Director of Project Management

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and Manage the PMO: Establish and evolve the project management function as shared service within PERA and a center of excellence. Oversee a portfolio of enterprise, technical, and operational projects.
• Team Leadership and Development: Recruit, coach, and develop a high-performing team of project managers, business analysts, and other professionals. Provide mentorship, training, and professional development to elevate project delivery capability across the organization.
• Governance and Standards: Define, refine, deploy and enforce project management methodologies, templates, and best practices across the organization, ensuring consistency, quality, and transparency in execution.
• Portfolio Oversight: Oversee the planning, tracking, and reporting of all projects under the PMO. Monitor project status, risks, issues, budgets, and dependencies.
• Resource and Capacity Management: Plan and manage allocation of project resources, including project managers and cross-functional team members. Work with project sponsors, and cross functional teams to oversee capacity planning and workforce utilization to avoid bottlenecks or overextension.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a trusted delivery partner to leaders across business units and shared services, including Technology, Product, Operations, and Accounting. Collaborate closely with the Director of Product Management and Director of Strategy to align delivery cadence and sequencing with strategic roadmaps.
• Strategic Alignment: Translate organizational goals and strategy into executable projects. Partner with business, technology, and operational leaders to ensure that project portfolios support organizational priorities.
• Risk and Change Management: Develop frameworks for risk identification and mitigation, including those related to keeping projects within scope.
• Executive Reporting: Provide timely and accurate reporting on project health, KPIs, and portfolio performance to senior leadership. Recommend course corrections as needed.
• Process Improvement: Continuously evaluate project processes and outcomes. Lead efforts to improve delivery, cost effectiveness, and team management.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external partners, and vendors to ensure successful project outcomes and clear communication.

Qualification & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in project and portfolio management, with at least 3 years in a formal people leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience managing enterprise-wide projects across technical and non-technical functions.
• Deep knowledge of and experience developing project management methodologies (waterfall, agile, hybrid), frameworks and policies
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g. excel, MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet, etc.)
• Strong understanding of portfolio management, risk management and resource planning.
• Strong leadership, organizational and analytical skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities, and comfortable influencing at all levels of the organization, including C-Suite
• Strategic thinker with a problem-solving mindset

Preferred

• Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) is a plus
• PMP, PgMP, or other PMI certification
• Experience in financial services, or pension systems is a plus
• Change management certification (e.g. Prosci) is desirable

Working Conditions

• Standard office environment with frequent computer use
• Flexible work arrangements based on organizational policy
• Ability to travel occasionally
• All employees are expected to present themselves in a professional manner in alignment with the financial services industry

Hybrid Work Option

• Opportunity to work from home up to two days per week. Eligibility dependent upon factors detailed in PERA’s Work from Home Policy.

Benefits

To promote wellbeing, we offer hybrid or flexible working options for most roles and a total rewards and benefit program including health, dental and vision coverage – eligibility starts the first day of the month following the date of hire for most plans; generous paid time off and volunteer hours; pension and retirement plans, including PERA’s defined benefit plan, 457 defined contribution plan, and 401(k) employer match, as applicable; tuition assistance; free, convenient on-site parking or RTD subsidy; free on-site fitness center to stay active; employee assistance program; training, leadership and mentoring programs and more. PERA is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer.