Director of Project Management

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Project Management is a strategic and operational leader responsible for overseeing the Public Employees’ Retirement Association’s (PERA) Project Management Office (PMO) and leading a team of Project Managers. This role ensures the consistent and high-quality execution of projects that support business, technology, and operational goals. The PMO Director will drive project governance, standardize practices, mentor PMO professionals, and serve as a key partner in cross-functional delivery efforts. This leader works in close collaboration with members of the Executive Leadership Team as well as other Directors to align project delivery with enterprise-level goals and objectives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• 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.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 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.