26-2269: SME - Project Manager - Baltimore, MD

SME - Project Manager
Job ID#: 26-2269
Clearance: N/A
Location: Baltimore, MD

Who We Are:
Since our inception back in 2006, Navitas has grown to be an industry leader in the digital transformation space, and we’ve served as trusted advisors supporting our client base within the commercial, federal, and state and local markets.

What We Do:
At our very core, we’re a group of problem solvers providing our award-winning technology solutions to drive digital acceleration for our customers! With proven solutions, award-winning technologies, and a team of expert problem solvers, Navitas has consistently empowered customers to use technology as a competitive advantage and deliver cutting-edge transformative solutions.

What You’ll Do:
Navitas is seeking an experienced Project Manager to support the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), Division of Early Childhood (DEC), and Information Technology Branch (ITB) with IT modernization initiatives related to the Child Care Administrative Tracking System (CCATS). This position serves as a senior individual contributor within the Statewide Agile Resources and Teams framework and requires extensive experience managing complex public sector modernization initiatives, vendor coordination, governance processes, and enterprise technology programs involving sensitive and regulated data environments.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Define requirements, perform analyses, and develop operational and enhancement plans for the CCATS/CCS system family, including provider portals, family portals, legacy systems, and enterprise integrations.
• Serve as the primary coordination point between MSDE ITB, DEC, vendors, and supporting agencies for all childcare systems portfolio activities.
• Monitor system health, accessibility, uptime, security posture, and operational performance while escalating and tracking issues through resolution.
• Prioritize and manage system enhancements, corrections, modernization initiatives, mandated updates, and legislative or executive-driven changes.
• Translate stakeholder, customer, policy, and technical needs into actionable requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, and product roadmaps.
• Lead product backlog development, refinement, and prioritization aligned with business objectives, policy requirements, and user-centered design principles.
• Recognize and manage implications associated with sensitive data including PII, CJIS-protected information, and protected health or disability records while coordinating with privacy, legal, and security stakeholders as appropriate.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for enterprise childcare applications, providing technical and analytical guidance supporting DEC operational objectives and modernization goals.
• Lead root cause analysis activities and implement durable operational and technical solutions.
• Coordinate technical teams supporting security, networking, hosting, system administration, database administration, development, testing, implementation, help desk support, and related enterprise technology services.
• Manage day-to-day vendor performance within a complex multi-vendor environment supporting CCATS/CCS systems and modernization initiatives.
• Facilitate collaboration among vendors, State agencies, and enterprise technology teams to maintain service continuity and resolve operational issues.
• Coordinate with agencies including the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and other enterprise platform teams to ensure system functionality, accessibility, security, and operational continuity.
• Review contractor invoices, maintain statements of work, monitor budgets, and provide regular financial and operational updates to MSDE leadership.
• Support procurement activities related to hardware, software, and services including development of scopes of work and evaluation criteria.
• Ensure vendor deliverables meet project objectives, product quality standards, contractual requirements, and State compliance obligations.
• Submit modernization initiatives and system changes through applicable governance processes including privacy, accessibility, security, and AI review procedures.
• Maintain project documentation consistent with MSDE PMO and DoIT standards including project charters, risk logs, issue logs, governance documentation, and status reporting.
• Identify, document, manage, and mitigate project risks, operational issues, and delivery challenges impacting schedule, budget, or program objectives.
• Remain current on Maryland SDLC standards, IT security requirements, accessibility requirements, AI governance expectations, and applicable State policies.
• Develop outcome-based reports, KPIs, success metrics, and operational dashboards supporting DEC and ITB leadership decision-making.
• Ensure enterprise applications, environments, technologies, and operational procedures comply with applicable laws, accessibility requirements, security standards, privacy controls, and State governance policies.
• Lead requirements development activities for childcare systems modernization initiatives and support RFP development efforts as a subject matter expert.
• Manage modernization projects through implementation using PMI, Agile, or hybrid project management methodologies appropriate to project scope and complexity.
• Brief MSDE and DoIT executives regarding modernization objectives, project status, operational risks, governance decisions, and implementation progress.
• Develop and maintain modernization product roadmaps focused on iterative value delivery and user-centered design.
• Supervise contract business analysts or junior project managers supporting childcare systems initiatives as needed.
• Convene stakeholder groups and governance meetings to ensure proper oversight, approvals, and forward progress across concurrent initiatives.
• Collaborate with finance teams and functional managers to support budget estimation, cost controls, financial reporting, and operational performance management.
• Report directly to the IT Director of Project Management.

What You’ll Need:

• 10+ years of experience managing complex technology programs or projects within government, health and human services, childcare, benefits administration, or other regulated public sector environments.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or other recognized project/program management certification
• Demonstrated experience managing large-scale IT modernization, enterprise system replacement, or re-procurement initiatives within complex multi-vendor environments.
• Experience recovering, stabilizing, or redirecting troubled projects preferred.
• Hands-on experience managing systems or product portfolios involving sensitive data including PII, CJIS-protected information, protected health records, or disability-related information.
• Experience engaging privacy, legal, compliance, and cybersecurity resources to support governance and operational decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience supporting:
  • Product lifecycle management
  • User research
  • Requirements gathering and analysis
  • Product backlog development
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Product roadmap planning
• Strong familiarity with public sector governance processes, enterprise modernization initiatives, and State IT operational frameworks.
• Experience managing vendors, contractors, budgets, schedules, and enterprise delivery activities across concurrent initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate technical and operational teams supporting enterprise applications and modernization efforts.
• Excellent communication, organizational, analytical, and stakeholder management skills.

Set yourself apart:

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. degree from an accredited college or university in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, or related discipline preferred.
• Experience supporting Maryland State Government, DoIT governance processes, or public sector education modernization initiatives preferred.
• Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, hybrid delivery methodologies, and enterprise PMO frameworks.
• Experience supporting accessibility compliance, AI governance reviews, and enterprise security governance initiatives.

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The pay range provided is a good-faith estimate and represents the range the company reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of posting. Individual compensation may vary based on skills, experience, education, certifications, geographic location, and business needs.

Equal Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Navitas Business Consulting is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Navitas Human Resources.

Navitas is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran-status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Navitas.