Portfolio Project Manager 1

Under the direction of the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Director of Performance and Cross-Functional Initiatives, the Portfolio Project Manager I performs advanced (senior level) portfolio project management work involving establishing the strategic portfolio plan. Works under limited supervision, with considerable and extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Manages project activities, coordinates the planning and initiation of a portfolio of projects at various levels of completion; monitors the progress, budgets, procurement activities, and schedules of the projects in the portfolio; and communicates with stakeholders, management, and other relevant parties.

Work involves planning and initiating multiple concurrent projects that vary in size, scope, and complexity, with a wide impact; utilizing standardized project management methodologies, tools, and terminology; coordinating and tracking legislative exceptional items, developing work plans; coordinating the delivery of projects; daily monitoring of the progress and schedule for multiple projects; developing and monitoring strategic performance and analytics for projects; producing written reports; and monitoring projects through completion. The Portfolio Project Manager collaborates with project stakeholders to advise, consult, and negotiate project activities related to procurement, budgeting, and technical implementation.

May direct, oversee, assign, and evaluate the work of project staff.

Essential Job Functions:

EJF 1: Portfolio Management. Initiates agency-wide projects, obtains authorization and commitment, and demonstrates business need and project feasibility. Works with senior managers, executives, and major stakeholders to develop and establish project goals and objectives consistent with OIG strategic priorities. Coordinates and monitors budgeting and procurement processes necessary to implement new technology projects. Uses project management principles and standardized project tracking and reporting tools and software to create and monitor project planning documents, workplans, project milestones, and project delivery. Monitors, reviews, and approves changes to project budgets, cost estimates, and purchasing and contract documents. Uses available tools to hold vendors accountable for contracted deliverables. Coordinates change orders, identifies potential risks and difficulties, and develops mitigation strategies. (35%)

EJF 2: Coordination and Communication. Coordinates project portfolio activities with HHS IT, HHS Purchasing, other state agencies, federal and local governmental regulators, and private sector partners and contractors to accomplish portfolio goals. Diplomatically, professionally, and effectively facilitates challenging and high-stakes conversations. Develops and coordinates high-level executive communication processes and materials and communicates project status stakeholders. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of related OIG projects. Develops, edits, and oversees high quality, well-written project plans, updates, summaries, and other project documents. Compiles and distributes portfolio information, status reports, portfolio budget expenditures, and procurement status. Provides assessments of portfolio and project performance. critical thinking skills to identify and articulates project bottlenecks and assertively communicates expectations to achieve proposed solutions. Represents OIG by making presentations, providing information, and testifying on the status of OIG’s portfolio. (30%)

EJF 3: Resource Management. Provides consultation on and monitors budgets, schedules, resource requirements, cost estimates, and cost projections for project portfolio to ensure the project is completed within budget. Develops and oversees productivity reports, studies, and criteria for evaluating projects to ensure tasks are satisfactorily completed. Develops, edits, and manages the distribution of project updates and status reports, including the assessment, analysis, and evaluation of policies, milestones, procedures, rules and legislation related to HHSC IT project execution activities. Directs, manages, assigns, and evaluates the work of teams and committees ensuring projects are coordinated and met objectives. Determines the optimal mix of resources to achieve successful portfolio delivery and  the OIG’s operational and financial goals. Supervises project staff and delegates tasks to direct reports to ensure an appropriate and effective distribution of workload. (20%)

EJF 4: Evaluation. Monitors and evaluates project quality to ensure project deliverables are acceptable and fulfill the terms of project contracts and specifications. Analyzes trends, coordinates with project teams to identify issues, risks, and opportunities for improvement, and designs strategies to mitigate or avoid future risks within the portfolio. Ensures projects comply with federal, state, and agency rules, regulations, policies, and standards. Develops, documents, and communicates improvement strategies and process improvements. (10%)

EJF 5: Performs related work as assigned. Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs duties as assigned. Performs other duties necessary to achieve the mission of the OIG. Keeps manager informed as required or as necessary. May train others. (5%)  

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP) preferred.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Knowledge of portfolio and project management theories and practices applicable to highly complex projects and systems.
• Knowledge of Texas and HHSC procurement laws, rules, policies, and requirements.
• Knowledge of Texas state and HHSC capital and non-capital budgeting laws, rules, policies, and requirements.
• Knowledge of procedures used to evaluate a third-party vendor’s performance.
• Skill in project portfolio management planning and monitoring, including addressing changes in scope and budget, and project and portfolio resourcing.
• Skill using a computer and relevant software, including the full suite of Microsoft products and project management software.
• Skill in managing and implementing multiple simultaneous highly complex projects and strategic initiatives.
• Skill in working with and presenting complex material to stakeholders as well as agency executives to high-level executives and stakeholders.
• Skill in providing functional supervision and direction to high-level executives.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication, including public speaking and preparing well-written documents.
• Skill in working with diverse stakeholders.
• Skill in working with projects with large budgets and significant programmatic impacts.  
• Skill in analyzing and evaluating complex rules and statutes as well as policy, program, and operations issues.
• Skill in identifying project risks and gaps and providing solutions to complex high-level issues.
• Skills in high-stakes negotiations.
• Skills in facilitating meetings with multiple stakeholders, executives, subject matter experts, and vendors.
• Ability to manage project portfolio activities and goals and objectives.
• Ability to implement and use new technology and work processes to enhance decision-making.
• Ability to navigate challenging communication and competing interests to successfully achieve project goals.
• Ability to think critically and exercise sound independent judgment to make critical decisions.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public administration, public affairs, communications, business, health care, social services, or a related field is generally preferred. Work experience in public administration, business process improvement, project management, or other related experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis with maximum substitution of four years. 

Four years of senior project management experience, with at least one year working with executive management.

Experience in information technology portfolio project management.

Experience making independent, high-level decisions.

Experience with complex written and oral communication.

Experience with a Texas state agency or Texas health and human services programs and services  preferred. 

Additional Information:

The OIG is responsible for preventing, detecting, auditing, inspecting, reviewing, and investigating fraud, waste, and abuse in the provision of HHS in Medicaid and other HHS programs. Potential employees of OIG are subject to criminal background checks in accordance with the HHS Human Resources policy. Selected applicants must complete a national fingerprint-based criminal background check through the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to determine if they have criminal history record information that constitutes a bar to employment.  
 
Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds. The offered salary will be determined in accordance with budgetary limits and the requirements of HHSC Human Resources Manual.  
 
HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability.  If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888—894-4747.  If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.