Assistant Director, IT Project Management Office (PMO) (Executive Level)

About the Department

Applications accepted from:  ALL PERSONS INTERESTED

Division: PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE

Reporting Location: 611 WALKER

Workdays & Hours: MONDAY – FRIDAY, Office Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Position Overview:
 The Assistant Director of the IT Project Management Office provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the enterprise PMO. This role is responsible for establishing governance frameworks, managing the full project and program portfolio, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, and driving PMO maturity across the department. The position serves as a senior advisor to executive leadership and plays a critical role in resource planning, performance measurement, and delivery excellence.

Key Responsibilities:
 • Lead the development and execution of PMO strategy, governance structures, and organizational policies.
 • Oversee the enterprise project portfolio to ensure alignment with strategic goals and departmental priorities.
 • Establish and maintain KPIs, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms for all projects and programs.
 • Ensure consistent adoption of project management methodologies, standards, and best practices.
 • Direct budgeting, resource allocation, and project prioritization processes.
 • Provide executive-level updates, recommendations, and strategic guidance to senior leadership.
 • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase PMO maturity, efficiency, and effectiveness.
 • Mentor, supervise, and develop PMO staff, including project managers and program managers.
 • Oversee risk management, change control, and quality assurance practices across portfolios.

PMO Governance and Standards

• Develop, refine, and enforce project management methodologies, templates, and best practices.
• Ensure all projects follow standardized processes, documentation, and quality controls.
• Support compliance with organizational policies, audit requirements, and strategic directives.

Portfolio Management

• Oversee intake, prioritization, and selection of projects aligned with enterprise strategy.
• Evaluate project proposals for feasibility, risk, and resource impact.
• Monitor the overall health of the project portfolio and escalate risks as needed.

 Project Oversight and Delivery Assurance

• Provide oversight to project managers to ensure on-time, within-budget, and quality delivery.
• Review project schedules, budgets, risks, and deliverables at key milestones.
• Lead project health assessments, audits, and post-implementation reviews.

Resource and Capacity Management

• Coordinate resource planning across multiple project teams.
• Identify skills gaps and recommend training or staffing changes.
• Ensure optimal deployment of PMs, business analysts, and other delivery resources.

 Stakeholder Communication and Reporting

• Prepare executive-level dashboards, status reports, and performance metrics.
• Facilitate communication between PMO, leadership, vendors, and business units.
• Support executive decision-making with clear analysis and recommendations.

Leadership and Team Development

• Mentor and coach project managers and PMO staff.
• Lead training initiatives on project management tools and methodologies.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the PMO.

Tools, Technology, and Process Improvement

• Manage PMO systems (such as PPM tools, dashboards, and reporting systems).
• Evaluate and implement tools to improve project visibility and governance.
• Drive process optimization and operational excellence initiatives.

Position Duties

KNOWLEDGE 
Requires a Bachelor's degree in Technology Project Management, Management and Information Systems (MIS), Computer Science or a closely related field.  PMI PMP certification strongly preferred.  May require extensive knowledge on specific technologies or business functions. 

EXPERIENCE
At least ten (10) years of technology experience demonstrating formal IT project management competencies, including three (3) years managing a technology team.  Strong understanding of the department’s core business functions and business strategy. 

COMPLEXITY
Work is substantially complex and varied, and requires interpretation of technical and detailed guidelines, policies and procedures in combination. Advanced analytic ability is needed to gather and interpret data where answers can be found only after detailed analysis of many facts.   

IMPACT OF ACTIONS 
 Errors in work lead to significant expense and inconvenience and may have minor impact on the performance of the department. The incumbent receives general direction, working from broad goals and policies only. The individual may participate heavily in setting his/her own work objectives, and acts as an advisor to senior business leaders and CIO / Deputy CIO / CTO.  Ability to pass and maintain federal security clearances may be required. 

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Direct Supervision: Involves scheduling, supervision and evaluation of work, recommends personnel actions, such as hiring, terminations, pay changes of non-supervisory personnel.   Indirect Supervision:  No indirect reports.   

CONTACTS
Internal Contacts:  Level of internal contact is primarily with Managers, Assistant Directors, Deputy Directors, and occasionally Department Directors. Interaction involves considerable explanation and persuasion leading to decision, agreement or rejection on complex issues; diplomacy is required; e.g., problem-solving discussions regarding responsibilities, finance, or workflow or to facilitate service.                   

