WIC Project Management and Planning Manager

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

11d

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. Under the direction of the Director of Business Support and Operations Unit, the Project Management and Planning (PMP) Manager directs project management activities, including but not limited to the implementation of highly complex, highly visible federal, state, and leadership-directed initiatives on behalf of the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program. The PMP Manager will have the ability and initiative to understand critical business needs and analyze issues to achieve results, have strong business acumen and leadership abilities, excellent verbal and written communication/influencing skills, and extensive experience with project management for both IT and non-IT initiatives. The PMP manager will be responsible for leveraging Agile (Scrum) and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) project methodologies to achieve WIC’s strategic business priorities, particularly related to WIC’s IT initiatives. 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 the WIC program. The PMP Manager is responsible for engaging key stakeholders, managing expectations, and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of structured project management techniques as advocated by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
• Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of computer systems or management information systems.
• Knowledge of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodologies.
• Knowledge of gathering business user requirements and translating them into technical requirements.
• Skill in using a PC and Microsoft Project, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, or Word.
• Skill in business or systems analysis.
• Skill in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and negotiation.
• Skill in working collaboratively and cooperatively with colleagues.
• Skill in writing analyses, documentation, proposals, plans, policies, procedures, standards, or reports.
• Skill in supervising, planning, prioritizing and delegating workload assignments.
• Ability to work independently and deliver results in an environment of broad, consultative management.
• Ability to plan, organize, schedule, assign, and monitor completion of assigned projects.
• Ability to manage multiple, overlapping projects.
• Ability to lead diverse teams to achieve desired results.
• Ability to present information to a variety of audiences, verbally and in writing, and to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively.
• Ability to adapt to change or modify behavior in response to changes in situations or priorities.
• Ability to analyze systems and procedures.
• Ability to write and revise standards and procedures.
• Ability to effectively manage and motivate staff with diverse responsibilities.
• Ability to effectively participate and contribute to the management team.
• At least 2 years of experience managing as a manager or team lead a team with project management as a key responsibility
• At least 2 years of experience serving as a project manager or supervising project managers
• Bachelor’s degree in project management, business/public administration, public health, or related field; OR 5 total years of project management experience.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certifications such as PMP, Six Sigma, or ISO 9001.
• Experience managing projects within USDA federal nutrition programs or similar large-scale grant initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Drives excellence in WIC project management and planning. Initiates, manages, implements, and oversees projects using accepted project management methodologies and tools. Develops and updates processes and procedures to support the consistent use of tools and practices.
• Develops project charter or similar documents, communication plans, work breakdown structures, detailed work plans, resource plans (roles and responsibilities), gap analysis (current and future state) and may support the development of 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 tools to ensure they are completed according to the approved project charter or similar document. May contribute to governance support, updating standardized project management templates, processes, and procedures, and job aids.
• Promotes and maintains continuous effective communication by keeping the State Director and WIC Leadership Team informed. Partners with WIC Senior Leadership Team to drive innovation and implement solutions to advance program priorities. Establishes and maintains strong customer relationships with both internal and external partners. 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.
• Manages and develops staff through review of performance data, consultation, training, and performance appraisal. Responsible for hiring, assigning work, establishing clear expectations, developing performance standards, completing performance evaluations, scheduling staff, and approving leave requests. Provides leadership, promotes professional growth, and builds cohesive teams. Fosters a positive internal culture of teamwork and transparency that drives excellent service, quality work products, diversity of thought, an engaging work environment and a continuous improvement mindset. Serve as change agent, championing alternative ways of thinking and working. Develops team members on project management best practices to improve competencies to enhance overall team interaction, team environment and project performance.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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