Project Manager

The State of Iowa is seeking a Project Manager responsible for overseeing the establishment, improvement, monitoring, and training on the data governance initiative for the Iowa Department of Education. The Data Governance Coordinator will work with stakeholders across the Department to ensure data is collected, stored, shared and reported in a manner consistent with the needs of the organization. The candidate will lead the establishment and implementation of a Department-wide data governance program, including policies and processes covering data access and use, data security, metadata management, privacy, and more. The Coordinator will also seek out program, process, and technological improvements that will (1) foster improved data quality and appropriate use of data; (2) eliminate redundancies; and (3) reduce the data reporting burden through the use of better data collection and data use processes, supports and tools. The position requires strong communication, facilitation and project management skills; experience with data use and policies within an education and/or government agency; as well as an understanding of IT concepts and systems.

Key Responsibilities

1. ·Chair and lead the work of the Department’s Data Governance Committee.
2. ·Facilitate meetings and working groups with technical and non-technical stakeholders to identify data challenges, consult with experts, and determine appropriate solutions.
3. ·Oversee the creation, implementation, and enforcement of agency-wide data governance policies and processes, including: defining and implementing changes to the agency's data collections, data requests, and data releases.
4. ·Plan and facilitate necessary meetings, including preparing the agenda, leading discussions, and tracking and following up on action items.
5. ·Create and maintain a critical data issues log that identifies problems that impede data quality and use. Identify Department staff who will be accountable for resolving each issue.
6. ·Convene working groups of data stewards to address or resolve data governance needs within the Department.
7. ·Facilitate collaboration between program areas and technology regarding data quality.
8. ·Serve as a liaison between the Data Governance Committee and Department leadership, including escalating issues for resolution and submitting recommendations for approval.
9. ·Track and oversee data sharing agreements.
10. ·Serve as the primary contact for Department personnel regarding data governance, quality, and compliance issues.

Required Qualifications

·       Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, data science, research, statistics or three years experience in research/data management or related fields is required.

·       2+ years of experience working with data governance, policy development, and/or reporting with a history of some formal training (or additional years of experience)

·       Evidence of effective organizational communication, including meeting facilitation and consensus building and knowledge of the types of approaches required to do such work

·       Experience using and communicating about data to technical and non-technical audiences and navigating data quality and/or governance issues.

·       Excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills. Ability to work with cross-functional groups, coordinate work activities across all levels of staff within the agency, and build internal/external relationships.

·       Experience in change management or process development.

·       Strong facilitation skills, including familiarity with facilitation techniques, tools, and best practices.

·       Project management experience.

·       Strong organizational skills, with the demonstrated ability to do detailed and accurate work, work independently and adhere to organizational deadlines.

·       Proficient in authoring, editing and presenting high quality, well-organized technical or business documents

·       Strong interpersonal, problem solving and critical thinking skills, including the ability to mediate multiple perspectives and come to a resolution.

Desirable Qualifications

·                Certification in project management (e.g., PMP)

·                Previous experience chairing effective/functional committees.

·                Training or mentoring experience.

Keys for consideration: We encourage vendors to screen candidates who can demonstrate these specific competencies and experiences in their application materials. Candidates must be able to clearly speak to the following:

1. Experience with data, data governance, and related policies, as well as compliance and reporting, is a prerequisite for this position.
2. Candidates should possess substantial experience and training in leading projects, showcasing abilities in meeting facilitation and the adeptness to achieve consensus among team members. Prospective candidates must have solid experience in project management, with a history of successfully leading or managing diverse types of projects.
3. Applicants are expected to have demonstrated complex organizational communication skills, including the ability to build consensus, in at least two professional scenarios. Details of the stakeholder roles and positions in these situations should be highlighted.
4. The role requires experience in working with IT systems, staff, and collaborative teams, demonstrating a strong ability to operate within the technological domain.