Director, Project Management Office

Easterseals Southern California; Lancaster (CA); On-site; USD 98,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Easterseals Southern California seeks a senior leader to develop and oversee the Project Management Office, guiding program managers, solution consultants, and test analysts. You will standardize project execution, manage budgets, and align initiatives with ESSC's strategic goals while facilitating governance and cross-functional collaboration.

Ideal candidates bring 10–15 years of PMO leadership, strong budgeting and stakeholder skills, and PMP/PGMP/PfMP/CSM certification.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required.
• Master's Degree in a related field preferred.
• Project Management Certification (PMP, PGMP, PfMP, CSM) is required.
• Lean Six Sigma certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee multiple program managers, project managers, coordinators, solution consultants and SMEs to ensure projects are managed from initiation to execution.
• Collaborate with governance committees on feasibility, standards, and resource availability.
• Support business case development for viable project requests.
• Develop and manage project schedules and resource planning.
• Manage large program budgets and ensure expenditures align with approved budgets.
• Represent the PMO to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure business analysts and solution consultants drive requirements and design in partnership with IT.
• Support testing to deliver high-quality projects with minimal postproduction issues.
• Provide training on PMO frameworks and standardize tools and practices.

Skills

Portfolio/Program management

Leadership/people management

Communication

Budgeting/financial oversight

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PM Certification (PMP, PGMP, PfMP, CSM)

Lean Six Sigma (preferred)

Tools

Smartsheet

JIRA

MS Office

Job description

Easterseals Southern California transforms lives every day. For over a century, Easterseals has championed inclusion and independence—delivering essential services like early childhood programs, autism services, employment and independent living support to more than 29,000 people each year. Through advocacy and education, we break barriers and create opportunities for the one-in-four Americans with disabilities.

Starting salary: $116,000k+/yr

Overview Of Position

Provides development, leadership, and oversight for project managers, solution consultants and test analysts within ESSC's Project Management Office. Manages a diverse portfolio of projects across ESSC, and day-to-day operational aspects of the PM office, ESSC Finance, and staff. Has responsibility for standardizing execution of projects, providing guidance on practice and application of project management, solution consulting, testing and ensuring successful execution of projects and programs through effective facilitation, tracking, and reporting consistent with project objectives and ESSC's strategic plan.

Essential Functions

• Directly and indirectly oversees multiple program managers, project managers, project coordinators, solution consultants, test analysts and subject matter experts (SMEs) responsible for ensuring projects are managed from initiation through flawless execution according to established PMO project management methodology and aligning to organizational goals and strategic objectives.
• Works with ESSC project governance committees to evaluate new requests as relates to technical feasibility, alignment with organizational architectural and technical standards, technical work efforts, and availability of resources.
• Supports business case development to validate viable project requests.
• Produces resourced projects schedule gathering input from leaders on project schedule. Identify potential and actual resource and/or system conflicts. Work with project managers, project team resources, IT, and business leads on resolution.
• Manages project budgets for large programs. Ensure project managers are tracking expenditures and expenses in line with approved budgets.
• Management of PMO portfolio, including representing the PMO to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensures solution consultants and business analysts are driving business analysis, supporting project initiation, business case documentation and requirements definition and support system design in partnership with business SMEs and IT.
• Ensures test analysts support testing solutions to deliver projects with high quality and minimal issues postproduction.
• Develops and provides training on project management office frameworks and best practices; creates and standardizes tools; and aligns practices with industry standards and evidence-based practices.
• Maintains and publishes project dashboard for all projects every month.
• Assists PMO or department leadership to develop and manage the projects budget. Support annual budgeting and planning process for projects enabling the organization's annual strategic goals and objectives, in conjunction with the ESSC Leadership team.
• Enables KPI/ROI tracking for projects post implementation.
• Fosters positive relationships with all stakeholders and ensures appropriate resource allocation across ESSC and the business line projects. Conducts regular review meetings to track and assess project portfolios with leadership, senior management, project sponsors, and other stakeholders.
• Ensures all projects across ESSC portfolios are delivered on time, within budget, and to an agreed quality level.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required.
• Master's Degree in a related field Preferred.
• Project Management Certification (PMP, PGMP, PfMP, CSM) is required.
• Process improvement experience and certification like LEAN Six Sigma, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt is preferred.

Experience

• 10-15 years of portfolio, program, and project management and solution consulting experience is required.
• Minimum of 7 years of supervisory experience is required.
• Experience in Demand Management and Strategic Planning in a formal and/or centralized PMO environment with a working knowledge of Project Management principles.

EXEPECTED NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS

4-8

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Strong administrative, leadership, and team management skills; able to develop highly successful teams, foster teamwork, effective monitoring, motivating, training, and mentoring of staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, take initiative, prioritize; excellent time management, creative thinking, decision-making, analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to understand and document business requirements/concepts and facilitate discussions in project context.
• Ability to motivate others outside of direct authority to ensure project milestones and deliverables are met.
• Ability to identify and seek needed information/research skills.
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.
• Ability to effectively manage and lead multiple fast-paced technical and non-technical projects of medium to large size, and medium to high complexity, and provide high-quality results.
• Experience developing and delivering technical and non-technical presentations for team, corporate, and service line leadership. Ability to communicate technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Thorough knowledge of local, state, federal, and applicable regulations regarding the management of clinical information and HIPAA or the ability to acquire this knowledge.
• Ability to acquire an understanding of organization and department policies, procedures, and practices.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic environment and learn department-specific technology and computer systems.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio, Outlook), Smartsheet, JIRA, other project management tools and familiarity with clinical systems.
• Proficiency with MS Office applications (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio, Outlook), and familiar systems for requirements documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively, through oral and written skills, with all levels of staff and the general public; and maintain customer service orientation and professionalism in all interactions.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain a high level of confidentiality with sensitive and confidential situations and documentation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a criminal record/fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation, per Easterseals Southern California and/or program requirements.
• Ability to travel locally; maintain driving record in compliance with Transportation Safety Standards; maintain auto insurance and vehicle registration.
• Ability to work after hours and weekends as needed.
• Must pass all drug testing required by ESSC and a post-offer physical evaluation.

Physical Requirements In Accordance With Ada

Carrying/Lifting: Occasional / 0-10 lbs.

Standing: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.

Sitting: Constant / Up to 8 hours per day.

Walking: Occasional / Up to 3 hours per day.

Travel: N/A.

Repetitive Motion/Activity: Keyboard activity, telephone use, writing.

Visual Acuity: Ability to view computer monitor and read newsprint.

Environmental Exposure: None.