Project/Program Analyst

About the role

This position reports broadly and influences staff and managers to meet customer needs and Strategic Goals. The role may assist with or manage the development of the Strategic Plan, budgets, and long-term strategic initiatives, including procurement, monitoring, and improving all services across the Authority. It involves analyzing processes to identify areas of improvement and standardization.

Responsibilities

• Manages all Authority-wide or departmental procurement activities, including management of controllable assets and year-end audits.
• Develops requirements and manages procurements of consolidated services covering contract periods spanning multiple fiscal years.
• Coordinates the planning process, manages implementation, tracks budget against projections, and monitors strategic plan goals and measures.
• Evaluates customer satisfaction, cost, schedule, and delivery, and resolves account issues to build and maintain close relationships with stakeholders.
• Develops processes and maintains accountability within systems to identify, screen, prioritize, define, and manage programs and projects.
• Assures change management practices are included within program and project implementation plans.
• Maintains ongoing and effective communication with all stakeholders and interested parties.
• Develops new initiatives to support the strategic direction of the organization.
• Provides status and financial reports for ongoing programs.
• Conducts independent studies and exercises broad authority to combine procurements across cost accounting structures for cost and manpower savings.
• Prepares, administers, and develops the department’s annual budget.
• Coordinates and reviews budgets across the Authority and provides year-end projections.
• Tracks execution of actual budget spend against projections and corrects or mitigates issues with responsible managers.
• Reports discrepancies and follows up on variances to management if unable to resolve or if they have a significant impact on the Authority.
• Manages a central data repository for information related to project initiatives, contracts, vendor evaluation, procurement, and budget administration.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has significant influence in the strategic direction of the organization and directs the completion and accuracy of organizational tasks. It includes full program management responsibility for the portfolio of Authority-wide programs spanning multiple years.

Financial Responsibility

• Prepares, monitors, and tracks the budget portfolio for the department.
• Monitors and resolves contracts and procurement-related activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Five to ten years of staff experience working with senior management, directing staff activities, and preparing reports and presentations.
• Three years’ experience in acquisition/procurement and/or project or program management.
• Experience in identifying issues and recommending solutions, preparing oral and written reports of study findings and recommendations preferred.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License (Required).
• Acquisition and Project Management certifications preferred.

Knowledge

• Must have knowledge of principles of budgeting, project management, acquisition, and staffing processes.
• Good knowledge of management practices, organizational design, and methods of information collection.
• Some knowledge of statistical analysis techniques for management analysis.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to interact, convey information, and coordinate projects effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Good listening skills for conducting studies.
• Mathematical skills needed for budget preparation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as a team, interacting with senior executives and other stakeholders.
• Problem-solving and creative thinking abilities.
• Attention to detail and accuracy, with the ability to analyze data and use findings to make proposals.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to multi-task in an extremely fast-paced environment to meet deadlines.

Guidance Received

Guided by Department Goals and Priorities. Has broad authority to make decisions that require interpreting goals and priorities into action steps and delegating responsibility for completion. Has broad latitude in regard to methods and approaches but must obtain approval for actions that have policy, service, or cost implications.

Working Conditions

• Duties are almost always carried out in an office environment.
• May occasionally travel to project locations.

Tools and Equipment Used

• Office machines including computers, scanners, copiers, and various software packages.

Advancement Opportunities

• Chief Information Officer
• Manager
• Executive Manager
• Deputy Executive Senior Manager
• Information Security Manager, Senior
• Operations and Compliance Manager
• Infrastructure Manager
• Systems & Applications Manager
• Business Operations Manager
• Purchasing/Warehouse Supervisor