Assistant Director, IT Project Management Office (PMO) (Executive Level)

POSITION OVERVIEW

Applications accepted from: ALL PERSONS INTERESTED Division: PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE Reporting Location: 611 WALKER Workdays & Hours: MONDAY – FRIDAY, Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Position Overview: The Assistant Director of the IT Project Management Office provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the enterprise PMO. This role is responsible for establishing governance frameworks, managing the full project and program portfolio, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, and driving PMO maturity across the department. The position serves as a senior advisor to executive leadership and plays a critical role in resource planning, performance measurement, and delivery excellence. Key Responsibilities Lead the development and execution of PMO strategy, governance structures, and organizational policies. Oversee the enterprise project portfolio to ensure alignment with strategic goals and departmental priorities. Establish and maintain KPIs, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms for all projects and programs. Ensure consistent adoption of project management methodologies, standards, and best practices. Direct budgeting, resource allocation, and project prioritization processes. Provide executive-level updates, recommendations, and strategic guidance to senior leadership. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase PMO maturity, efficiency, and effectiveness. Mentor, supervise, and develop PMO staff, including project managers and program managers. Oversee risk management, change control, and quality assurance practices across portfolios. PMO Governance and Standards Develop, refine, and enforce project management methodologies, templates, and best practices. Ensure all projects follow standardized processes, documentation, and quality controls. Support compliance with organizational policies, audit requirements, and strategic directives. Portfolio Management Oversee intake, prioritization, and selection of projects aligned with enterprise strategy. Evaluate project proposals for feasibility, risk, and resource impact. Monitor the overall health of the project portfolio and elevate risks as needed. Project Oversight and Delivery Assurance Provide oversight to project managers to ensure on-time, within-budget, and quality delivery. Review project schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables at key milestones. Lead project health assessments, audits, and post-implementation reviews. Resource and Capacity Management Coordinate resource planning across multiple project teams. Identify skills gaps and recommend training or staffing changes. Ensure optimal deployment of PMs, business analysts, and other delivery resources. Stakeholder Communication and Reporting Prepare executive-level dashboards, status reports, and performance metrics. Facilitate communication between PMO, leadership, vendors, and business units. Support executive decision‑making with clear analysis and recommendations. Leadership and Team Development Mentor and coach project managers and PMO staff. Lead training initiatives on project management tools and methodologies. Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the PMO. Tools, Technology, and Process Improvement Manage PMO systems (such as PPM tools, dashboards, and reporting systems). Evaluate and implement tools to improve project visibility and governance. Drive process optimization and operational excellence initiatives.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Requires a Bachelor's degree in Technology Project Management, Management and Information Systems (MIS), Computer Science or a closely related field. PMI PMP certification strongly preferred. May require extensive knowledge on specific technologies or business functions.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

At least ten (10) years of technology experience demonstrating formal IT project management competencies, including three (3) years managing a technology team. Strong understanding of the department’s core business functions and business strategy.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

None

PREFERENCES

Experience 10–15+ years of progressive experience in project and program management. 5–7 years of experience in a senior leadership or PMO leadership role. Proven success managing enterprise-wide portfolios and complex, cross-functional initiatives. Experience building, maturing, or transforming PMOs (strategic, operational, or governance). Significant experience collaborating with executive leadership, boards, or C‑suite stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to manage multimillion‑dollar budgets and complex resource environments. Leadership & Soft Skills Strong strategic thinker with the ability to align portfolio execution to organizational objectives. Exceptional leadership, coaching, and team-building capabilities. Superior communication, negotiation, and executive influence skills. Advanced analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. Proven ability to lead cultural change and promote project management maturity. Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills. Education & Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field. Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, M.S. in Project Management or related discipline) strongly preferred. Professional certifications strongly preferred: PMP, PgMP, PMI-SP, PRINCE2 Practitioner PfMP or PMI-PgM considered an advantage Technical Expertise Demonstrated technical competence across all aspects of IT project management, including delivery of mission-critical programs. Ability to align portfolio planning with organizational and departmental objectives; skilled in prioritizing based on business need. Oversight of PMO systems, tools, and data, ensuring quality, accuracy, and integrity of PMO outputs. Skilled in KPI monitoring and performance analytics; provides guidance on technical and analytical matters. Deep expertise in project, program, and portfolio management methodologies (PMI, Agile, Hybrid, PRINCE2). Proficient in PMO platforms and tools (MS Project, Jira, Asana, Clarity PPM, Primavera, ServiceNow, Smartsheets, etc.). Strong financial acumen: planning, budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and benefits realization. Ability to interpret complex data and produce executive-level dashboards and reporting. Customer Service Ensures PMO delivers projects within approved scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations. Maintains transparency and effective communication of project status across all stakeholders. Ensures adequate portfolio resourcing to fulfill PMO objectives and departmental mission.

GENERAL INFORMATION

SELECTION / SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED

Department may administer skills assessment test

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION

NO If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.

SALARY INFORMATION

Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate’s qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.

PAY GRADE : 34

EOE Equal Opportunity Employer The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy. #J-18808-Ljbffr Houston Area Urban League