Deputy Executive Director-Portfolio Management & Controls

Description

Salary range is $160k to $280k, with a midpoint of $215k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including :

Health Benefits : We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage;

comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.

• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans : 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off : Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service.

Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.

• Parental Leave : 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card : All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement : Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices : We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE :

Senior level IT director with a focus on evolving the IT project portfolio management office toward an agency aligned IT division.

Builds effective strategic relationships with other departments, while enabling the Portfolio Management & Controls (PM&C) team to deliver effective portfolio management, program management, and project management services, quality assurance services, and IT business controls at a time of rapid agency growth.

This position reports to the CIO, and is responsible for a centralized services model representing IT programs and projects, quality assurance, and IT business controls, in alignment with business partners agency-wide.

Under general direction, plans, directs, and manages the Portfolio Management & Controls Office responsible for Information Technology (IT) programs and projects across the agency;

Develops, implements, and oversees IT portfolio management, program management, project management, and IT business controls functions.

Guides the adoption of Quality Assurance services within IT programs and IT projects. Develops and manages the agency technology investment process, in alignment with the agency technology governance and policy framework.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

Leads the enterprise IT PM&C team including portfolio management, program management, and project management services, quality assurance services, and IT business controls.

Develops and matures processes and skills to improve the management of projects, programs, and portfolios as well as back-office IT business controls necessary to support the annual budget, technology investments, and other necessary administrative duties such as IT invoices and IT procurement.

Builds effective strategic relationships with other departments for the purpose of cross-department planning and coordination of business needs aligned to overall agency priorities.

Supports close collaboration with Finance, Portfolio Services Office (PSO), and Procurement & Contracts as PPMO services are developed and improved.

Develops and maintains IT's alignment with the agency's System Expansion Implementation Program, ensuring IT deliverables to the expansion program are planned, resourced, and managed in alignment within the overall agency delivery framework.

Develops and maintains a business partnership approach including leading IT's process integration with the agency expansion program.

• Facilitates the IT annual budget cycle in line with current Finance direction.
• Manages the agency technology investment process toward alignment with agency intake / demand that will support project selection and prioritization;

ensures effective use of agency resources.

• Collaborates with PSO as applicable to modify / improve current Project and Program Management services.
• Establishes effective cross-department collaboration for early inclusion of IT into the agency's very large system expansion program, as well as major enhancements and upgrades of operational transit services;

Ensures adequate time for IT planning, resource management, and execution aligned to these high priority agency programs.

• Coaches, trains, and motivates staff; coordinates and / or provides staff training; and manages employee relations.
• Develops and matures portfolio management to manage project selection and interdependencies between and among projects.

Conducts regular reviews of the overall portfolio, strategic programs, emerging developments, and industry trends.

• Provides strategic technology leadership; champions portfolio management practices within IT and the agency.
• As part of the IT senior leadership team, supports the ongoing definition and maturity of the larger IT organization in its organizational design, and the introduction of more effective processes.

Oversees effectiveness of operating agreements with service providers to and from the PM&C Office within the broader ITSM framework.

Develops a culture of performance management in order to regularly measure, monitor, and report performance metrics for all Portfolio Management services;

Drives ongoing refinement and maturity of services through continual process improvement.

• Drives the creation, refinement, and consistency of project controls functions.
• Maintains and provides expertise on the overall portfolio management services, including backlog, status, risk, timelines, and financials;

drives continual improvements towards accuracy in planning.

• Provides support to the department on matters as directed; serves as staff on a variety of committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence;
• attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the fields related to area of assignment;
• incorporates new developments as appropriate; ensures processes, policies, and practices are interpreted and applied consistently and effectively;

ensures accountability and compliance with all current and applicable state and federal laws, Agency policies and procedures, rules and regulations.

• Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and / or other employees.
• Support the development of effective delivery methods that make effective use of the supporting roles.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

Education and Experience : Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Management Information Systems, or closely related field and ten years of experience in senior level IT project / program positions including eight years of leadership, budgetary, planning, and workforce management experience.

OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications :

PMP and PgMP.

Required Knowledge and Skills :

Strong technical knowledge of enterprise Project Management Office methodologies aligned with industry best practice such as PMBOK.

Principles as practices of portfolio management, program management, and project management.

• Concepts, principles, and practices of technology governance.
• Strong understanding of business objectives, drivers and principles, and how they relate to technology solutions.
• Business and technology strategy; aligning business strategy to programs and projects.
• Applied principles and practices in project controls.
• Applied principles and practices in cost estimating, budget preparation, and schedule performance.
• In depth understanding of key issues and success factors within an IT organization.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Senior level experience implementing and maturing enterprise processes and controls for project and program management.
• Timely and accurate delivery of very large, multi-generational programs and projects.
• Experience in managing teams, delivering value through others, and the performance management of those individuals.
• Strong experience managing and leading change within an organization.
• Expertise in waterfall, agile, and blended delivery methods.
• Strong facilitation skills including conflict management, issue resolution, brokering agreements, and removing roadblocks.
• Possesses a solid technology culture with a strong interest and ability in learning new technologies in both corporate business technologies and transit technologies.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to coach and mentor others.
• Ability to advocate, promote, and sell ideas to achieve strategic portfolio management goals, improve efficiency, and reduce complexity.
• Experience with Primavera P6, Microsoft project or similar project management systems.
• Continuous improvement.
• Developing project controls and governance standards, processes, and workflows.
• Taking an overall enterprise viewpoint, aligning projects to maximize overall agency value to achieve the most effective use of limited resources.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, management, vendors, outside agencies, community groups, and the general public.
• Working effectively under pressure, meeting deadlines, and adjusting to changing priorities.
• Responding to inquiries and in effective oral and written communication.
• Researching, analyzing, and evaluating new service delivery methods and techniques.
• Working cooperatively with other departments, Agency officials, and outside agencies.

Physical Demands / Work Environment :

• Work is performed in a hybrid office environment.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)