Validation Technician

About the D.C. Retirement Board The District of Columbia Retirement Board is an independent agency of the District of Columbia Government. Our mission is to manage and control the assets of the D.C. Police Officers' and Firefighters' Retirement Plan and the D.C. Teachers' Retirement Plans as well as to administer benefits for the members of the plans. Position Summary The Independent Validation & Verification (IV&V) Analyst reports directly to DCRB’s Director of Internal Audit to provide independent, objective validation and verification support to the Benefits Administration Pension System (BAPS) project team and/or Steering Committee regarding the completeness and accuracy of the active and retired member data. The IV&V Analyst ensures that all project deliverables are met, and that project costs are appropriate during the BAPS implementation phases (requirements, design, development, testing, and deployment). The IV&V Analyst’s primary objective is to help ensure that the new system is configured and deployed effectively, efficiently, and in alignment with DCRB’s objectives, while minimizing project risk. The IV&V Analyst delivers unbiased reports and recommendations to help Agency leadership make informed decisions, mitigate risks, contain costs, and ensure accountability. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Duties that occupy a major portion of time and importance of the job) Perform independent assessments of project documentation, system requirements, technical designs, testing strategies, completeness & accuracy of all census data, and project deliverables. Acts as DCRB’s independent advocate throughout the project lifecycle and the organizational change-management process. Evaluate adherence to and compliance with statutory requirements, federal and state regulations, agency policies, and industry standards. Evaluate whether procured systems and processes are developed in accordance with approved requirements (verification), Statement of Work/contract documents, and determine whether they meet the operational and mission needs of the agency (validation). Review and monitor vendor’s project management deliverables, including Master Project Plan, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), Resource Allocation and Staffing Plan, Communication Plan, etc. Validate that plans are realistic, achievable, and aligned with contractual terms. Serve as a standing member of the project governance structure, such as the Steering Committee, with authority to monitor, escalate, and recommend corrective actions. Identify and report operational and financial risks, issues, and gaps across all phases of the project lifecycle, maintaining strict independence from the project team. Assess system architecture, data management processes, access controls, cybersecurity practices, and internal controls for compliance and alignment with government frameworks. Monitor and evaluate data and system testing activities for adequacy, traceability, and compliance with requirements of the agency quality assurance standards. Deliver independent validation reports for each testing phase and migration checkpoint. Review documentation of data reconciliation outcomes, issue logs, and system readiness summaries. Support DCRB’s audit and compliance needs by maintaining evidence of testing traceability and data lineage. Validate that all agreed upon business needs, stakeholder requirements, and statutory obligations are fully addressed in final system solutions. Review project governance, change management, configuration management, and vendor performance for effectiveness and compliance. Participate in go-live readiness assessments with DCRB leadership and vendor representatives. Advise DCRB on go/no-go decision criteria and risk posture. Prepare formal IV&V reports, dashboards, and briefings for agency executives, oversight bodies, and other stakeholders. Participate in meetings, stakeholder interviews, and evidence reviews to support independent findings. Recommend solutions to bottlenecks, delays, cost overruns, scope creep, and other project management potential issues. Track and verify the implementation of corrective actions to ensure timely closure of findings. At project closeout, evaluate training effectiveness, system adoption, and transition to support. Provide a final IV&V report summarizing all assessment reports and recommendations prior to concluding IV&V activities. Functional Competencies Proven ability to function independently with professional objectivity; effectively assess risks; and resolve problems. Knowledge of/familiarity with federal and state IT standards, including NIST frameworks, SDLC methodologies, Agile approaches, and government procurement requirements. Strong analytical skills, knowledge of government regulations and compliance frameworks, and ability to interpret regulatory and policy requirements. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with proven ability to engage and communicate effectively with stakeholders, including briefing senior officials and oversight entities. Meticulous attention to detail. Working Conditions Normal office environment. This job description describes the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all tasks, duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Residency Requirement If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment. Equal Employment Opportunity DCRB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the employer will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. How to Apply Applicants must submit a completed DC2000 Employment Application form, letter of interest discussing eligibility and qualifications, and resume. The DC2000 Employment Application is available as a fillable file document on the “Working at DCRB” page on DCRB’s website. You may view the page here: Applicants claiming Veterans Preference must submit official proof with application. All educational and experience requirements used to determine eligibility for this position must be officially verified at the time of appointment. No offer of employment will be deemed fulfilled without such verification(s). Where to Apply Email application materials to View email address on click.appcast.io Required Education & Professional Certifications Bachelor’s degree in information systems, engineering, public administration, or related field (Master’s preferred). Preferable experience in HRIS, payroll, and benefits administration systems. Relevant certifications, such as PMP, CISA, CGFM, PMI-ACP, or CBAP, are preferred. Job Experience (Years & Type) A minimum of 10 years of progressive Project Management and/or IV&V experience, including an IV&V leadership role on critical project teams, including planning, and providing authoritative advice on all matters regarding system development and implementation. Progressive, demonstrated experience performing verification activities, such as: code reviews, inspections and peer reviews of work products and documentation, and walk-throughs; and validation activities, such as unit testing, function tests, integration testing, system testing, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT). Experience with SAST (Static), DAST (Dynamic), and IAST (Interactive) application security testing methods commonly used to find vulnerabilities. Experience working with public officials regarding the systems/applications implications of critical importance to the entity. Experience in assessing large, complex government technology implementations, as well as overseeing major IT initiatives as it relates to Benefits Administration, HR, and payroll systems. Additional experience considered includes prior decision-making and data-cleansing oversight responsibility in similarly complex system implementations. Previous experience managing and reporting census data aspects of an employee pension plan is preferred. #J-18808-Ljbffr