IT PMO Director

Title: IT PMO Director

Agency: Virginia Retirement System

Location: Virginia Retirement System - James Center

FLSA: Exempt

Hiring Range: 180,000-212,000

Full Time or Part Time: Full time

Additional Detail

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) the day before the posted End Date.

Please read all information in the Important Notices section.

The Director of Technology Project Management Officer leads the Technology PMO team, providing strategic direction, governance, and oversight of the organization’s technology projects to ensure alignment with business priorities. It is accountable for delivering high-quality technology initiatives by directing a team of project managers and analysts while also serving as a hands-on leader responsible for executing complex projects. The position partners closely with technology and business leaders to manage priorities, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with architectural, security, and operational standards. Additionally, it drives continuous improvement of PMO frameworks, processes, and delivery practices to enhance efficiency and outcomes. The role serves as a trusted advisor on portfolio health, delivery capacity, and investment decisions.

The Director of Technology Project Management Officer leads the Technology PMO team, providing strategic direction, governance, and oversight of the organization’s technology projects to ensure alignment with business priorities. It is accountable for delivering high-quality technology initiatives by directing a team of project managers and analysts while also serving as a hands-on leader responsible for executing complex projects. The position partners closely with technology and business leaders to manage priorities, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with architectural, security, and operational standards. Additionally, it drives continuous improvement of PMO frameworks, processes, and delivery practices to enhance efficiency and outcomes. The role serves as a trusted advisor on portfolio health, delivery capacity, and investment decisions.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in information technology, computer science, business administration, or closely related field. Experience may substitute for education in some situations.
• Minimum of eight (8) or more years of experience managing complex technology projects and programs.
• Minimum of three (3) years of people management experience, including supervision of project managers and technology and/or business analysts.

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience leading a Technology Project Management Office (PMO). Three (3)+ years preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

(to include but not limited to)

Leadership

• Lead and manage the Technology PMO providing strategic direction, governance and oversight for the organization’s technology projects.
• Direct and develop a team of project managers and technology/business analysts to ensure consistent, high quality delivery.
• Own and continuously improve PMO frameworks, processes, tools, and templates.
• Oversee project intake, prioritization, and project management aligned with organizational strategy.
• Ensure accurate, timely reporting of project status, risks, dependencies, and financials to leadership.
• Identify and resolve delivery risks and impediments while ensuring compliance with technology and security standards.
• Partner with business and technology leaders to align execution with strategy and serve as a trusted advisor on projects’ health, capacity, and risks.

In addition to leading the PMO, this role is expected to be fully capable of executing project management along with process and analysis activities including:

Project Management

• Lead end-to-end delivery of complex technology projects with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and quality.
• Develop and manage project plans, resource allocations, budgets, and timelines to ensure successful execution.
• Collaborate with technical teams and business stakeholders to deliver solutions that meet business needs.
• Assign, coordinate, and review work of project team members to meet deadlines and quality standards.
• Manage risks, issues, and cross-team dependencies, driving timely resolution.
• Communicate project status, risks, and decisions clearly and proactively to stakeholders and leadership.
• Ensure adherence to SDLC, testing practices, and security standards while protecting system performance and availability.
• Evaluate outcomes and recommend improvements to services, delivery practices, and user satisfaction.

Process and Analysis

• Gather, evaluate, and document requirements for complex new systems or system enhancements based on business user input, technical requirements, and constraints.
• Develop innovative strategies for meeting business requirements, including leveraging the capabilities of existing technology tools or acquiring/developing new technology tools.
• Translate business needs into effective technology solutions, including “build vs. buy” recommendations.
• Apply structured analysis techniques (e.g., use cases, workflows, data models) to support solution design.
• Perform cost and value analysis, including total cost of ownership, to inform decision-making.
• Promote and enhance standardized project management and SDLC processes, including intake and governance.
• Ensure alignment with security policies, architectural standards, and best practices.
• Support production issue resolution, continuous improvement efforts, and special initiatives as needed.

Computer Skills

• Advanced proficiency with enterprise project and portfolio management (PPM) tools and project management information systems (PMIS).
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Office tools including Outlook, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint and Word for communication and reporting.
• Experience using collaboration and work management platforms to track work, dependencies and resource utilization.
• Understanding of systems development lifecycle and infrastructure technologies sufficient to lead technical discussions.
• Awareness of technology and security standards to ensure project delivery is aligned and compliant.

Other Skills and Abilities

• This position requires comprehensive experience in leadership, analysis, problem solving, administration, and proactive cost management.
• Experience with the systems development life cycle and managing large, complex technology projects is a must.
• Financial or Investment industry experienced preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent strongly preferred.

Demonstrated ability to:

• Operate with a strong leadership presence including the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Build rapport and trust quickly in order to successfully interact in a dynamic, team environment.
• Communicate effectively in both verbal and written form to stakeholders at all levels within VRS.
• Work effectively and independently in a fast paced environment where priorities can rapidly change.
• Manage competing priorities to meet goals.
• Prioritize own work activities with minimal guidance and coaching.
• Solve complex problems through discovery and analysis with minimal guidance.
• Resolve conflict and manage stakeholder expectations.
• Right-size governance and controls based on project complexity and risk
• Drive professional development and continuous improvement for self and team.
• Invest in learning new processes and technologies and sharing knowledge with others through coaching and mentoring relationships.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervise a team of approximately five (5) full time employee project managers and technology/business analysts. This role will also oversee contractor resources at times when additional PMO resource capacity is needed.
• Assign work, set priorities and resolve issues while ensuring alignment with PMO and organizational objectives.
• Ensure consistent application of PMO standards and practices across the team and organization.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings, performance evaluations and career development planning.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to strengthen project management and analysis capabilities.
• Address performance issues promptly and constructively.
• Interview, hire and onboard new PMO staff as needed.
• Foster a team environment that demonstrates accountability, transparency, collaboration and a learning mindset.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to any strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hiring Range:

180,000-212,000