Sr. Project Manager

About Harris County and Universal Services:

Harris County Universal Services (Universal Services) is transforming the way the County does business and seeking an experienced, strategic Senior Manager to join our team.

Universal Services is the enterprise IT solutions center for the departments and offices of Harris County, providing Information Technology, Public Safety and Justice Technologies, 311 Constituent Engagement Services, Fleet Services, and Records and Information Governance Services.

Harris County is the third largest and most diverse county in the nation, with a population of more than 4.7 million. Harris County Commissioners Court, the County’s governing body, directs a budget of more than $4 billion providing essential services including flood control, infrastructure, healthcare, housing, and justice administration.

This is a great time to join Universal Services as we enhance critical services to Harris County residents and internal customers.

Position Overview:

In Harris County Universal Services, the primary purpose of the Senior Project Manager role is to lead, oversee and ensure the successful delivery and management of single or multiple enterprise projects. The Senior Project Manager must do this within scope, to a certain quality, and within time and cost constraints. These factors may be clearly defined or may require dynamic change management to deliver business value. The Senior Project Manager will be responsible for the creation, organization, execution, and completion of specific projects. This includes managing relevant employees, setting deadlines, communicating with management about the state of the project, prepare reports for upper management regarding status of the projects, ensuring projects stay on track and on budget, and adjusting if necessary to meet new requirements and scope changes.

Job Responsibilities:

• Review project proposals or plans to determine a time frame, funding limitations, procedures for accomplishing projects, staffing requirements and the assignment of available departmental resources to various project phases.

• Identify and schedule project deliverables, milestones, and required activities and tasks.

• Provide leadership and motivation to project team members throughout the project life cycle and confer with project staff to outline a work plan.

• Act as a coach to junior project managers, executives and others who need assistance and advice regarding project management practices.

• Establish a work plan and staffing for project activities, iterations or phases, and arrange for recruitment or assignment of project personnel.

• Review/approve the work plan of an external service provider or consultancy contracted to execute the project.

• Implement a project communication plan.

• Conduct risk assessment and mitigation.

• Monitor project activities, ensuring the currency, quality and integrity of information, while providing consistency in content and “look and feel” across the organization.

• Ensure that project goals are achieved and aligned with business objectives.

• Assign duties and responsibilities to project personnel and define the scope of their authority.

• Direct and coordinate the activities of project personnel to ensure projects progress on schedule and within budget.

• Prepare status reports and modify schedules or plans as required.

• Establish standards and procedures for project reporting and documentation.

• Manage the relationship with the client and all stakeholders.

• Analyze PMO policies regarding customer service and efficiency recommending policy changes and process improvements as needed.

• Work onsite as needed.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.  This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business information systems (IS), computer science or a related field. 

Experience:

• Seven or more years of progressively responsible IT experience, with sensitivity and commitment to business problem solving

• Five years of successfully managing complex projects

• Five or more years of Business Unit or Business Unit-facing experience, with sensitivity and commitment to business problem solving

• Experience and ability in using “soft skills” or “people skills”

• Experience in leading diverse teams

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Distinctive blend of business, IT, financial and communication skills. This blend is vital because this is a highly visible position with substantial impact.

• Ability to adapt to new circumstances in a changing business environment.

• Good understanding of current and emerging technologies, and of how other enterprises are using them to drive digital business.

• Knowledge of project management methodology and experience or familiarity with major, defined program management approaches (for example, that of the Project Management Institute or PRINCE2 and agile approaches).

• Significant knowledge of project planning/scheduling tools (for example, Microsoft Project, Planview PPM Pro, ServiceNow Strategic Portfolio Management, or Open Workbench), with a solid track record of practical application.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; expertise in setting and managing customer expectations.

• Effective influencing and negotiating skills in an environment in which this role may not directly control resources.

• Strong knowledge and understanding of business needs, with the ability to establish and maintain a high level of customer trust and confidence.

Applicants for this position will be subject to a criminal background check that includes being fingerprinted. This applies to any position with network access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) or access to an area where CJIS is received, maintained or stored either manually or electronically (i.e. custodian, maintenance).  Automatic Disqualification:

• Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for any Felony, and any Class A Misdemeanor 
• Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class B Misdemeanor, if within the previous 10 years 
• Open arrest for any criminal offense (Felony or Misdemeanor) 
• Family Violence conviction

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. “See Resume” will not be accepted for qualifications.

Certifications:

• PMP Certification from the Project Management Institute or equivalent certification is desirable.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.  Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.