Director, Project Management (Fort Collins)

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Recruitment notice: Platte River Power Authority does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies or fee-based placement services. No agency emails, calls, or solicitations to staff are accepted without a valid agreement. Any unsolicited resume submitted to staff will be considered property of Platte River Power Authority and with no obligation to pay any referral fees.

Job Summary

Responsible for leading the enterprise-wide project management function, overseeing the planning, execution, and delivery of strategic, operational, capital, and technology initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), the Director manages a team of project managers, business analysts, and testing professionals to ensure consistent application of project management standards, methodologies, and governance practices across the organization. This role partners closely with senior leadership to align project execution with organizational goals, drive operational efficiency, and enhance project outcomes. The Director also facilitates continuous process improvement, fosters vendor partnerships, and administers PMO tools to support organizational priorities.

This position closes on October 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM MT.

Work environment and schedule

This position works a typical workweek schedule (Monday through Thursday or Monday through Friday) in a general office environment and may be eligible for hybrid workdays. The successful candidate should reside within a commutable distance of Fort Collins. Performing this work requires occasional physical effort to lift and carry light objects and is primarily sedentary; minimal walking or standing is required on an as-needed basis.

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Lead the Project Office to support consistent and effective management of enterprise-wide projects, including strategic, operational, capital, and technology initiatives.
• Establish, administer, and evolve project management methodologies, standards, tools, and best practices to ensure high-quality project delivery across the organization.
• Administer key PMO tools critical to project execution, including RAID log management, portfolio dashboards, and reporting systems.
• Oversee the enterprise project portfolio, influencing executive prioritization and ensuring alignment with organizational goals, resource optimization, and on-time/on-budget delivery.
• Collaborate with executive and operational leadership to define project objectives, scope, deliverables, timelines, and success criteria, ensuring stakeholder engagement throughout project lifecycles.
• Champion expectation management with executive leadership and stakeholders through proactive communication, structured reporting, and a commitment to the principle of 'no surprises.'
• Provide regular executive-level reporting on status, risks, issues, and corrective actions to ensure transparency and accountability.
• Direct, mentor, and support project managers, business analysts, test managers, and other staff, fostering high performance and professional development.
• Maintain strong risk and change management practices across all projects to proactively manage challenges, mitigate issues, and support successful outcomes.
• Ensure projects are executed in compliance with internal policies, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead organizational continuous process improvement, including business process re-engineering, project intake, project governance, and portfolio optimization.
• Ensure rigorous testing and quality assurance practices across all projects, managing the testing team and ensuring testing deliverables regardless of methodology (agile, waterfall, or hybrid).
• Oversee administrative and financial support functions related to technology purchasing, contract compliance, and vendor management in alignment with Technology Division operations.
• Build and sustain strategic vendor partnerships to foster innovation, collaborative problem-solving, and alignment of vendor roadmaps with organizational needs.
• Collaborate with Technology Division leadership to ensure administrative processes align with project and operational needs.

Other functions

• Represent the Project Office in cross-functional committees, task forces, or working groups as assigned.
• Assist in the development of annual operating and capital budgets for project management activities and monitor expenditures to ensure compliance with budgetary guidelines.
• Support organizational strategic planning processes by providing input on project prioritization, resource planning, and execution strategies.
• Lead or contribute to special projects or organizational initiatives outside the normal scope of responsibility as assigned by the CTO.
• Maintain knowledge of emerging project management practices, tools, and technologies to continuously enhance the effectiveness of the Project Office.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Extensive knowledge of project management principles, methodologies (such as PMI PMBOK, SAFe, or Agile), tools, and best practices across a portfolio of diverse projects.
• Strong understanding of project portfolio management, resource planning, risk management, change management, and performance measurement practices.
• Knowledge of budgeting and fiscal management principles as they relate to project execution and reporting.
• Familiarity with procurement processes, contract administration, and vendor management within a technology or operational environment.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and manage a team of project managers, business analysts, and administrative staff to achieve organizational goals.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with executives, senior leadership, stakeholders, and project teams.
• Skill in preparing and delivering executive-level reporting on project performance, including cost, schedule, scope, and risk indicators.
• Ability to develop and implement project management governance structures and continuously improve project management practices.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, think strategically, and solve complex problems in a dynamic environment.
• Proficiency in the use of project management and Agile planning tools and platforms (e.g., Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Azure DevOps, or equivalent).

Qualifications

Required education and licenses

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, project management, engineering, information technology, or a related field required.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) required, or able to obtain within one-year in the role.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Required work experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in project management, program management, or portfolio management, including experience leading enterprise-wide initiatives.
• At least five (5) years of direct supervisory experience managing project managers, business analysts, or related professionals.
• Demonstrated success in leading complex, cross-functional projects across technology, and/or capital domains.

Preferred education, licenses and work experience

• Master’s degree in a related discipline preferred.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive enterprise alignment on project priorities and resource allocation.
• Experience establishing or maturing a project management office (PMO) or similar function is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with technology governance frameworks, enterprise risk management practices, or organizational change management.
• Experience with project portfolio management tools (e.g., Planview, Microsoft Project Online, Smartsheet, or equivalent).
• Professional certifications in Agile or Scrum (e.g., CSM, CSP, PSM, PMI-ACP, etc.) are desired.
• Professional certifications beyond PMP (e.g., PgMP, PfMP, or Prosci) that support project governance, program oversight, or organizational change are desired.

Pay

This position is an exempt role; salaries are paid bi-weekly and are annualized below for reference. Factors that may be used to determine actual salary include specific skills, years of experience, education, and certifications.

• Hiring range: $229,130 to $280,762
• Full range: $229,130 to $332,286

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Project Management, General Business, and Management

Industries: Utilities, Electric Power Generation, and Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution

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