Director It Project Management

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is the region’s leading public transportation provider, operating rail, bus, and paratransit services across the Washington metropolitan region. The Director, Information Technology Project Management leads the Digital Modernization Project Management Office, establishes governance and standards, and oversees complex technology projects from planning through implementation. The role manages teams, stakeholders, budgets, project controls, business process improvement, and enterprise technology initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Directs the Digital Modernization Project Management Office, develops the PMO Governance model and establishes the guidance and training for managing the technical and business activities of the PMO. Provides direction and guidance to the IT project managers regarding PMO policies, methodologies and project reporting requirements
• Works closely with senior Digital Modernization management to ensure all projects analyze existing business processes and streamline new business processes using Lean methods to drive continuous improvement, a long-term approach to systematically achieve small, incremental changes in processes to improve efficiency and quality
• Manages and maintains project execution communications with senior WMATA management, steering committees and the executive sponsors. Acts as the first level of escalation for issues that cannot be resolved within the project or Project Management Office. Informs the EVP & Chief Digital Officer or her/his designate of project resource requirements
• Conducts regularly scheduled and weekly project measurement meetings to ensure that all projects are planned and executed in compliance with defined project management methodology. Resolves deviations from the Project Plan; identifies and resolves conflicts, discrepancies and dependencies among projects. Reviews project deliverables and commitments to ensure that deliverables are compliant with Quality Assurance and acceptance criteria objectives
• Manages a team that plans, organizes, analyzes, evaluates, and controls projects to complete complex projects effectively. Ensures that resources are managed with transparency of costs, accountability and within budget. Oversees the development of plans and schedules, resource requirements, milestones and deliverables. Monitors activities and evaluates progress and accomplishment reports. Identifies alternative solutions to unique business problems in projects, integrates the work of various projects and teams; predicts the impact on future processing and anticipates future environments. Leads presentations, develops financial reports, gains approval of proposals for new initiatives, and provides effective project management support and oversite
• Keeps abreast of emerging practices and trends in information technology, transportation management and bus and rail automated systems. Maintains a positive working relationship with Digital Modernization staff and Authority leadership. Leads Digital Modernization project managers and user community with technology management improvement for enterprise resource planning, human resource, finance, procurement and logistics, transit scheduling and performance and other Authority-wide applications
• Ensures that the implementation of Digital Modernization projects is on time, within budget and in alignment with program goals and priorities. Ensures that Authority technology direction and technology standards are cost effective and beneficial. Identifies performance measurements for success and methods for monitoring and measuring performance. Identifies measurable performance improvements expected to result after the implementation of the plan and project. Ensures that projects are adequately planned, allocated with resources, and that they maximize external funding sources
• Leads and manages teams who manage the day-to-day activities of consultants and contractors in compliance with WMATA's procurement policies, standards, regulations and procedures and provides management review and oversight for all projects
• Assists Digital Modernization senior management in the identification of opportunities for technical resource consolidation, technology efficiencies, and leveraging existing technology and resources
• Assists Digital Modernization senior management by conducting information research and planning, developing information technology strategies, and designing information technology solutions that align with Its strategic plan and standards
• Maintains and promotes awareness and accountability with safety policies and procedures while performing job functions. Promotes a positive safety culture and encourages reporting of safety concerns consistent with our Agency Safety Plan, other regulatory requirements within the Safety Management System and just culture principles

Requirements:

• A Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Finance, Business Management, Public Administration Engineering or a related field
• In lieu of a technical or business degree, a non-technical or non-business -related degree an additional four (4) years of experience in software development life cycle, change management, information technology governance, performance metrics, managing and implementing company-wide information technology polices may be considered
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in information systems, data processing management and technical experience in a large organization. This must include senior level management and extensive experience in the development of major information technology policies, procedures or processes
• MBA or Master's level degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Finance, Business Management, Public Administration Engineering or a related field
• Familiarity with Agile, Lean and Dev Ops and experience in public sector environment is a plus
• Project management certification (e.g. 'Certified Project Management Professional' per Project Management Institute) is highly desirable
• Certified Scrum Professional, Green/Black belt sigma are also highly desirable