Senior IT Policy & Oversight Consultant

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) is a statewide technology organization that establishes strategic technology frameworks and oversees primary technology services. This position is part of the Strategy and Management Division, which provides statewide leadership for IT strategy, governance, and customer experience while operating critical enterprise services. The Senior IT Policy & Oversight Consultant reports to the Oversight Consultant Manager. The position provides ongoing oversight of Washington State’s largest, most complex, highest-risk, and highest-impact IT projects. It oversees a portfolio of approximately 15 to 25 projects with an average total portfolio value exceeding $300 million; an individual program or project budget may reach $150 million or more. The consultant promotes transparency to the authorizing environment and the public and provides independent advice, consultation, and guidance to support successful project outcomes. The position is approved for telework, with onsite attendance at WaTech’s Olympia, Washington office approximately four times per year. A background check is required. WaTech offers medical and dental plan options, paid leave and holidays, retirement plan options, and, for many positions, telework and flexible scheduling options.

Requirements

10 years of experience performing IT project management functions, IT project quality assurance, oversight, or consultant services.
Within the experience requirement, two years of experience working on large IT project implementations exceeding $30 million and awareness of enterprise service.
Within the experience requirement, two years of experience preparing and managing integrated project schedules.
Within the experience requirement, two years of experience reviewing project management plans, project charters, and funding requests or similar artifacts.
Ability to take action to learn and grow.
Ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Experience in IT program management, portfolio management, business systems analysis, organizational change management, or closely allied fields.
Experience working in a complex enterprise IT project valued at over $30 million as a member of a project management office.
Experience working with a government agency.
Formal project management training and/or certification.
Demonstrated familiarity with agile/scrum methodologies and Lean management concepts.

Responsibilities

Provide independent advice, consultation, and guidance to major state agency IT programs and projects under WaTech oversight.
Monitor and independently assess the health and risks of major IT programs and projects, and collaborate with agency leadership to develop mitigation strategies.
Communicate critical or sensitive issues promptly to WaTech, OFM, and agency IT, business, and executive management, and escalate issues as necessary.
Independently assess governance and decision-making; project management; scope, schedule, and budget management; and quality, procurement, risk, integration, resource, vendor, change, and communications management practices, outlining impacts on key milestones, deliverables, and outcomes.
Document monthly scope, schedule, budget, and overall health assessments of major IT programs and projects on the Washington State IT Project Dashboard.
Review major IT project charters and investment plans within service-level target timeframes, and work with agencies to ensure they reflect best practices and comply with relevant state policies and standards.
Work with agencies, OFM budget assistants, and WaTech to help agencies systematically review and improve the IT maintenance and operations portion of their project spending.
Review and approve spending plans in accordance with statutory requirements and service-level target timeframes.
Serve as a liaison between the legislature and major IT programs and projects, and respond to legislative inquiries as requested.
Work with agencies to ensure performance metrics and lessons learned from completed projects are documented, reported, and shared.