Director of IT Project Management

We’ve learned that what is best for patients is also best for employees. Learn more about why we are one of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas®. JOB SUMMARY: The Director of IT Project Management is responsible for establishing and leading the UMC IT Project Management Office (PMO). This role provides strategic and operational leadership for the IT project management function, including oversight of the project management team, definition and enforcement of project management processes and tools, and direct management of select high-impact IT initiatives. The Director ensures that IT projects are consistently delivered on time, within scope and budget, and aligned with hospital priorities, patient safety, regulatory requirements, and clinical operations. REPORTS TO: Senior Vice President IT Operations JOB SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Establish, lead, and continuously mature the IT Project Management Office (PMO) to support strategic and operational goals. 2. Define, standardize, and maintain project management methodologies, templates, tools, and best practices across all IT initiatives. 3. Develop and maintain a centralized IT project portfolio, providing visibility into project status, risks, dependencies, and resource utilization. 4. Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting mechanisms to measure project health, delivery performance, and PMO effectiveness. 5. Provide direct leadership, coaching, and performance management for the IT project management team. 6. Ensure consistent application of project management standards across all assigned project managers. 7. Identify skill gaps, training needs, and professional development opportunities for project management staff. 8. Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the PMO. 9. Serve as project manager for selected large, complex, or high-risk IT projects. 10. Ensure projects are appropriately scoped, planned, resourced, and governed throughout the project lifecycle. 11. Proactively manage project risks, issues, and dependencies, escalating appropriately to IT and hospital leadership. 12. Ensure project outcomes prioritize patient safety, regulatory compliance, and operational continuity. 13. Act as a key liaison between IT leadership, hospital executives, clinical leadership, and operational departments. 14. Provide regular project portfolio updates to IT and executive leadership. 15. Facilitate project governance meetings, steering committees, and executive reviews. 16. Select, implement, and administer project management tools to support planning, tracking, reporting, and collaboration. 17. Define and document project intake, prioritization, and approval processes aligned with IT governance. 18. Partner with IT leaders to balance project demand with operational support needs. 19. Continuously assess and improve PMO effectiveness based on metrics and organizational maturity. 20. Performs other duties as required. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: • Bachelor’s degree required. • Preferred: Degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field. • 7–10 years of progressive IT project management experience, including enterprise-scale initiatives. • Preferred experience: Experience leading or managing a Project Management Office (PMO) and Healthcare or hospital IT experience. REQUIRED LICENSURES/CERTIFICATIONS/REGISTRATIONS: • Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent certification/degree are required. SKILLS AND ABILITIES: • Strong knowledge of project management methodologies and tools. • Broad understanding of healthcare information technology. • Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives. • Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills. INTERACTION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER RELATIONSHIPS: This role will primarily interact with UMC IT departments, but interactions with other clinical and operational departments at UMC, UMCP, and TTUHSC will be necessary based on the scope of the projects managed by the PMO team. PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES: Primarily sedentary with regular walking and standing during meetings. Occasional lifting of light equipment up to 30 pounds may be required. May require extended hours to support critical initiatives. ENVIRONMENTAL/WORKING CONDITIONS: This position is subject to inside environmental conditions. Protection from weather conditions is present, however, temperature changes inside the building may occur. DIRECT REPORTS: IT Project Managers at various levels (entry, associate, senior, etc.) UMC Health System provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. *Request for accommodations in the hire process should be directed to UMC Human Resources.​*