Project Manager

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Virginia (MN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services is seeking a Project Manager to support the transition and activation of a new Central State Hospital facility in Virginia.

This time-limited role will report to the COO and coordinate among executive leadership, construction teams, clinical and administrative staff, regulatory agencies, vendors, and stakeholders to ensure a smooth, compliant move to the new site.

Qualifications

• Project Management Experience.
• Experience working with OSHA, CMS and Joint Commission regulations.
• Progressive experience in healthcare operations, healthcare construction project management, or hospital transition planning.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating large-scale, multi-department initiatives.
• Proficiency in project management software and reporting tools.

Responsibilities

• Assist the COO in overseeing final phases of new hospital construction, activation, and occupancy planning.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, timelines, risk logs, and milestone tracking tools related to facility completion and transition.
• Coordinate cross-functional workgroups to ensure operational readiness across clinical, ancillary, administrative, and support services.
• Monitor progress against established goals and proactively identify risks, barriers, and mitigation strategies.
• Prepare executive-level status reports, dashboards, and briefings for senior leadership and governing bodies.

Skills

Project Management

OSHA

CMS Regulations

Joint Commission

Healthcare Operations

Job description

Job Details

Title: Project Manager

State Role Title: 19223

Hiring Range: $100,000 - $125,000

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Central State Hospital

Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/csh/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Large Scale Healthcare and Facility Activation; this is not a traditional project manager role.

This is a time-limited position tied to a specific project. The anticipated duration is approximately two (2) to three (3) years and is contingent upon the completion of the project associated with opening the new Central State Hospital and decommissioning the existing facility. Employment will conclude at the close of the project or when the position is no longer required. This role does not create an expectation of continued employment beyond the project period and is subject to all applicable Commonwealth of Virginia policies and state and federal employment laws.

This is a once in a career project. The Project Manager supports the Chief Operations Officer (COO) in the oversight, coordination, and execution of activities related to the completion, activation, and operational transition into a new hospital facility. This position serves as a central liaison among executive leadership, construction teams, clinical and non-clinical departments, regulatory agencies, vendors, and community stakeholders to ensure a safe, compliant, and seamless transition to the new facility with ongoing responsibility for leading activities to monitor and adjust where needed for operational success.

The project manager must possess a broad understanding of and experience with hospital construction, or comparable complex infrastructure (e.g. prisons, data centers, large public facilities), and be able to work with multidisciplinary groups to achieve the objective.

Central State Hospital (CSH) is a 277 bed Joint Commission accredited psychiatric inpatient facility located in Petersburg, Virginia. CSH has proudly been serving citizens of the Commonwealth since 1870, when we opened our doors as the first psychiatric hospital in the country dedicated to the treatment of African Americans. A new and modern CSH is currently under construction on the same property.

CSH maintains the only maximum-security treatment facility in the state (111 beds). We also have 166 beds available for individuals in the community who need inpatient care, as well as individuals in the criminal justice system. We believe that treatment should be holistic and focused on the person’s individual needs, recognizing that recovery is not linear or the same for every person. Treatment modalities may include medication, evidence-based group and individual therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, vocational training, preparation for court, and treatment for substance use.

Responsibilities

• Assist the COO in overseeing final phases of new hospital construction, activation, and occupancy planning.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive project plans, timelines, risk logs, and milestone tracking tools related to facility completion and transition.
• Coordinate cross-functional workgroups to ensure operational readiness across clinical, ancillary, administrative, and support services.
• Monitor progress against established goals and proactively identify risks, barriers, and mitigation strategies.
• Prepare executive-level status reports, dashboards, and briefings for senior leadership and governing bodies.

Operational Readiness & Transition Planning

• Oversee transition planning activities with Transition Management Contractor, including move sequencing, department relocation schedules, and go-live coordination.
• Ensure operational workflows are integrated into facility design and final build-out.
• Collaborate with design and architect teams and builder to ensure procurement of facility requested equipment, installation, testing, and validation prior to occupancy.
• Support development and execution of activation plans, including staff training and orientation to new space and workflow redesign.
• Facilitate tabletop exercises, simulations, and move-day readiness drills.

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

• Collaborate with facility leadership to ensure facility readiness in compliance with standards from:
• The Joint Commission.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
• State and local Departments of Health and building authorities.
• Coordinate documentation and inspection readiness for licensure and accreditation surveys.
• Ensure life safety systems, emergency preparedness measures, and security infrastructure meet regulatory requirements prior to activation.

Financial & Contract Oversight

• Support the COO in monitoring project budgets related to transition and activation activities.
• Track vendor deliverables, and contractual milestones.
• Collaborate with finance and procurement teams to ensure cost control.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as a liaison between Department of General Services Project Manager (DGSPM), construction management, architects, engineers, hospital leadership, and operational departments.
• Develop structured communication plans to keep stakeholders informed of timelines, impacts, and expectations.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary meetings and maintain clear documentation of decisions and action items.

Risk Management & Quality Assurance

• Identify operational, clinical, safety, and reputational risks associated with facility transition.
• Coordinate mitigation plans to prevent service disruption.
• Ensure patient safety and continuity of care remain central throughout transition activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Project Management Experience.
• Experience working with OSHA, CMS and Joint Commission regulations.
• Progressive experience in healthcare operations, healthcare construction project management, or hospital transition planning.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating large-scale, multi-department initiatives.
• Proficiency in project management software and reporting tools.

Additional Considerations

• Organizational Project Management Preferred - PMP NOT REQUIRED
• Project Management Training

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Application Requirements

Applications and résumés for this position are accepted electronically through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Electronic Recruitment System only. Interview decisions will be based solely on the information provided in your electronic application and/or résumé. Please ensure you detail all relevant work experience clearly and specifically; we will not make assumptions about your qualifications.

Applications/résumés will begin to be reviewed within five (5) days of the posting date.

Background Investigation

All applicants are subject to an extensive background investigation and a pre-employment drug screening. This investigation may include fingerprint checks (State Police, FBI), local agency checks, Department of Social Services/Child Protective Services checks, employment verification, and verification of education relevant to the position.

Under Virginia Code

• 37.2-314 and 37.2-408.1, the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) cannot employ or utilize as volunteers, individuals convicted of specific ("barrier") crimes or those with pending "barrier" charges.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities during the application and/or interview process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require assistance or accommodation, please notify Human Resources at [phone] during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).

Equal Opportunity

The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to conducting all aspects of human resource management without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.* There shall be no retaliation against anyone making allegations of violations of this policy.

Veteran Preference

DBHDS is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer and provides hiring preference to qualified veterans and service members. We highly encourage veterans, active members of the Virginia National Guard, and U.S. Military Reserve members to apply and respond accordingly on the state application.

Benefits

DBHDS offers a comprehensive benefits package, including your choice of health plans, paid life insurance, retirement plans, 13 paid holidays, annual leave, family personal leave, sick leave, employee discount programs, and more!

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources Department

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter.

Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022 - February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.