The Sr. Manager, IT Portfolio and Projects plays a pivotal role in shaping the technology infrastructure across the USMO and USM campuses. This role is central to developing and managing technology portfolios, focusing on shared services, licensing opportunities, and aligning technology initiatives with strategic goals. The Sr. Manager will work closely with key stakeholders, lead vendor management activities, and provide expert project and program management to drive innovation and efficiency.

Leads the development of collaborative USM programs:

• Builds and leads a team of outsourced and insourced resources to achieve operational and financial excellence by developing collaborative operating programs.
• Proactively engages institutional leadership at USM and stakeholder institutions to foster interest in and commitment to multi-institutional process improvement and innovation programs.
• Documents clear and concise business cases for collaborative programs including development of operational success metrics.
• Develops detailed project plans, ensuring efficient and effective implementation. Creates and adapts staffing plans based on program needs, ensuring optimal resource allocation and results-driven approaches.

Manages the development of rigorous project and portfolio management practices:

• Develops systems and structures as templates for institutions to use in the execution of internal and cross-cutting projects.
• Leads the advancement of project and portfolio management practices within the USMO, championing best practices and innovation. Develops and monitors product roadmap and key performance indicators, identifies improvement opportunities, and ensures regulatory and policy compliance.
• Delivers strategic, long-term solutions on a large scale, incorporating risk management and future-focused thinking.
• Drives and defines continuous improvement of new and existing products and services.

Develops governance and operating models for multi-institutional programs:

• Works with the governing board to develop strategy, roadmaps, prioritization, and implementation of future products supporting the consortium.
• Works with campus stakeholders and the user community to identify and scope process and system improvement.
• Oversees and facilitates the governance groups to ensure a smooth release life cycle, enhancement reviews, testing, and quality assurance.

Manages Vendors & Contracts:

• Implements Vendor Relationship Management for ERP products that drive service excellence, control costs, and mitigate risks.
• Coordinates and prioritizes requirements that come from a variety of stakeholders, including third party vendors, Workday support teams, integration teams, and business partners.
• Manages the relationship with the Vendor team, ensuring vendors are held accountable.
• Oversees vendor budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and performance alignment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Education Level/Certifications:

Bachelor’s degree

Required Experience:

5 years of experience managing multiple projects or programs. This includes experience in consulting or permanent roles, with a focus on conducting or leading business analysis to drive innovation and value creation through the development of new organizations and systems.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Skill in project and portfolio management, budget, and financial tracking.
• Ability to create a business case for approval by various levels of governance.
• Ability to define and build effective/efficient governance structures.
• Ability to develop and maintain technology roadmaps.
• Leadership, coaching, and team-building skills to strengthen and cultivate relationships.
• Ability to design and build customer service strategies and organizations.
• Ability to exercise a high level of diplomacy, confidentiality, and trust.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate clearly and concisely across technology and business teams.
• Ability to clearly define business challenges and identify and communicate technical and business changes required to address them.
• Ability to drive decision-making through a consensus-building approach.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preferred Education Level/Certifications:

Master’s degree. Project management certification.

Preferred Experience:

• Program management experience in government or public Higher Education.
• Technology management experience.
• Experience procuring or managing the procurement of IT systems and consulting support.
• Experience with managing consultant partner contracts.