Position Summary:

The primary location of this position is the main Cullowhee, NC campus.

Reporting to the CIO , the Director is the IT division’s project program manager, responsible for operation and management of the IT Project Management Office ( PMO ) and staff consistent with best practices models. Key responsibilities include: management of the university’s portfolio of IT projects; management of IT project managers within the PMO and embedded within IT departments; managing larger, riskier, high-profile, and longer term IT projects; directing the development and implementation of IT project management methodologies; configuration and operation of the IT Portfolio and Project ( PPM ) system; strategic planning and implementation for enhancing IT project management maturity; executing project activation and ongoing portfolio prioritization processes; and ongoing reporting of IT project activities. This is a highly visible position that has significant impact on IT deliverables and university objectives.

• Leadership and management of IT Project Management Office ( PMO ).

• Supervision of dedicated project managers across the IT division.

• Management of the university’s portfolio of IT projects. This includes facilitating the planning and the prioritization of complex IT services that are typically university enterprise-wide efforts. These may have significant complexity across many functions, departments, and colleges. Projects may include significant business process and/or technology change.

• Develop and maintain an IT level project delivery schedule/Gantt chart and projected project activations.

• Coordinate and support IT project prioritization within the IT and Executive Council governance structure.

• Direct the development and implementation of IT project management methodologies. This includes advancing IT’s project management maturity per benchmark PM maturity models; enhancing schedule and resource estimations, enhancing Total Cost of Ownership estimations; and stronger business case/ ROI / VOI benefit analysis.

• Ensure IT project management methodologies are followed across the IT division.

• Direct the configuration and operation of the IT Portfolio and Project ( PPM ) system.

• Collaborate with senior leadership on creating the underlying PMO strategy, success measures, project management maturity level/expectations, and performance feedback process.

• Direct project completion success/satisfaction survey process.

• Lead monthly IT division-wide project review.

• Perform project management on selected “high profile” project efforts. This can include: project charter development, stakeholder identification, project scope definition, integrated project plan development, project team development, project status monitoring and corrective actions, issue tracking, executive steering team leadership, and overall management and leadership of the project.

• Provide “dashboard” reports for executive management and other stakeholders.

• Provide proactive engagement and consultation to IT department directors with respect to department projects, project management needs, and project performance.

• Application administration for project management software system.

• Partner with various internal and external departments to ensure effective teamwork.

• Participate on key IT Division leadership teams, including the IT Leadership Council.

• Lead the Technical Review Board.

• Participate as an IT senior leader in the development and implementation of the IT division strategic plan.

• Ensure project objectives and outcomes comply with division and university strategic directions and goals.

• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Must be eligible to work in the United States without the need for employment sponsorship.

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer information systems, project management, or related field and 3-5 years of experience at FLSA exempt level; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

• Proficient in project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, etc.) and their appropriate application.

• Commitment to client service with ability to set and manage client expectations.

• Experience presenting to and influencing across an organization.

• Ability to analyze business data and procedures.

• Knowledge and experience with project management governance.

• Documented experience with formal project management software (e.g., Microsoft Project).

• Demonstrated evidence in oral and written communication skills, including ability to compose and present business and technical material to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Strategic and creative thinker with proven analytical and problem solving capability.

• Self-motivation, ability to work independently and to manage projects through effective communication, including analysis and persuasion.

• Strong organizational skills.

• High level analytical and problem solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to investigate complex issues and make informed decisions when written guidelines are not available.

• Ability to manage multiple projects/tasks/assignments at one time.

• Must achieve PMP certification within 18 months of starting position. WCU will provide resources and reimbursement for exam.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree.

• Minimum of five year’s relevant work experience as project manager building, deploying, and supporting enterprise information technology efforts within a high functioning project management office with at least one year in a supervisory role.

• PMP certificate.

• Additional project management certifications.

• Knowledge of IT project planning/monitoring methodologies/processes, design, implementation and documentation.

• Documented experience and evidence of improving IT project management processes.

• Demonstrated evidence of skill in Quality Assurance and Quality Control, including quality audits and data trend analysis, such as control chart development and interpretation.

• Successful experience and outcomes leading a PMO .

• Experience supervising in a matrix organization.

• Strong willingness to learn new technologies and lead change.

• Documented progress in assessed project management maturity.

• Demonstrated success in change management.

• Demonstrated success in business process analysis.

• Experience with Six Sigma.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

Please include cover letter, resume and a list references with complete contact information.

For questions or additional information please contact Tabatha Springer at tjspringer@email.wcu.edu