Senior Project Manager - Information Technology

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY _Your Partner For A Stronger Arizona.

DES works with families, community organizations, advocates and state and federal partners to realize our collective vision: A thriving Arizona.

DES serves more than 3 million Arizonans. Our Mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life._

### **Senior Project Manager - Information Technology**

Job Location: Division of Technology Services (DTS)

1400 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Posting Details: Salary: $77,957.56 - $102,500.00

Grade: 28

Closing Date: 10/30/2025 Job Summary:

Would you like to be part of an amazing team that helps Arizonans thrive? At the Department of Economic Security (DES) we strengthen individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. DES is looking for individuals who are committed to service, community, and teamwork. To learn more about DES please visit des.az.gov; or click on the link here to view ‘Our DES' video. Come Join the DES Team!

DES and the Division of Technology Services are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as the Senior IT Project Manager. This person is responsible for cultivating and sustaining relationships to support and consult DTS business partners. Must be an independent thinker with a sense of balance between project manager and technical advisor. Proactively identify risks and issues on projects while being able to devise an effective resolution. Coordinates with and manages third-party vendors that engage in contracted work with DES/DTS. Coach and mentor lower-level project managers in resolving escalated issues, managing complex client concerns, and engaging in analytical assessment services to help drive decision-making. Analyze data, informing and influencing stakeholders while driving outcomes on behalf of the leadership team. Manage complex and highly visible projects simultaneously in a team-based and fast-paced environment, while ensuring compliance with all procedures and standards.

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State's Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Job Duties

**Essential Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:**

• Monitor and control the quality of Vendor Project Manager (PM) deliverables and Vendor project management to ensure quality, continuity, and sustainability, including IV&V vendors.
• Conveys specific, observable, and/or measurable expectations for each assignment.
• Verifies understanding and agreement on deliverables and time frames.
• Lead business technical teams and Project Managers, both internal and external, with diverse skill sets and backgrounds focusing on the goals of the project.
• Facilitate teams to address all aspects of change management and sustainability related to modernization.
• Define team structure, roles and responsibilities, budget to facilitate delivery of project(s).
• Manage all aspects of testing (e.g. technical, functional, non-functional) to measure quality, customer satisfaction and facilitate sign-off.
• Manage large-scale data migrations, risks and mitigation plans based on predefined triggers with appropriate risk owners.
• Provide timely status updates to all stakeholders and make effective presentations to senior management including addressing state and federal statutory and fiscal requirements.
• Act as a trusted advisor with businesses, internal teams, supplier partners, end-users, and solution providers.
• Ensure the governance, processes, tools and metrics are in place and/or are followed to support the environment and meet business needs.
• Follows defined and agreed upon Product Management and Agile Methodologies.
  
  

Knowledge Of

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):

• Working knowledge of both theoretical and practical aspects of project management.
• Interrelationships among various internal & external organizational functions.
• Establishing Interdisciplinary collaboration forums to deliver on complex project tasks.
• Federal requirements and/or interaction with the Federal government for federally funded projects.
• Statutory regulations, industry standards, best practices for effective planning, budgeting, communications, risk management, vendor management and project execution.
• Vendor management and selection process, deep knowledge of converting contract terms to measurable metrics to reflect vendor performance and project health during the execution phase.
• Application modernization including IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and migrating from legacy mainframe environments.
  
  

Skills In

• Develop and write technical documentation, leading teams, interpersonal, written and oral communication.
• Manage and execute projects over $10 million. Participating in multi-state consortia to determine vendor partner opportunities and leverage economies of scale.
• Defining vendor deliverables and metrics for performance management, collaborating with external organizations to leverage experience for the delivery of products.
• Research and analytics to assist with the preparation of RFP for vendors to respond to PM as a Service.
• Define team structure, roles and responsibilities to facilitate delivery of project(s).
• Plan and communicate efficiently and effectively to any rapidly changing scenarios.
  
  

Ability To

• Build strong relationships inside and outside the organization. Manage conflicting needs and priorities.
• Guide and contribute to the Project Management Office's Body of Knowledge as part of the organization's continuous improvement philosophy and commitment.
• Develop organization-wide communication plans. Navigate complex statutory and process requirements to deliver sustainable products.
• Manage budget, along with cost, invoice, and payment tracking and reporting.
• Manage and develop strategies to facilitate quick adoption of new technologies and processes.
  
  

Selective Preference(s)

• 10 years' experience as a certified Project/Program management practitioner in Waterfall, Agile, and hybrid methodologies.
• 10 years of technical IT background in Software Development and SDLC.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) preferred.
  
  

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Bachelor's degree plus 5 or more years of experience in project coordination and management (or equivalent experience).
• Employees shall obtain and maintain a valid Level One fingerprint clearance card that meets DES requirements for a Level One card pursuant to Arizona Revised Statute 41-1969.
• Successfully pass background and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency's ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
• If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver's License Requirements.
  
  

Benefits

**The Arizona Department of Economic Security offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:**

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Participation in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and long-term disability plans
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Stipend Opportunities
• Infant at Work Program
• Rideshare and Public Transit Subsidy
• Career Advancement & Employee Development Opportunities
• Flexible schedules to create a work/life balance
  
  

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Retirement

State employees are required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), the State sponsored retirement contribution plan and the Long-Term Disability (LTD) program after a 27-week waiting period. The ASRS defined benefit plan provides for life-long income upon retirement. You will also have the option to participate in a voluntary deferred compensation program to take advantage of tax-deferred retirement investments.

On, or shortly after, your first day of work you will be provided with additional information about the available insurance plans, enrollment instructions, submission deadlines and effective dates.

Contact Us

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact us at Shannon Anguiano (480) 876 – 0851 (call or text) or email at [email protected].

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting Shannon Anguiano (480) 876 – 0851 (call or text) or email at [email protected]. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.