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Colorado State University

Director of Project Services

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, us, 80523


Work Location: Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work.

Research Professional Position

Posting Number: 202401872AP

Position Type: Admin Professional/ Research Professional

Classification Title: Management III

Number of Vacancies: 1

Work Hours/Week: 40

Proposed Annual Salary Range: $115,000 - $136,000

Employee Benefits: Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, commitment to

diversity, equity and inclusion , and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 11/07/2024.

Description of Work Unit: The Division of Information Technology, the central IT organization for Colorado State University-Ft. Collins, supports the land-grant heritage of the institution as well as the university’s missions of teaching and learning, research, and service. The Division of IT is responsible for delivering enterprise and campus focused IT services for the Ft. Collins campus as well as throughout the CSU-System. Areas of responsibility include Research IT, Application Development and User Support Services, Academic Technology, Cybersecurity & Privacy, Networking and Telecommunications, Infrastructure and Databases, Business Intelligence and Data Integrations, Administrative Applications, and Student Applications.

Driven by its purpose statement: Innovating IT, Empowering CSU and its values of Community, Collegiality, Reliability, Service, and Simplicity, its team members work across the division and in collaboration with university stakeholders. Reporting to the Vice President of Information Technology/ CIO, our dedicated 120-person team delivers dynamic and innovative solutions to meet the diverse needs of our students, faculty, and staff. Our work supports CSU’s Principles of Community and we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as we help others discover and meet their potential while aiming to set the standard for IT throughout higher education.

Position Summary: Under the general guidance of the AVP of Strategy & Planning for the Division of IT, this position leads and manages the operational, financial and personnel activities of the Project Management Office, whose mission is to provide business analysis, project management, and change management services for the Division of Information Technology. The Director is responsible for the operation and management of the Project Management Office (PMO). Key responsibilities include: management of the Division’s portfolio of IT projects; management of IT project managers within the PMO; managing large, strategic, high-profile, and longer term IT projects; directing the development and implementation of IT project management methodologies; configuration and operation of the IT Portfolio and Project (PPM) system; enhancing IT project management maturity; executing project activation and ongoing portfolio prioritization processes; and ongoing reporting of IT project activities. This is a highly visible position that has significant impact on IT deliverables and university objectives.

Collaborates with campus stakeholders and DoIT leadership to define, prioritize and deliver on projects and strategic initiatives. Perform management duties for project managers, business systems analysts, change management analysts, and student support staff. Responsible for leading and managing staff including recruitment, work plan development, training, performance evaluation, and other management functions. Prepares and reviews budgets, approves expenditures and submits budget proposals.

The preferred work location for this role is in Colorado near one of the Colorado State University campuses in Fort Collins, Colorado or Pueblo, Colorado; but highly qualified (US based) remote candidates will be considered. For remote candidates, some travel to Colorado State University will be required to engage with team members, leadership and the campus community.

Required Job Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field OR any bachelor’s degree plus two years of professional experience. Candidates with a High School Diploma (or GED) and equivalent (6 or more years) related professional experience will be considered for employment (without the required bachelors or other post-secondary education).

Experience managing complex projects with diverse teams and/or stakeholder groups.

Experience with budgets and resource management.

Excellent presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Experience building teams, coaching staff, and establishing goals.

The successful candidate must be legally authorized to work in the United States by the start date; the department will not sponsor a visa for this position.

Preferred Job Qualifications:

Current Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent project management certification.

Experience managing IT projects involving cross-functional groups.

Experience developing and managing budgets for complex, capital IT projects.

Experience working in a higher education or public sector environment.

Experience with service and/or portfolio management.

Knowledge of change management best practices and techniques.

Previous responsibility for risk analysis, business analysis or risk mitigation.

Demonstrated success with process development or process improvement.

Diversity Statement: Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Job Duty Category: Duty/Responsibility

Develop a comprehensive business plan, strategy and vision for the group. This plan includes a summary of the business (mission, vision, purpose, and history), a communication plan, operation and personnel plans, a review of peer organizations, a description of research and development underway, a discussion of the management structure, and financial statements.

Plan, direct, and manage the financial stewardship of the group including accurate handling of budgeting, billing for chargeback activities, and accounts payable in order to enable the group to function as a financially effective unit.

Establish plans, policies, procedures, and guidelines for sound management and administration of the group. Establish procedures for work scheduling, hybrid work environments, and vacation scheduling to ensure coverage and maintain quality service.

Management of the CSU System’s portfolio of IT projects that includes facilitating the planning and the prioritization of complex IT projects that are typically enterprise-wide services. These projects may have significant complexity and cross many functions, departments, and colleges. Projects may also include significant business process and/or technology change management.

