Senior Project Manager - Planning Director State

State of Minnesota; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Minnesota, Department of Human Services, seeks an experienced Senior Project Manager in Saint Paul to lead large, complex initiatives across DHS and partner agencies. You will apply Lean, Six Sigma and CI methods to drive performance, coach teams, and align outcomes with agency priorities.

Responsibilities include planning in Smartsheet, managing cross-functional work, and delivering measurable results through strong governance, communication, and knowledge transfer.

Qualifications

• Three (3) years of experience with project management, continuous improvement projects and complex business processes.
• Experience applying project management theory and best practices on large projects, including planning, assigning tasks, tracking, and reporting progress.
• Formal training or certification in project management tools or methodologies, including using Gantt charts and project plans.
• Experience conducting data planning, collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Evaluating and improving business processes and procedures.
• Leading cross-functional projects and change initiatives.
• Training or coaching others on Project Management tools and methodologies.
• Effective communication of timelines, expectations, progress, and results.
• Ability to hold difficult conversations and facilitate consensus.
• Applying Lean, Six Sigma or CI principles to improvement efforts.
• Using CI tools and templates for diverse needs.

Responsibilities

• Using Project Management and CI methodologies to plan and manage large, complex projects across the agency.
• Lead cross-DHS collaboration for design, development and implementation of complex processes and performance plans.
• Provide PM consultation and support cross-agency efforts to standardize best practices.
• Lead planning for Smartsheet and PM Community of Practice and enterprise Smartsheet license management.
• Provide leadership and strategic planning for knowledge transfer services and performance measurement at DHS.

Skills

Project management

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional leadership

Data analysis

Communication

Lean Six Sigma

Smartsheet

MS Project

SharePoint

Tools

Smartsheet

SharePoint

MS Project

Job description

Working Title: Senior Project Manager

Job Class: Planning Director State

Agency: Human Services Dept

• Job ID : 97071
• Location : St. Paul
• Telework Eligible : Yes
• Full/Part Time : Full-Time
• Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
• Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
• Date Posted : 09/16/2026
• Closing Date : 10/06/2026
• Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Human Services Dept / MAPE DHS Central Office
• Division/Unit : DHS-Central Office / MS PPIS Team
• Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift, 8:00am - 4:30pm
• Days of Work : Monday - Friday
• Travel Required : No
• Salary Range: $37.91 - $56.39 / hourly; $79,156 - $117,742 / annually
• Classified Status : Classified
• Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
• FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative
• Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes

The Department of Human Services is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DHS does not participate in E-Verify.

The work you'll do is more than just a job.

At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well‑being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.

This position is eligible for telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) for applicants who reside in Minnesota or in a bordering state, with supervisory approval and satisfactory performance. If you live in a state bordering Minnesota, you must live within 50 miles or less from the primary work location to be eligible for telework.

As a Senior Project Manager, the incumbent will support the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) efforts in project and program implementation. This position provides implementation services for complex programs and projects involving multiple DHS administrations, other state agencies, and sensitive and challenging problems.

This position leads the most complex project management implementation activities, leads the most sensitive and challenging projects and provides coaching and mentorship to other members of the team. The position will be responsive to division and senior leadership requests and help build staff capacity enterprise-wide, ultimately helping to institutionalize a culture of Continuous Improvement (CI), Project Management (PM) and performance measurement in the department.

Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:

• Using Project Management and Continuous Improvement methodologies, provide project and/or program/portfolio planning and management on large, complex projects across the agency to develop strong, sustainable programs, processes, and policies.
• Leading business area leadership and staff across DHS in the design, development and implementation of complex business processes, performance and communication planning, implementation planning, data system development and implementation.
• Provide project management consultation and work on cross-agency efforts to promote and standardize project management best practices.
• Lead planning for the Smartsheet and Project Management Community of Practice and serve on the planning team for enterprise Smartsheet license management.
• Provide leadership expertise and strategic planning for knowledge transfer services and performance measurement at DHS.

Minimum Qualifications

To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.

Three (3) years of experience with project management, continuous improvement projects and complex business processes.

Experience must also demonstrate:

• The successful application of project management theory and best practices on large and complex projects; including planning, assigning tasks, tracking and reporting progress, and measuring project success.
• Managing projects with strategic value to an organization, including working directly with leadership to align project outcomes with business needs.
• Formal training or certification in project management tools or methodologies, including using project management tools (e.g. Gantt charts, communication plans, task tracking and project plans, etc.).
• Experience conducting data planning, collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Evaluating, designing, and improving business processes and procedures.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects, process improvement or operational change initiatives.
• Experience training and/or coaching Project Management tools and methodologies.
• Effective communication of timelines, expectations, progress, and results.
• Ability to hold difficult conversations and facilitate consensus.
• The application of Lean, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies and principles to improvement efforts within an organization.
• Utilization of a variety of CI tools and approaches, including customizing tools and templates to support unique business needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in Continuous Improvement methodologies such as LEAN, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Expertise with DMAIC/ DMADV or similar methodology to include defining a problem, analyzing data to understand the problem, identifying solutions and process improvements to solve the problem.
• Successful leadership of multiple process improvement projects.
• Facilitation of continuous improvement events, such as Kaizen, solution design sessions, and process mapping.
• Experience with knowledge management tools, systems, and processes.
• Experience creating, modifying, and presenting training to groups of varying size.
• Certification in change management or experience with the practical application of change management practices.
• Experience with SharePoint including creating sites, setting permissions, and creating document libraries.
• Experience with Smartsheet, including sheets, reports and dashboards.
• Strong experience in data analysis, interpretation, and synthesis to present accurate and useful information.
• Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.

Additional Requirements

REFERENCE/BACKGROUND CHECKS – DHS will conduct reference checks to verify job-related credentials and a criminal background check prior to appointment.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email [e-mail] . Please indicate what assistance is needed.