Program Specialist

This posting is for the State of Hawaii, Department of Accounting and General Services, Business Transformation Office. The position is located on the Island of Oahu. Salary: Commensurate with experience and education. If you have any questions regarding this non-civil service exempt position, please contact Business Transformation Office at View email address on click.appcast.io The State Recruiting Office will refer all inquiries regarding this exempt position to the Department of Accounting and General Services, Business Transformation Office. About the Team The position is in the newly created Business Transformation Office (BTO), which guides, directs and manages business transformation initiatives that are critical to the modernization of business processes, such as the Enterprise Financial System (EFS) project that will replace the existing decade-old-mainframe financial management system, FAMIS, with an updated system to manage accounts payable, budget and finance, travel and expenses, and fixed assets. By leveraging the latest technology and best practices, the modernization of financial management capabilities will serve the departments, agencies and elected officials, by providing them with accurate financial information in a timely manner to make informed decisions for the State. About the Role The position will support the BTO initiatives and activities. The position will provide project management, organizational change management, administrative, and managerial support directly to the Business Transformation Project Director (Project Director), the Deputy Business Transformation Project Director (Deputy Project Director), and the program as a whole, spanning the course of multi-year and multi-faceted modernization projects. This position will develop and manage BTO’s knowledge base spanning the Functional Section, the Technical Section, and the Organizational Change Section, to assist in the transitional phases of the modernizations as the systems are developed, implemented, then thoughtfully transitioned to the end-user-owner. In this role, you will: Support the State’s multi-year modernization initiatives by coordinating project activities, developing plans, and helping ensure projects move forward on schedule. Develop and implement communication plans—including messaging, materials, stakeholder updates, and public-facing content—to support the Business Transformation Office’s (BTO) efforts. Maintain timely, consistent communications with internal and external partners, including BTO leadership, DAGS, the Governor’s Office, state agencies, vendors/consultants, and constituents. Draft, interpret, and maintain BTO policies, procedures, contracts, purchase orders, and budget documentation; ensure compliance with budget and procurement requirements. Manage onboarding, required trainings, and personnel-related administrative processes for BTO staff. Develop and oversee content for events, briefings, announcements, and presentations; coordinate timing with internal teams and external partners. Track, analyze, and report on program metrics, milestones, deliverables, budgets, and service levels to support leadership decision-making. Coordinate meetings, workshops, trainings, and cross-agency activities to ensure smooth execution and consistent messaging. Provide high-level support to the Project Director, Deputy Project Director, and Functional, Technical and Organizational Change Sections to help achieve program targets. You might thrive in this role if you have: Strong skills in project planning, coordination, and execution, with the ability to move complex initiatives forward and support multiple workstreams simultaneously. Excellent communication and writing abilities, including preparing correspondence, presentations, policy documents, and stakeholder communications. The ability to build effective, collaborative working relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders across state agencies and vendor teams. Strong organizational and analytical skills, including managing budgets, tracking performance metrics, reviewing policies, and ensuring accuracy in all work products. Comfort working independently, exercising sound judgment, and knowing when to elevate decisions or issues to leadership. Flexibility to adapt quickly to changing priorities, tight deadlines, and fast-paced project environments. Experience in organizational development, program improvement, modernization projects, or communications work. A commitment to maintaining professional relationships, supporting colleagues, and contributing positively to program culture and productivity. RECOMMENDED QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge: Knowledge of: Program and project planning and evaluation, and effective work organization. Skills/Abilities: Strong communication, scheduling, and coordination skills and abilities. Ability to manage complex projects from beginning to end, secure participation from a wide range of stakeholders. Adept at strategy development and execution. Ability to make decisions independently while knowing when to elevate to a higher authority for approval. Able to prioritize work and pivot nimbly to meet time-sensitive deadlines. Ability to work well with peers and build productive relationships with a variety of stakeholders to ensure that communications are fluid across groups; demonstrate good people management and project management skills: assist team through conflict resolution and manage competing priorities; attend to details and meet deadlines; juggle multiple/conflicting priorities and set priorities; respond to change and adapt to and accommodate new methods and procedures; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; manage resources efficiently and effectively; and maintain an effective work pace. Education: Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field or equivalent related experience in the field project management, communications, and/or business administration. Experience: Three (3) years of professional work experience that includes organizational development and/or management of business improvement or innovation programs. Such experience must have also demonstrated the ability to gather, evaluate and analyze facts and other pertinent information required to determine and recommend appropriate solutions; elicit information orally and in writing; and prepare clear and concise written reports and recommendations for action. Required Licenses, Certificates, etc.: Possession of a driver’s license to operate a vehicle in the State of Hawaii. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS Experience conducting program planning, development, and evaluation, communications, and experience creating content for and managing production of a variety of communication tools and vehicles such as: social media, website development and management, photo and video creation, podcasts, PowerPoint, etc. Experience in working collaboratively in a team environment on modernization projects. LEGAL AUTHORIZATION TO WORK REQUIREMENT: The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States. This position is exempt from the civil service and considered temporary in nature. Therefore, if you are appointed to the position, your employment will be considered to be "at will," which means that you may be discharged from your employment at the prerogative of your department head or designee at any time. NOTE: The State Recruiting Office will refer you to the Department of Accounting and General Services, Business Transformation Office regarding this exempt position. #J-18808-Ljbffr