Certified Project Manager

Job Opening title: Certified Project Manager IV/Sr.

Job Location: Madison, Wisconsin

Job Description:

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.

 Qualification Minimum

Experience

Project Management of Large Initiatives 15

Development of Project Artifacts (plan, charter, status reports, etc.) 15

Procurement Planning 10

Prepare Written Reports 12

Strong Communication Skills 12

Prepare Executive Briefings 12

MS Project or equivalent 12