External Contacts:  Level of external contact is primarily with prominent persons such as community leaders, business and industry leaders as well as officials of government and financial agencies, media representatives and professional contacts with affiliated organizations. Interaction involves considerable explanation and persuasion leading to decision, agreement or rejection on complex issues that requires diplomacy; e.g., important contacts involving difficult matters of agreements, negotiations and controversies. 

PHYSICAL EFFORT 
The position is physically comfortable; the individual has discretion about walking, standing, etc.  Operates a motor vehicle. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT
There are no major sources of discomfort, i.e., essentially normal office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature and air conditions. Ability to pass and maintain federal security clearances.         

PHYSICAL SKILL
Requires the ability to make coordinated gross motor movements in response to changing external stimuli within minor demanding tolerances; or the ability to make simple eye/hand movements on a patterned response space within very low tolerance demands. 

MISCELLANEOUS
Performs related work as required.



 

Minimum Qualifications

Experience
• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in project and program management.
 • 5–7 years of experience in a senior leadership or PMO leadership role.
 • Proven success managing enterprise-wide portfolios and complex, cross-functional initiatives.
 • Experience building, maturing, or transforming PMOs (strategic, operational, or governance).
 • Significant experience collaborating with executive leadership, boards, or C-suite stakeholders.
 • Demonstrated ability to manage multimillion-dollar budgets and complex resource environments.

Leadership & Soft Skills
 • Strong strategic thinker with the ability to align portfolio execution to organizational objectives.
 • Exceptional leadership, coaching, and team-building capabilities.
 • Superior communication, negotiation, and executive influence skills.
 • Advanced analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
 • Proven ability to lead cultural change and promote project management maturity.
 • Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.

Education & Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field.
  • Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, M.S. in Project Management or related discipline) strongly preferred.
  • Professional certifications strongly preferred:

• PMP, PgMP, PMI-SP, PRINCE2 Practitioner
• PfMP or PMI-PgM considered an advantage

Technical Expertise
 • Demonstrated technical competence across all aspects of IT project management, including delivery of mission-critical programs.
 • Ability to align portfolio planning with organizational and departmental objectives; skilled in prioritizing based on business need.
 • Oversight of PMO systems, tools, and data, ensuring quality, accuracy, and integrity of PMO outputs.
 • Skilled in KPI monitoring and performance analytics; provides guidance on technical and analytical matters.
 • Deep expertise in project, program, and portfolio management methodologies (PMI, Agile, Hybrid, PRINCE2).
 • Proficient in PMO platforms and tools (MS Project, Jira, Asana, Clarity PPM, Primavera, ServiceNow, Smartsheets, etc.).
 • Strong financial acumen: planning, budgeting, forecasting, risk management, and benefits realization.
• Ability to interpret complex data and produce executive-level dashboards and reporting.

Customer Service
 • Ensures PMO delivers projects within approved scope, schedule, budget, and quality expectations.
 • Maintains transparency and effective communication of project status across all stakeholders.
 • Ensures adequate portfolio resourcing to fulfill PMO objectives and departmental mission.

**Preference shall be given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, such persons are among the most qualified candidates for the position, and all other factors in accordance with Executive Order 1-6. **

Other Qualifications

SELECTION / SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED
Department may administer skills assessment test
 

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION  NO

If yes, this position is subject to random drug testing and if a promotional position, candidate must pass an assignment drug test.

SALARY INFORMATION Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate’s qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification. 

PAY GRADE: 33

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during active posting period. Applications must be submitted online at: www.houstontx.gov.

To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call (346) 887-3238.

If you need special services or accommodations, call (346) 887-3238. (7-1-1). 

If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.

Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.
 

All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information provided.

EOE Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

Benefits

The city offers a competitive benefits program, including competitively priced health coverage and a defined contribution pension plan. Benefits include:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Wellness
• Supplemental Insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability
• Retirement pension
• 457 deferred compensation plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• 10 days of vacation each year
• 13 city holidays, plus one floating holiday
• Compensable Sick Leave
• Personal Leave
• Flexible schedules
• Hybrid-Telework for eligible positions
• Professional development opportunities
• Transportation/parking plan
• Section 125 pretax deductions
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
• Paid Prenatal, Parental and Infant Wellness Leaves
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

For plan details, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/hr/benefits.html
 

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerCity of HoustonAddress 901 Bagby St

Houston, Texas, 77002 Website https://www.houstontx.gov/