Quetica is seeking a full-time Program/Project Manager for Data Collection and Reporting to support the Minnesota Department of Education's (MDE) Ed-Fi project. Ed-Fi is a multi-year technical initiative at MDE initiated to better support schools and districts in meeting statutory data submission requirements. The MDE set upon this effort to establish a common platform for data submissions. Throughout the effort the team has identified new or emerging data collections to be implemented. Recently, MDE initiated a project audit and risk assessment, which resulted in a roadmap of work needed to successfully move forward with the effort. In reaction to the results of this assessment, MDE and MNIT leadership have chosen to elicit the assistance of an experienced program manager. The goals for the role would be to facilitate and lead the efforts necessary to build a program plan and put into place the systems and structures necessary to alleviate the challenges that are preventing the team from meeting district expectations and various program milestones. 

At a high level, the resource will provide leadership for the program/project including:

• team coordination and program facilitation
• a roadmap for setting up and implementing program level structures
• definition of key stakeholder management activities
• coordination of risk management and mitigation strategies
• documentation of program scope, schedule, and milestones
• facilitation of the team to ensure the program remains within defined boundaries

The work is expected to be done remotely.

Mode of Interview

Interviews will be conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams.

Project Schedule

• Anticipated Project Start Date: November 1, 2022
• Anticipated End Date: October 21, 2024

Minimum Qualifications

• Five (5) years’ experience Program/Project Management role
  • A Master’s degree substitutes for three years of experience, or a Bachelor’s degree substitutes for two years, or an Associate’s degree substitutes for one year
• PMP certification 
• Two (2) engagements lasting more than six (6) months in Program/Project Manager role

Desired Skills

• Team motivation toward successful outcomes
• Five (5) years’ experience with government work
• Ability to lead a large team in learning and implementing project work within a non-project environment
• Demonstrable leadership ability
• Ability to communicate program/project plans, expectations, updates, progress, issues, and successes in a timely and clear fashion, when necessary
• Ability to manage changes in program/project scope, identify potential crises or issues, and devise contingency plans, as appropriate
• Ability to direct and manage program/project development from beginning to end
• Ability to define program/project scope, goals, and deliverables in collaboration with project sponsors and stakeholders
• Ability to estimate program/project resource requirements and participants needed to achieve goals
• Ability to identify and manage program/project dependencies and critical path
• Ability to establish program/project timelines and milestones using appropriate tools and tracking such milestones and deliverables
• Experience with a technical modernization effort within the last five years
• Experience in executive level coaching and team mentoring for program level efforts

Sample Tasks

Provide leadership for the program/project:

• Create, execute, and control the Program Plan.
• Plan, execute, and control the Program Schedule.
• Create, execute, and control the Vendor Management Plan.
• Create, execute, and control the Communication Plan.
• Create, execute, and control the Resource Plan.
• Create, execute, and control the Issues and Risk Management Plan.
• Create, execute, and control the Stakeholder Management Plan.
• Facilitate the collaborative efforts to define program objectives, goals, benefits and milestones.
• Manage program/project constraints of cost, time, and scope.
• Form relationships with team members and stakeholders.
• Provide a weekly status report on project progress.
• Provide knowledge transfer to State staff as required and necessary.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Company Overview

Quetica is a specialized consulting and product development firm led by industry experts with deep expertise in engineering, information technology and big data solutions. Quetica helps state and government agencies, commercial clients and financial institutions globally to efficiently and effectively accelerate business growth, achieve sustainable cost reduction and accomplish better service levels through delivery of hands-on practical expertise and world class solutions.