Portfolio Manager

at State of Vermont in Waterbury, Vermont, United States

Job Description

At the State of Vermont, we pride ourselves on delivering successful IT investments that support our business partner agencies. We are currently seeking an experienced Portfolio Manager to join our Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) team and bring a strategic, innovative approach to enterprise portfolio oversight.

As a supervising Project Manager level V for the Agency of Digital Services, Enterprise Project Management Office, you will oversee and, in some cases, directly manage the professional project management of large scale, high impact projects for the State of Vermont.  As part of a larger reorganization of the EPMO, this position is responsible for overseeing all projects in the Life and Learning portfolio of IT projects. This portfolio includes partners from the Department of Mental Health, Department of Children & Families, Department of Aging & Ind Living, Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Education, Department of Labor, Office of Racial Equity, Agency of Human Services Central, Vermont Veterans' Home.

Key responsibilities:

• Supporting the business leads in the initiation of new projects, by contributing to IT Activity Business Case and Cost Analysis documents and working with the key leadership to prioritize new initiatives with existing IT Projects within the portfolio.
• Works with key leadership on strategic planning regarding IT Projects to ensure the ADS resources are focused on the right priorities
• Performs oversight assessments of projects underway in the Department(s).
• Manages risks and issues at a program/portfolio level to ensure that projects are successful.
• Works with EPMO leadership in the allocation of resources to projects
• Tracks budget to actuals at the project, program and portfolio level
• Assists in the documentation of project, program and portfolio updates for agencies/departments, ADS leadership and the Legislature.
• Responsible for ensuring data entered in the EPMO Project Management tool is up to date and accurate
• Responsible for Key Performance Indicators for projects within the portfolio illustrating how projects are performing related to cost, scope and schedule.
• Advises leadership on strategies to improve performance where needed.
• Leads or directs procurement activities within the portfolio to include managing the RFP and Contracting process for some procurement activities on projects under their oversight.

Supervision: By supervising two project managers the role will also be responsible for overseeing their performance to ensure that projects are properly designed to meet the business needs. This will include the following activities:

• Reviewing and approving project work plans
• Assigning staff to projects as needs arise, tracking their allocations and working with business partners to ensure they have the level of support needed to ensure their projects are successful
• Reviewing and approving project deliverables, including but not limited to project charters, project management plans and risk and issue management plans and processes
• Reviewing data integrity for projects entered in the State's project management tool
• Working with staff on professional development plans and training plans
• Writing performance evaluations on an annual basis

• Strong knowledge of project and portfolio management principles and practices, including project planning, governance, and work breakdown structure development.
• Experience with project procurement, contract review, and vendor management.
• Proven ability to facilitate organizational and business process improvement initiatives across cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with strong negotiation, facilitation, and conflict management abilities.
• Ability to lead and work effectively in a collaborative team environment with diverse stakeholders.  
• Experience supervising staff, including performance management, goal setting, mentoring, and professional development.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Environmental Factors

  Work is performed in a standard office setting, but some travel may be required for which private means of transportation should be available. Work outside of regular business hours may be expected.