Applications Development Team

Job Description:

• Under the general direction of the Applications Development and Management (ADM) Director and Assistant Director, this position provides complex project management and leadership services for a vast scope of IT-based, cross-division and agency-wide projects. This position is also responsible for tracking budget, business analysis and engagement services in the planning, development, testing and implementation phases of agency related projects.
• Position functions include independent responsibility for developing project plans, solutions, and negotiating project charters with appropriate stakeholders, applying new technology effectively, and providing delivery of solutions for in-house developed, software as a service and commercial off-the-shelf offerings.  Additionally, the position is responsible for providing technical expertise, direction and mentoring to teams in performing those duties.
• This position assists and advises bureau management on priorities, budget issues, training, and customer service issues.  The position contributes to development and implementation of Project Management policies, procedures, standards and guidelines.  This position also provides consulting services to IT staff, leadership, and management within the agency for ongoing evaluation of the Department of Public Instructions (DPI) processes regarding project management, application development, quality assurance and business analysis to increase productivity, quality and improve customer service.

Objectives and Tasks

•  As agency subject matter expert for IT bureau, cross-division and agency-wide application development project management.
•  Coordinate, manage and lead IT projects, develop and maintain project plans and implementation schedules, identify project resources, establish proper project controls and ensure project schedules are maintained, manage overall release and individual iteration planning efforts.
• Serve as project manager and/or Scrum Master which entails facilitating project/scrum ceremonies and meetings, creating project artifacts and documentation, providing subject matter expertise when needed and performing project planning/management tasks.
•  Develop project work plans, including estimates, to support the agency’s strategic IT plans and meet strategic objectives. Negotiate estimates for costs, timelines and resources. Ensure project implementation plans include appropriate resource estimates along with estimates versus actual expenditures and target dates.
•  Leverage performance metrics to monitor the progress of assigned projects against plans.  Initiate appropriate actions to assure that project deadlines and schedules are met and that project costs are controlled, including resource leveling across multiple projects, along with other agency project managers.  Communicate status of projects to IT leadership and senior leadership. Inform product owners and management of any variance from plans.
•  Prepare formal status reports and presentations to keep agency customers and IT and senior leadership informed of project progress, milestones and issues.
• Negotiate service level agreements and report performance against defined agreements.
• Participate in the monitoring and review status of project management office capabilities, including processes, standards, policies, and resources against best practices.
• Recommend and implement continuous improvements to keep pace with evolving industry standards and methodologies pertaining to project management and other IT work units. Implement solutions and arrange for ongoing training and education of agency staff and customers on project management practices.
• Assist in defining and maintaining project management standards and methodologies for Applications Development and Management with a specific eye towards industry-defined standards.
• Plan, monitor and collaborate with Applications Development and Management Supervisors on the IT project budget and work activities on projects for the development of applications or the acquisition and installation of purchased applications.
• Establish project vision and objectives along with evaluate alternative approaches.
• Create and update project management related templates as needed.
• Troubleshoot, identify and resolve complex production and development application problems
•  Support the integration of vendor solutions into the business processes and technologies in place.
•  Performance and maintenance of project portfolio management for the agency.
•  Facilitate and coordinate the efforts toward the establishment of the project portfolio definition, its structure and processes, from demand management and strategic alignment of projects and programs to portfolio categories and criteria, through evaluation, selection and prioritization; to execution, tracking and measuring the achieved results.
• Engage with and conduct quarterly (or at other intervals as specified) reviews with senior business, IT, executives, stakeholder committees and other relevant bodies to validate and assess the project portfolio, execute change, and reprioritize to meet business needs as required.
• Ensure the oversight and coordination of dependencies across the projects and programs in the portfolio and resolve or escalate conflicts.
•  Maintain roadmap of project/initiative delivery.  Manage prioritization, resourcing and scheduling of requests working with business and IT managers.  Assist business line with IT facilitation of strategy. Drive vendor evaluation and selection for new solutions.
•  Conduct regular meetings with IT leadership to inform and alert them of any issues arising from the performance of the individual projects within the portfolio to assure the on-plan usage and consumption of resources and funding, and to highlight any variances. Support and advise IT leadership on actions required to balance the portfolio of existing assets and services.
•  Conduct regular meetings with the IT leadership to inform and alert them of any issues arising from the performance of the individual projects within the portfolio to assure the on-plan usage and consumption of resources and funding, and to highlight any variances.
•  Direct the development and maintenance of communications and reporting around the IT project portfolios, their contents and the individual performance of initiatives to stakeholders, the IT steering committee, and senior executives.
• Ensure adherence to the appropriate governance functions relating to the portfolio and in accordance with agency guidelines, policies and practices.
•  Direct the creation and maintenance of the required project portfolio documentation and artifacts.
•    Work with project teams to manage/oversee the full range of the project life cycle (initiate, planning, execute, close-out) for projects covering a portfolio of projects which focus on the business needs of a specific business line(s) or strategy.  Deliver projects according to agreed-upon timeline, budget, and scope.  Create strategies for risk mitigation and formulate complex project/program plans and schedules.
•  Identify staffing needs. As mandated and resourced by leadership, ensure and balance the availability of the required skills and competencies across project and program teams within the project portfolio.
•  Leadership, coordination, and provision of guidance to project management domain.
•   Lead, organize and coordinate Project Management work within Applications Development and Management.
•      Assist IT leadership with recruitment, orientation, and training of Project Managers, Business Analyst and Quality Assurance Staff
•     Assist with determining resources and skill needs for projects 
•      Assist IT leadership in estimating the costs of individual development and integration services related work on IT projects.
•   Organize and schedule tasks in the projects to provide optimum use of resources and effective performance.
•   Assist with the development of project management work plans to support division strategic IT plans.
•   Performance of complex business analysis, engagement, and coordination for DPI application development and management.
•  Work with customers to assess the scope and objectives, return on investment (ROI), risk, and budget for IT application efforts.
•   Assist with the definition of requirements and the preparation of bid documents for the acquisition of applications and assist with the evaluation of responses.
•  Discover, analyze, organize and document application functional and data requirements.
•   Develop and evaluate solution alternatives that solve the needs of the business area or agency.
•   Assist with training on agency applications for business area experts and program area liaisons, helping the business side understand applications and set training priorities.
•   Study the impact of proposed business changes on the business-area applications.
•   Facilitate application requirements gathering sessions.
•   Interface with managers and management teams, presenting information about new or changed applications, potential new business opportunities in technical advances, and impacts on business rules.
•  Incorporate information security policies, principles and practices in application requirements.
•   Analyze technical strengths and weaknesses of applications that are in use and those under consideration for purchase.
•   Provide technical support to the procurement of solutions purchased from outside vendors.
•   Performance of professional activities and other assignments.
•   Participate and represent the department as a member of appropriate statewide projects and work groups as assigned.
•  Research and recommend agency technical standards and directions.
•  Identify and attend professional training sessions appropriate to job responsibilities.  Review trade and vendor publications as needed to maintain expertise in available products and technologies.
•  Perform other duties as assigned