About the Opportunity

Summary

The division of Information Technology Services is currently seeking a talented individual to fill the role of Portfolio Manager. The Portfolio Manager is the key interface between the business/operations functions and ITS.  A successful Portfolio Manager emphasizes visibility, maximizes the value of investments and facilitates decision making discussions.  The Portfolio Manager role is responsible for providing a centralized view of assets and initiatives related to a specific portfolio(s).  The Portfolio Manager, in conjunction with the business leaders, help drive project prioritization and decisions around which projects will deliver maximum value.  The portfolio manager will drive on planning, prioritization, implementation and monitoring elements of projects within a portfolio.  The Portfolio Manager may also directly manage projects or programs .  In addition to the business liaison and portfolio accountability responsibilities, this position includes managing projects/programs and resource management within the projects, stakeholder and sponsor communications, reporting, and engagement.

To ensure that essential services are provided to the university community, the employee will be required to work outside their regular working hours as needed.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelors or Master’s degree with project management, finance background or technical background, or equivalent experience. PMP Certification required.

Experience

• Eight or more years of experience in IT and business/industry
• Strategic, operational and technical project management experience
• Product management experience
• Vendor management experience, holding vendors accountable
• Record of accomplishment of successfully managed projects
• Leadership and motivational skills to maintain naturally high moral within the matrix team.
• Previous technical competency in the areas of release management, agile development, & maintaining backlogs
• Demonstrated Risk management, especially at the portfolio level is required.
• Demonstrated Financial management for a program/portfolio is required, including budgeting, forecasting and reporting.

Knowledge and Skills

• Exceptional leadership skills, with the ability to develop and communicate the portfolio objectives, inspire and motivate staff, and maintain alignment with IT & the business strategy.
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels across the organization. Has strength of character to have difficult conversations with senior stakeholders including customers, internal team members and senior management; excellent written, oral and presentation skills.  Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to explain and "sell" the portfolio goals and objectives to the business, as well as technical leadership.
• Data Analysis skills and the ability to tell the story from the data.
• Demonstrated release management and future product road mapping skills
• Effective use of hard and soft skills including conflict resolution, team building, decisions making.
• Pragmatic organized and results oriented and with ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent planning, organization, execution and controlling skills.
• Problem solving skills - ability to analyze and solve complex issues that do not have routine solutions.
• Regularly pitches new projects or process which will enhance portfolio/program/project effectiveness and further evolution
• Attention to detail but able to see and communicate the big picture.

• Ability and willingness to convey proficiency in project management to others.
• Possesses a high degree of political sensitivity, astuteness and the ability to effectively use the informal power structure of the organization to achieve success and clear obstacles for the portfolio.
• Highly empathetic and able to vary styles of interaction to match the needs of a variety of temperaments and personalities.
• Strong business acumen, including industry, domain-specific knowledge of the enterprise and its business units. Familiar with industry trends and innovation.
• Effective influencing and negotiation experience and skills in an environment with high competition for resources.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver against financial and resource constraints.
• Experience with one or more project/program management methodologies (such as PMI PMBOK, Agile) and across a range of project types.
• Demonstrated ability in  project planning tools, such as Microsoft Project and Project Server, with evidence of practical application.
• Highly skilled in managing Agile teams, use of JIRA for sprint and release planning
• Deep under