Perform project management on selected “high profile” project efforts. This may include benefit/cost analysis, project charter development, stakeholder identification, project scope definition, integrated project plan development, project team development, project status monitoring and corrective actions, procurements/vendor performance, issue tracking, executive steering team leadership, and overall management and leadership of the project.

Direct the development and implementation of IT project management methodologies. This includes advancing IT’s project management maturity per benchmark PM maturity models; enhancing schedule and resource estimations; enhancing Total Cost of Ownership estimations; and stronger business case and return on investment benefit analysis.

Develop and maintain technical project schedules and status reports as required. Develop project plans including tasks to be performed, task estimates, and targeted completion dates.

Liaise with other Divisional and campus technical groups to provide integrated service delivery of enterprise and local applications and technologies.

Evaluate, recommend, approve, and purchase equipment, goods, and services for investment or consumption by the group.

Percentage Of Time: 50

Job Duty Category: Strategic Planning and Initiatives

Work with the divisional leadership team to develop and implement strategic plans and initiatives that align with division and university needs and future directions.

Develop and implement group-level operational plans and projects that align and support the goals of the Division’s strategic plan. Ensure group compliance and initiative changes to existing policies and standards to align with strategic plans.

Ensure communication of division objectives, activities, and plans to all personnel in the group and encourage participation from group employees in improving division activities, policies, and procedures.

Provide leadership on strategic planning initiative/project teams including project management, financial management, communication plans, and team member oversight. Ensure team members act as liaisons back to their work groups for feedback and communication.

Percentage Of Time: 15

Job Duty Category: Team Management

Recruit and hire new employees according to personnel rules and laws. Plan and conduct new employee onboarding to the team’s process, procedures, and work rules. Monitor performance of new employees during probation periods.

Recommend/initiate personnel actions such as reclassification, reallocation, competitive promotion, etc. as needed to ensure appropriate and effective allocation of staff resources and compensation to employees.

Establish goals for every staff member. Evaluate employee performance, counsel employees, monitor project and operational progress. Take appropriate disciplinary action and formally acknowledge/recognize good performance. Resolve grievances, as necessary.

Develop work plans and training plans to support team and individual goals. Identify training needs and career development paths for all staff. Ensure that job-related training needs are met including cross-training among team members.

Encourage and promote successful working relationships among staff to promote productivity and staff retention. Negotiate and resolve staff conflicts to maintain an effective and professional work environment. Model and promote divisional cultural principles and values.

Establish an organizational structure to meet the service-level agreements for system support and to deliver new projects. This includes identifying staffing needs, determining appropriate control levels, appointing project managers/leaders, and assigning/delegating system responsibilities.

Ensure team compliance with group, department, and division standards. Initiate changes to existing policies and standards to improve service to customers or increase efficiency of department or division operations.

Implement and provide information about Diversity, Equity and inclusion, harassment and discrimination policies, and advancement opportunities for all staff.

Percentage Of Time: 20

Job Duty Category: Customer Service and Engagement

Provide leadership to support and encourage proactive customer service, engagement, and relations. Ensure transparent feedback mechanisms (e.g., customer needs assessments, surveys, and focus groups).

Provide customer relations function with university clients to develop project objectives, audience, components, timeline, budget, and means of evaluation.

Maintain relationships with key customers to ensure that services are responsive and meet customer needs and service goals. Work with the Strategy and Planning area to promote and ensure high quality customer relations that include communications, change management and client engagement.

Ensure full-time and student staff understand Division customer service and engagement strategies. Work with, mentor, and guide staff and students on the establishment of partnerships and business relationships with campus units, CSU System, or other entities.

Percentage Of Time: 10

Job Duty Category: Professional Development and Other Duties

Engage in development of personal professional development plan that incorporates developmental goals, career paths, and competency areas.

Attend conferences, seminars, and workshops to ensure continued development of professional skills.

Participate on campus committees, councils, and user groups to increase campus-level knowledge and awareness.

Participate in local, state, and national activities of relevant professional associations.

Provide professional development opportunities for others on campus through project management and change management training.

Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, respect, and ethical practices in alignment with the division purpose and values.

Percentage Of Time: 5

Special Instructions to Applicants: To apply, please upload a cover letter that addresses the required and preferred job qualifications, a resume, and the contact information for three professional references.

Conditions of Employment: Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

Search Contact: EEO Statement: Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University 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. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action.

The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.

The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715,

titleix@colostate.edu .

The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836,

oeo@colostate.edu .

The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836,

oeo@colostate.edu .

Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the

Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

References RequestedMinimum Requested: 3

Maximum Requested: 3

Supplemental QuestionsRequired fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

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