Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Executive Director oversees the Enterprise Project Portfolio Management Office (EPPMO) for Oregon State University. The Executive Director is responsible for the advancement of enterprise projects across Oregon State University. The Executive Director works to bridge gaps between colleges, schools, divisions, departments, and units to build a cohesive, strategy for the portfolio, program, and project management. This position serves as a member of the Division of Finance and Administration (DFA) Senior Leadership Team to provide leadership and act as a trusted advisor for the successful management and execution of projects and programs across the university that support the university’s strategic plan, the IT Strategic Plan, the division’s strategic priorities and the DFA Framework for Success.

The Executive Director will partner and collaborate with senior leaders and executives across the organization to provide support and resources around project management. The Executive Director will maintain and establish positive and productive working relationships with individuals across the division and university and utilize these relationships to meet project deadlines and budget expectations with little or no supervision. The scope of projects typically spans across the enterprise/university to advance the university’s objectives and strategic priorities.

This position will be responsible for the leadership, oversight, management, and ongoing development of the EPPMO, which provides the frameworks, tools, processes, templates, and best practices that support the successful delivery of programs and projects for the division and university. The Executive Director will implement, lead, coordinate, and perform work that accomplishes the portfolio of projects across the university; overseeing complex programs, initiatives, and high-level projects that are large-scale, multi-year, and /or have a significant university impact. This position will lead operational excellence throughout the university through the support and promotion of continuous and innovative improvement efforts.

This position will provide leadership and operational management for the EPPMO office and its employees. The Executive Director will supervise a team of professionals who are tasked with the management and support of enterprise-wide projects. Using in-depth research capabilities,
relationships, and awareness of university strategic priorities to assess the inclusiveness of project communication plans and the impacts of projects on the OSU community, the Executive Director will support teams (internal and external to EPPMO) in driving through conflict, change fatigue and resistance to project completion. The Executive Director will provide necessary training, direction, and guidance to all members of the team to ensure there is a consistent understanding of the university’s programs and projects and how they contribute to specific goals, objectives, missions, and strategic priorities.

This position deals with matters that are highly varied, complex, and often non-recurring; they may require novel and creative approaches to resolution. New concepts, innovations, and approaches may have to be developed. Thus, the Executive Director will have considerable latitude to exercise judgment and common sense so that decisions satisfy the goals and needs of the university. The position maintains confidential, sensitive, and privileged information, and performs a wide range of duties that require tact, sensitivity, independent judgment, diplomacy, discretion, and flexibility. Decisions made by the Executive Director can have implications across the entire university operationally, financially, and strategically. Decisions will be made with the guidance of OSU Policies and Standards, and OSU's mission, vision, and strategic plan.

Position Duties:

60% – Strategic and Operational Enterprise Project Portfolio Management

• Participate with and support senior leaders in strategic planning, business planning, and development of business cases required for acceptance in the project portfolio.
• Develop and institutionalize a custom project management approach and framework including methodology, accountability/ownership, tools/templates, and metrics that build and enhance organizational core competency.
• Support colleges, schools, divisions, departments, and units in collaborating with university leadership and stakeholders to identify areas of risk tolerance, enhancing and facilitating decision-making and direction of projects and initiatives.
• Provide guidance to stakeholders on methodologies for project management and business analysis with the goal of improved performance and strategically aligned solutions.
• Provide strategic direction for multiple complex enterprise projects with high impact and scope across the university in support of OSU’s strategic plan, division strategic priorities, and the DFA Framework for Success.
• Work with senior leaders and key stakeholders to define goals and priorities for projects within governance structures for the university.
• Oversee the development of business cases, including outlining project structure, project budget, resource requirements, project approach, work plan, and anticipated return on investment.
• Develop and manage the EPPMO unit budget as well as budgets allocated for successful program and project completion.
• Lead teams to collaboratively develop innovative and effective solutions that support the goals and purpose of the program/initiative.
• Eliminate/address barriers (resource, staffing, political) impeding the successful completion of the portfolio of projects and programs for the university.
• Establish a project proposal and planning cadence in collaboration with senior leaders to streamline the proposal process including business cases, financials, and roadmaps that align with and support OSU OSU’s strategic plan, division strategic priorities, and the DFA Framework for Success.
• Manage a portfolio of programs and projects across the university. Works collaboratively with stakeholders to define, review, and scope projects across the organization.
• Oversee risk assessments to identify risks within programs and projects and facilitate mitigation strategies and recommendations.
• Identify relevant quality standards and policies for projects. Perform quality assurance for projects to ensure standards of delivery are met.

20% -Stakeholder Outreach and Engagement

• Establish consistent, regular, effective communication strategies for the EPPMO and methods to engage stakeholders including employees, managers/supervisors, department administrators, and university leaders to gather feedback, educate, and collaborate on the enterprise portfolio of projects.
• Assist the vice president for finance and administration and the division’s senior leadership team with defining the culture of DFA through communication and outreach, working across the division to break silos and create a more inclusive and united DFA organization.
• Establish and maintain cross-functional and inter-departmental relationships and partnerships to identify and reduce duplication of efforts and build trust and collaboration.
• Serve as a champion for organizational change management for the portfolio of enterprise projects across the university.
• Engage with employees involved with project management to provide guidance, and consultation and develop standards and metrics for project management.
• Work with administrative support staff to determine when university leaders’ attendance or direct communication is necessary for projects and initiatives.

20% -Supervision, oversight, and leadership

• Provide oversight and leadership of projects managed by EPPMO team members to ensure alignment with larger university initiatives and division priorities. Establish and ensure consistent project management practices and processes across the university, consistent with the OSU community and best practices.
• Liaise with university and DFA leaders to gain project support and buy-in.
• Hire, develop, and retain highly qualified, motivated, and diverse staff; assign work, set priorities, monitor work processes and procedures for consistency with university standards and policy; and establish work schedules, monitor work performed by staff, and evaluate staff performance.
• Arrange for the training of staff. Initiate personnel actions such as merit increases, promotions, transfers, or disciplinary actions related to staff.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field.
• 5 years experience in managing and leading large, complex projects or portfolios with scope and impact that crosses the full organization.
• 3 years of supervisory experience, which includes team building and leadership, conflict resolution, work assignment and management, schedule management, performance management, training, and development.
• Ability to maintain and establish positive and productive working relationships with individuals across the division and university.
• Thorough knowledge of major financial, business, and administrative process requirements in a complex organization.
• Significant experience in risk management and/or change management.
• Current PMP certification or a black belt in Lean Six Sigma.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and other common software platforms. Demonstrated project management experience, and the ability to organize complex information and logistics.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively while maintaining timelines.
• A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
• This position is designated as a critical or security-sensitive position; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a criminal history check and be determined to be position qualified as per OSU Standard 576-055-0000 et seq. Incumbents are required to self-report convictions and those in youth programs may have additional criminal history checks every 24 months.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in a relevant subject.