Director, IT Portfolio & Project Management

Clayton State University; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition assistance program

13 paid holidays

Job summary

Augusta University seeks a Director of IT Portfolio and Project Management to align IT initiatives with academic and administrative priorities. You will lead governance, standardize delivery, and drive portfolio optimization across multiple campuses.

You’ll advise executives on investment decisions, risk management, and resource allocation while fostering collaboration and innovation in project delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an accredited field with 10+ years of performance improvement and program/project management experience.
• PMP or Prosci certification required.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain standardized IT project management processes and frameworks (PMO, Agile, Waterfall, hybrid).
• Lead full project lifecycle from initiation to closure, ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery and quality standards.
• Coordinate portfolio reviews, resource allocation, risks, and benefits to maximize ROI.

Skills

Project management

Lean / Six Sigma

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree (CS/IS/Business/PM/Healthcare/Engineering)

Tools

MS Project

Project Server

Jira

Smartsheet

Job description

Augusta University is Georgia's innovation center for education and health care, training the next generation of innovators, leaders, and healthcare providers in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state. More than 12,000 students choose Augusta for educational opportunities at the center of Georgia's cybersecurity hub and experiential learning that blends arts and application, humanities, and the health sciences. Augusta is home to Georgia's only public academic health center, where groundbreaking research is creating a healthier, more prosperous Georgia, and world-class clinicians are bringing the medicine of tomorrow to patient care today. Our mission and values https://www.augusta.edu/about/mission.php make Augusta University an institution like no other.

Augusta University's distinct characteristics in education and research include real-world experiences and community engagement, as well as a culture of building community, corporate and government partnerships that address health, security, economic and societal concerns locally and across the state.

The Division of Information Technology's mission at Augusta University is to anticipate and respond effectively to a changing world with agile, innovative, robust and secure services that educate and inspire students, empower clinicians, educators, researchers and administrators, advance learning, discovery and care.

Job Summary

The Director of IT Portfolio and Project Management serves as a strategic leader within the university’s Information Technology division, overseeing the planning, execution, and governance of IT projects and portfolios. This role is pivotal in aligning technology initiatives with the university’s mission, academic priorities, and administrative needs, ensuring that IT investments deliver measurable value and drive institutional excellence. The Director will establish best practices, foster collaboration, and champion innovation in project delivery and portfolio optimization.

Strategic Leadership:

Develop and implement the university's IT portfolio management strategy in alignment with institutional goals and objectives.

Lead the prioritization, selection, and oversight of IT projects, ensuring alignment with academic, research, and administrative priorities.

Advise senior leadership on IT investment decisions, risk management, and resource allocation.

Responsibilities

The duties include, but are not limited to:

PROJECT GOVERNANCE AND DELIVERY:
Establish and maintain standardized processes, methodologies, and frameworks for IT project
management (e.g., PMO, Agile, Waterfall, hybrid approaches):

• Direct the full life cycle of IT projects, from initiation and planning through execution, monitoring, and closure.
• Ensure that all projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to defined quality standards.
• Monitor project performance, track KPIs, and report progress, issues, and outcomes to
  stakeholders.

PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION:
Manage the university’s IT project portfolio, balancing resources, budgets, and timelines to
maximize impact and ROI:

• Conduct regular portfolio reviews and ensure accurate documentation of project statuses, risks, and benefits.
• Proactively identify opportunities for process improvement, cost savings, and increased project
  success rates.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT:
Collaborate with academic departments, administrative offices, research centers, and external partners to understand technology requirements and priorities:

• Facilitate effective communication between project teams, sponsors, and university leadership.
• Conduct stakeholder analysis, manage expectations, and address concerns throughout the project lifecycle.

TEAM DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of project managers, business analysts, and support staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
• Support professional development through training, coaching, and performance evaluation.

REPORTING AND ANALYTICS:

• Generate reports and analyses to inform decision-making at all levels of the university.
• Present clear, actionable insights on project and portfolio performance.
• Leverage data to drive continuous improvement and support institutional strategy.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE:
Establish risk assessment protocols and mitigation strategies for IT projects.

• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, legal requirements, and industry regulations (including
  data privacy, accessibility, and security).
• Anticipate potential challenges and proactively develop solutions

BUDGETING AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:

• Develop and manage budgets for the IT project portfolio and project management office.
• Prepare funding requests, business cases, and financial forecasts as needed.

CHANGE MANAGEMENT:

• Lead change management initiatives to ensure successful implementation and adoption of
  technology solutions.
• Create communication plans, training materials, and support resources for stakeholders impacted
  by change.
• Monitor and measure change effectiveness, adapting approaches as necessary.

OTHER: Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Project Management, HealthCare, Engineering, or other relevant field from an accredited college or university with a minimum of ten years of performance improvement including program/project management experience managing large complex project experience coaching, teaching, and/or applying Lean performance improvement in transactional environments and five years of experience leading people (direct and indirect leadership roles); demonstrated people development results. PMP Certification or Prosci Certification required.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Educational Qualifications
Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Project Management, Business Administration, Computer Science, Lean Six Sigma or Health Care Administration preferred

Master's degree from an accredited college or university preferred; ITIL certification.

Other Preferred Experience

Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and/or Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) highly desirable

Experience in establishing and enforcing effective PMO strategies, methodologies and process

Working knowledge of the Cerner framework and business utilization highly desirable

Exposure to business theory, business processes, management, budgeting, accounting and contracting
Proven ability to plan, organize, and deliver projects in accordance with agreed schedules and budgets

Ability to judiciously set and manage priorities

Demonstrated ability to apply technology solutions to business problems

Superior ability to articulate ideas to both technical and non-technical audiences

Demonstrated success managing a range of complex medium to large projects

Ability to manage relationships with a range of stakeholders including executive sponsors, department leadership, and business/system analysts

Proven background in educating enterprise-wide staff members about the value of a PMO

Strong project management, process, technical and financial management knowledge

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

KNOWLEDGE
Exemplary verbal/written communication, interpersonal, and motivational skills
Superior analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities and keen attention detail
Minimum five or more years of performance improvement including program/project management experience, managing large complex projects or five years' experience coaching, teaching, and/or applying Lean performance improvement in transactional environments
Knowledge and utilization of systems thinking methodologies, business and management principles involved in strategic planning, budgets, financial metrics, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, and coordination and timing of people and resources In-depth knowledge and understanding of project, program and portfolio management; applicable laws and regulations relating to health information technology issues
Experience working with productivity and methodology tools such as MS Project Professional & Project Server; scope control procedures and change-in-scope management; planning, budgeting and reporting large scale projects or in-depth experience with other project management disciplines such as Lean, scrum, agile, or applying Constraints management
Experience leading people (direct and indirect leadership roles); demonstrated people development results

SKILLS
Skilled in analytics, problem-solving, and project portfolio management.

Proficient in digitaltools (eg., ServiceNow, MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet), with knowledge of IT trends and best practices in higher education.

Brings emotional intelligence, resilience, discretion, and an innovative mindset to dynamic environments.

ABILITIES
Ability to maintain confidentiality

Visionary leadership, adaptability, and strategic thinking able to inspire, guide change, and align initiatives with business goals.
Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and strong collaboration across teams. Communicates complex ideas clearly; influences stakeholders and negotiates effectively.

Shift/Salary/Benefits

Shift: Days/M-F (Work outside of normal business hours may be required)

Pay Band: 17

Salary: Minimum $109,500/annually

Salary to be commensurate with the qualifications of the selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum midpoint) of the position.

Recruitment Period: 9/11/2026 - Until Filled

Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees.

Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays.

Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University.

If applicable for the specific position based on the duties: the candidate will also need to have a credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage.

Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive an Augusta University vehicle.

For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.

Augusta University is a tobacco-free environment, and the use of any tobacco products on any part of the campus, both inside and outside, is strictly prohibited.

Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.