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The State of Iowa is seeking a Project Manager responsible for overseeing the establishment, improvement, monitoring, and training on the data governance initiative for the Iowa Department of Education. The Data Governance Coordinator will work with stakeholders across the Department to ensure data is collected, stored, shared and reported in a manner consistent with the needs of the organization. The candidate will lead the establishment and implementation of a Department-wide data governance program, including policies and processes covering data access and use, data security, metadata management, privacy, and more. The Coordinator will also seek out program, process, and technological improvements that will (1) foster improved data quality and appropriate use of data; (2) eliminate redundancies; and (3) reduce the data reporting burden through the use of better data collection and data use processes, supports and tools. The position requires strong communication, facilitation and project management skills; experience with data use and policies within an education and/or government agency; as well as an understanding of IT concepts and systems.

Key Responsibilities

1. ·Chair and lead the work of the Department’s Data Governance Committee.
2. ·Facilitate meetings and working groups with technical and non-technical stakeholders to identify data challenges, consult with experts, and determine appropriate solutions.
3. ·Oversee the creation, implementation, and enforcement of agency-wide data governance policies and processes, including: defining and implementing changes to the agency’s data collections, data requests, and data releases.
4. ·Plan and facilitate necessary meetings, including preparing the agenda, leading discussions, and tracking and following up on action items.
5. ·Create and maintain a critical data issues log that identifies problems that impede data quality and use. Identify Department staff who will be accountable for resolving each issue.
6. ·Convene working groups of data stewards to address or resolve data governance needs within the Department.
7. ·Facilitate collaboration between program areas and technology regarding data quality.
8. ·Serve as a liaison between the Data Governance Committee and Department leadership, including escalating issues for resolution and submitting recommendations for approval.
9. ·Track and oversee data sharing agreements.
10. ·Serve as the primary contact for Department personnel regarding data governance, quality, and compliance issues.

RequiredQualifications

·       Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college oruniversity in education, data science, research, statistics or three yearsexperience in research/data management or related fields is required.

·       2+ years of experience working with data governance,policy development, and/or reporting with a history of some formal training (oradditional years of experience)

·       Evidence of effective organizational communication,including meeting facilitation and consensus building and knowledge of thetypes of approaches required to do such work

·      Experienceusing and communicating about data to technical and non-technical audiences andnavigating data quality and/or governance issues.

·      Excellentcommunication, interpersonal and negotiation skills. Ability to work withcross-functional groups, coordinate work activities across all levels of staffwithin the agency, and build internal/external relationships.

·      Experiencein change management or process development.

·      Strong facilitation skills, including familiarity with facilitationtechniques, tools, and best practices.

·      Projectmanagement experience.

·      Strongorganizational skills, with the demonstrated ability to do detailed andaccurate work, work independently and adhere to organizational deadlines.

·      Proficientin authoring, editing and presenting high quality, well-organized technical or business documents

·      Stronginterpersonal, problem solving and critical thinking skills, including theability to mediate multiple perspectives and come to a resolution.

DesirableQualifications

·               Certificationin project management (e.g., PMP)

·               Previousexperience chairing effective/functional committees.

·               Trainingor mentoring experience.

Keys for consideration: We encourage vendors to screen candidates who can demonstrate these specific competencies and experiences in their application materials. Candidates must be able to clearly speak to the following:

1. Experience with data, data governance, and related policies, as well as compliance and reporting, is a prerequisite for this position.
2. Candidates should possess substantial experience and training in leading projects, showcasing abilities in meeting facilitation and the adeptness to achieve consensus among team members. Prospective candidates must have solid experience in project management, with a history of successfully leading or managing diverse types of projects.
3. Applicants are expected to have demonstrated complex organizational communication skills, including the ability to build consensus, in at least two professional scenarios. Details of the stakeholder roles and positions in these situations should be highlighted.
4. The role requires experience in working with IT systems, staff, and collaborative teams, demonstrating a strong ability to operate within the technological domain.

Required/Desired Skills

The Project Manager will report to the ES Project Office Manager and work within this PMO, but will be directly supporting the Project’s Sponsor, Program manager and Project teams.

Project Management responsibilities include:

• Managing all aspects of complex, large-scale, high priority projects throughout the project lifecycle, to ensure it is completed on time, within scope, and within budget

• Define, document and manage project scope, schedule and budget

• Develop, maintain, and distribute standard project management artifacts (i.e. WBS, risk assessments, project charter, RACIs, communication plan, schedule, status reports, etc.)

• Develop and maintain a detailed project schedule throughout the project lifecycle

• Align project deliverables and milestones with projects strategy and objectives

• Manage project within the VITA PMO framework, process, and structure

• Manage state level project’s within the larger VITA procurement and project management governance processes as directed by PMD & ITIM

• Keep leadership and the PMO informed of key issues that may impact project completion, budget or results

• Facilitate project conference calls, status meetings, planning sessions, and provide for meeting notes

• Be a consultant to customers and communicate project status throughout the project lifecycle

• Proactively identify and mitigate project risks and issues

• Manage project resources, overseeing day-to-day task execution

• Utilizing system-based project management applications; CTP, Planview

• 5 plus years of direct hands-on technical Project Management experience, preferable having managed Virginia state level technology projects

• Experience developing and documenting both technical and business requirements

• Project Management leadership experience of cross functional matrixed teams

• 3rd party vendor management experience

• Procurement experience preferably associated with a Virginia state technology project

• Knowledge of Quality Assurance (e.g. Test Plans, Test Scripts) and best practices

• Knowledge of varied technologies: COTS solutions, Security best practices, Cloud-Computing and Data Management

• Strong business technical and analytical skills

• Attention to detail and logical thinking

• Ability to facilitate technical project meetings and translate outcome into project schedules

• Ability to oversee and track progress, translating outcomes into management briefings and weekly status reports

• Clear, concise and diplomatic written/verbal communication skills across all levels

• Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills

• Excellent communication (verbal and written), presentation and customer service skills

• Self-motivated team player, able to work cooperatively in a team environment

• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and meet deadlines when required

• Effectively manage and solve complex business and technical problems

• Aptitude for learning new technologies, applications and business processes

• College degree or military experience, Masters degree preferred

• Experience using system-based project management applications; Commonwealth Technology Portfolio (CTP), Planview

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is required