of impact on the agency’s operations.
• May direct, assign, and evaluate the work of project staff.
• Develops evaluation tools to guide the work of project staff related to project activities.
• Manages groups of staff that are not under their direct supervision to include directing, assigning, and evaluating their work.
• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees