IT Strategy & Project Management Office Transformation Consultant

Roles/Responsibilities:

I. Project Manager Responsibilities (20-50%)

A) Manage Assigned Project

• Lead all PMP-aligned project management processes including initiation (project readiness) detailed planning resource coordination risk management communications execution monitoring and project closing activities per SMUDs phase gates and controls.
• Develop and maintain key project artifacts required by SMUD such as Business Cases Stakeholder Lists Communication Plans Project Charters Risk Registers Project Schedules with defined milestones Benefit Realization Plans and Status Reports.
• Facilitate formal phase gate reviews and authorizations (Initiation Planning Execution Closing) ensuring all project deliverables meet SMUDs specified inputs outputs and approval requirements per each phase in the Enterprise Project Process.
• Work closely with Business Unit Planning Coordinators (BUPC) Business Planning Analysts (BPA) Project Sponsors Execution Sponsors and other key stakeholders to confirm funding resource availability and alignment with enterprise priorities.
• Monitor and control project scope schedule cost and risks initiating Change Requests as necessary in accordance with SMUD approval thresholds.
• Provide regular and ad hoc status updates using SMUDs systems of record (ServiceNow PPM SAP BPC and PowerBI dashboards) to ensure enterprise-wide visibility and facilitate governance.
• Lead project closeout activities including lessons learned documentation and benefits realization follow-up in coordination with SMUDs Closing and Benefits Realization processes.
• Ensure adherence to SMUD ethical standards delegated approval authorities and reporting requirements throughout project lifecycles.

II. PMO Consultant Responsibilities (50-80%)

A) PMO Transformation & Portfolio Governance

• Optimize the PMO operating model (scope roles RACI services catalog).
• Optimize Project Intake & Onboarding function (triage prioritization gating templates playbooks).
• Assess and optimize / transform standard delivery frameworks (predictable stage gates controls reporting cadence).
• Assess and optimize / transform portfolio prioritization & value management (OKRs business case templates benefits realization).
• Launch AI-augmented PMO workflows (status automation risk sensing resource forecasting).

B) BRM Integration

• Optimize BRM operating rhythm to front-load demand shaping with PMO.
• Co-create joint cadence (quarterly planning intake councils opportunity assessments).
• Define shared KPIs (idea-to-approval SLA demand conversion rate strategic alignment).
• Introduce playbooks for ideation discovery business case delivery transition.

C) Enterprise Architecture Office Setup

• Partner with EA Consultant to define EA mandate processes and artifacts (principles standards roadmaps).
• Integrate EA checkpoints in intake solution reviews and stage gates.
• Create architecture governance (Design Authority tech standards lifecycle).
• Map capability-based planning to portfolio prioritization and BRM engagements.

D) Data AI and Financial Controls

• Deploy PMO data model & dashboards (portfolio health delivery KPIs capacity).
• Embed a Finance & Budget Analyst role for CapEx/OpEx tracking forecast vs. actuals and benefits tracking.
• Operationalize AI tooling (Copilot for M365 Power Automate Power BI) for automated reporting risk identification and document generation.
• Value Analytics: Enable intelligent resource optimization for unbiased decision-making efficient resource allocation and financial planning that cuts waste and maximizes ROI across your project portfolio. Include variance analysis forecast models; link portfolio financials to business outcomes.

E) Change Management & Communications

• Develop and execute a change plan including leadership alignment communications and enablement.
• Deliver training curriculum for PMs BRMs and stakeholders (processes tools AI usage).

Deliverables

A) Mission

1. Transform PMO from all PMs to a scalable value-focused model that offloads repeatable and mundane tasks from PMs to shared services resources and automation within the PMO

• Project Intake Onboarding & Process Specialist
• AI & Data Specialist
• Finance & Budget Analyst

1. De-silo BRMs and tightly couple them with PMO delivery & governance.
2. Collaborate with and support Enterprise Architect Consultant in standing up an Enterprise Architecture Office (EAO) integrated with PMO and BRM - governance ready value-centric and aligned to strategy.
3. Cover projects as PM role for any over-capacity needs such as early PM departures unplanned extended absences and general resource capacity constraints.
4. Manage assigned projects as needed.

B) PMO Consulting Deliverables (note that these will be prioritized with rest of team)

Discovery & Alignment

• Current-state assessment: PMO BRM EA tooling finance.
• Stakeholder map and pain points; inventory of 20 PMs (skills workloads).
• Draft target operating model RACI and role definitions.
• Baseline KPIs: cycle time predictability NPS BRM conversion rate % strategic alignment.
• Deliverables: Discovery report transformation roadmap comms plan risk register.

Design & Foundations

• Launch project intake & onboarding pilot (process templates SLAs).
• Define stage gates governance calendar and steering charters.
• Establish joint BRM PMO cadence and shared KPIs.
• Stand up EA governance (principles standards review boards).
• Configure dashboards (Power BI) and automate status reporting (Copilot/Power Automate).
• Deliverables: Operating model v1 intake playbook governance playbook EA governance pack KPI dashboards v1.

Implementation & Scaling

• Transition to new model.
• Expand intake to all new demand; embed benefits tracking.
• Formalize capability roadmaps; integrate with portfolio prioritization.
• Run quarterly portfolio review with KPIs and benefits realization.
• Deliverables: Role transitions complete portfolio governance in BAU
• dashboards v2 training curriculum delivered.

Stabilization & Handover

• Performance optimization; refine SLAs stage gates and AI automations.
• Conduct independent governance compliance audits.
• Finalize EA Office integration with PMO/BRM.
• Handover documentation; coaching for internal leads.
• Deliverables: Playbooks v3 governance audit results sustainability plan full handover.

Project Management Deliverables

• Approved Business Cases and Project Charters per project.
• Comprehensive Project Management Plan artifacts aligned with PMP principles and SMUD requirements.
• Detailed Project Schedules with enterprise milestone templates integrated.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Plans.
• Monthly (or more frequently) Status Reports and Project Dashboards.
• Risk and Issue Logs with mitigation and escalation paths documented.
• Approved Change Requests when thresholds are met.
• Project Closeout reports including Lessons Learned and Benefits Realization documentation.

Mandatory Skills:

1. Must have experience with data interpretation visualization through tools like SQL and business objects.
2. 7 years in IT Strategy/PMO leadership with hands-on program delivery.
3. PMO re-design experience (operating model intake governance portfolio management).
4. Demonstrated success implementing AI & analytics in PMO reporting and decision support.
5. Financial governance experience (CapEx/OpEx forecasting benefits realization).
6. Track record in organizational design and role clarity (RACI job architecture).
7. Excellent stakeholder management with CIO/CTO-level visibility.
8. Minimum ten (10) years experience in IT Project Management.
9. 7 years demonstrating successful management of multiple concurrent enterprise-level projects preferably within regulated or utility environments.
10. Demonstrated ability to quickly assimilate and adapt to unfamiliar environments cultures processes and technologies.
11. 7 years with strong skills in multi-stakeholder communication schedule and cost control risk management and governance adherence.
12. 7 years proficient in project management tools such as ServiceNow JIRA Clarity and PowerBI is a plus.
13. Demonstrated success in building new teams and facilitating stakeholder engagement across levels from director contributors to executives.
14. Executive communication; storytelling with data.
15. Change management (Prosci/ADKAR).
16. Workshop facilitation; conflict resolution.
17. Pragmatic hands-on delivery while designing systems that scale

Desirable Skills:

1. PMP certification
2. Agile Product Owner certification
3. MBA with emphasis in IT and/or financial-related studies
4. Bachelors in CS/IS/Engineering/Business; MBA a plus
5. PMP PMI-ACP SAFe TOGAF BRMP ITIL COBIT Prosci (nice-to-have mix)