Child Care Systems Modernization Strategic Consultant (PMP Certified) - $97 CTC - REMOTE (WI Resident/MUST Relocate to Wisconsin)

Job Description:

***Crop to Crop resumes are accepted

Location Requirement: Onsite, hybrid or remote: WI residency required. Must be WI resident or willing to relocate within 30 days of start date at own expense.   90-100% remote but can require staff to come onsite as necessary with sufficient notice. Onsite work is not likely, but candidate should be prepared to come onsite if required. 

POSTING IS FOR WISCONSIN BASED CANDIDATES ONLY (OR THOSE WILLING TO RELOCATE TO WISCONSIN WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE START DATE).  ALL WORK MUST BE DONE IN WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) seeks a highly experienced individual to serve as the Child Care Systems Modernization Strategic Consultant. This individual will provide strategic guidance and hands-on execution during the planning and procurement phases of a multi-year child care systems modernization initiative. The Strategic Consultant will be responsible for building the foundation of the modernization effort, including defining scope, coordinating stakeholders, developing procurement strategies, managing vendor engagements, and establishing the governance, planning, and operational structures necessary for successful implementation.
The selected contractor will operate with a high degree of independence and will leverage existing DCF subject matter experts, business leaders, and technology staff to advance the initiative.
The contractor will be expected to directly produce work products and deliverables rather than relying on dedicated project staff. Success in this role requires both strategic management and hands-on execution.
Project management certification or successful completion of a recognized project management curriculum is required

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning and Modernization Leadership
• Develop and maintain an overall modernization roadmap and implementation strategy.
• Assess current-state business processes, technology systems, organizational readiness, and modernization needs.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and critical decision points requiring executive engagement.
• Recommend phased approaches for procurement, implementation, organizational
  change management, and business transformation. Procurement and Vendor Management
• Lead development of procurement strategies and supporting documentation.
• Draft and coordinate Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and related procurement materials.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and support contract negotiations.
• Advise agency leadership on vendor selection, contracting approaches, and governance structures.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures for future vendors and implementation partners. Partner Coordination and Governance
• Coordinate activities across business, policy, finance, procurement, and technology
  teams.
• Facilitate executive decision-making and ensure alignment among partners and
  stakeholders.
• Develop governance structures, decision frameworks, reporting processes, and escalation protocols.
• Prepare executive briefings, status reports, and strategic recommendations.
  Program Development and Readiness
• Identify resource needs and recommend future staffing and contractor support models.
• Develop foundational project artifacts, including charters, workplans, risk registers, issue logs, and implementation frameworks.
• Support development of business requirements, process improvement opportunities, and future-state operating models.
• Establish structures necessary for transition from planning into implementation.
  Expected Outcomes

Within the first 12 months, the Strategic Consultant will establish the strategic, procurement, governance, and operational foundations necessary to launch the child care modernization program and transition into full implementation with selected vendors and project teams. Within the first 24 months, the first phase of implementation will be successfully delivered.

Minimal Qualifications

• Significant experience leading large-scale technology modernization or digital transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing complex technology procurements.
• Experience with vendor selection, contract negotiation, and multi-vendor environments.
• Strong knowledge of project management, organizational change management, and
  systems implementation methodologies.
• Experience facilitating executive-level decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with human services, child care, public assistance, eligibility, licensing, grants management, or other government program systems.
• Experience modernizing legacy systems.
• Familiarity with cloud-based platforms, modular procurement strategies, and agile
  delivery approaches.
• Experience establishing governance structures for large-scale modernization initiatives

Top skills:

• Development of Project Artifacts (plan, charter, status reports, etc.) (15+ years)
• Written and Verbal Communication 
• Critical Thinking 
• Procurement Planning (10+ years)
• Significant experience leading large-scale technology modernization or digital transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing complex technology procurements.
• Experience with vendor selection, contract negotiation, and multi-vendor environments.
• Experience facilitating executive-level decision-making and stakeholder engagement.