IT Project & Portfolio Section Chief

Missouri Department of Conservation; Jefferson City (MO); On-site; USD 93,000 - 119,000; Full time

Job summary

Missouri Department of Conservation in Jefferson City seeks an experienced IT leader to oversee the analysis, planning, coordination, and design of all IT projects and the annual IT budget process.

The role requires strategic governance, portfolio management, and collaboration with IT managers to ensure projects are delivered on time and under budget. A Bachelor's degree and PMP/Agile certification are required, with 5+ years in progressively responsible roles.

Qualifications

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Responsibilities

• Participate in governance processes as a member of the IT senior management team.
• Lead IT strategic and operational planning to achieve business goals.
• Identify opportunities for cost‑effective IT investments including staffing and sourcing.
• Develop system requirements for new technology implementations and business justifications.
• Lead project portfolio prioritization and control for major information systems.
• Guide the IT Project Office to ensure requirements are elicited and projects are delivered on time and on budget.

Skills

IT governance

Budget planning

Project management

Strategic planning

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Business, Math, Engineering, or Natural Resources

PMP or Agile certification

Tools

PM Certification

Job description

Requisition Id:4767

Salary: $93,180.00 - $118,692.00

Salary Grade: S13

Job Location: Commission Headquarters (JEFFE1)

Closing Date: September 18, 2026

Our Culture: The Missouri Department of Conservation supports a culture of trusted professionals that is dedicated to our mission, responsible stewards, and believe in One MDC.

To learn more about the job, feel free to contact the hiring supervisor,Richard R Jenkinsat [e-mail] or at 573-522-4115 ext 3895, during regular business hours. We would love to hear from you!

Summary/Objective

Oversee the analysis, planning, coordination, and design of all project activities of the IT department, and the annual IT budget process, to ensure that the projects come in on-time and under-budget.

Essential Job Duties

• Participate in strategic and operational governance processes of the business organization as a member of the senior IT management team. Help establish a business plan for major projects within IT.
• Lead IT strategic and operational planning to achieve business goals by fostering innovation, prioritizing IT initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future IT systems across the organization. Help establish IT departmental goals, objectives, metrics and operating procedures.
• Identify opportunities for the appropriate and cost-effective investment of financial resources in IT systems and resources, including staffing, sourcing, purchasing, and in-house development.
• Develop and communicate system requirement for new technology implementations of business case justifications, cost/benefit analyses and risk assessments for IT spending and initiatives.
• Lead the approval, prioritization, and controlling of projects and the project portfolio as they relate to the selection, acquisition, development, and installation of major information systems.
• Guide the IT Project Office Supervisor to ensure business analysis is performed and documented in a consistent manner that elicits the needed requirements for complex systems and infrastructure development. Ensure project management is performed and documented in a consistent manner that delivers projects on time, on budget, and with the desired functionality.

Ancillary Job Duties

• Guide ongoing monitoring of IT metrics.
• Chair the IT Steering Committee, providing key leadership and communication by which department needs are prioritized and matched against IT resources.
• Work with other IT Managers and Supervisors to obtain resource and portfolio information required to communicate current state of IT resources.
• Serve as coordinator for resource allocation and management across IT to ensure resource availability and adequate planning is occurring.
• Lead Development of annual IT project budget development process, and tracking throughout the fiscal year.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Business, Math, Engineering, or Natural Resources or closely related field.
• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience.
• Must maintain a valid, current driver’s license.
• PMP or Agile certification required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge in the design and implementation of software or hardware solutions, systems, or products.
• Ability to create workflow document based on the interviews with the customer and any requirements elicited from previous documentation.
• Knowledge of project management principles.
• Ability to develop new insights into situations and apply innovative solutions that make improvements.
• Ability to keep focused on understanding, anticipating and responding to the needs of customers.
• Ability to administer financial resources in a manner which instills public trust and accomplishes the Department’s mission.
• Ability to accept change and new information and cope with job pressure and stress.Ability to make independent decisions and act quickly and decisively on the determined course of action.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of all types of groups, Department staff and the general public.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member and assist in resolving conflicts.
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with Department personnel and the general public.

Work Environment

• Regularly work in a standard office environment.

Physical Abilities

• Remain stationary up to 70% of the time.
• Regularly communicate and exchange accurate information.
• Constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
• Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Three-dimensional vision- ability to judge distance and space relationships. Precise hand-eye coordination. Ability to identify and distinguish colors.
• Regularly lift up to 5 pounds.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.

Disclaimer

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other reasonably related job responsibilities as assigned by immediate supervisor and other management as required. The Missouri Department of Conservation reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Management reserves the right to change job descriptions, job duties, functions, and requirements.

Exemption Status/Special Notes

This position has been determined to be Exempt according to the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employees must agree to accept compensatory time in lieu of cash payments in accordance with the Department's Compensatory Time Off and Overtime Policy.

Salaried and hourly employees are expected to use a mobile device-cellular phone for Department business, as needed.

MDC promotes a Tobacco-Free (smoke and smokeless) working environment.

The Department of Conservation will only hire United States citizens and aliens authorized to work in the United States. All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification" (Form I-9) and produce requested documentation after employment.

Candidates seeking initial employment or re-employment must submit to a drug screen following offer of employment.

All persons employed with the state of Missouri shall file all state income tax forms and pay all state income taxes owed.