Working Title: Senior Project Manager
Job Class: Planning Director State
Agency: Human Services Dept
Job ID : 97071
Location : St. Paul
Telework Eligible : Yes
Full/Part Time : Full-Time
Regular/Temporary : Unlimited
Who May Apply : Open to all qualified job seekers
Date Posted : 09/16/2026
Closing Date : 10/06/2026
Hiring Agency/Seniority Unit : Human Services Dept / MAPE DHS Central Office
Division/Unit : DHS-Central Office / MS PPIS Team
Work Shift/Work Hours : Day Shift, 8:00am - 4:30pm
Days of Work : Monday - Friday
Travel Required : No
Salary Range: $37.91 - $56.39 / hourly; $79,156 - $117,742 / annually
Classified Status : Classified
Bargaining Unit/Union : 214 - MN Assoc of Professional Empl/MAPE
FLSA Status : Exempt - Administrative
Designated in Connect 700 Program for Applicants with Disabilities (https://mn.gov/mmb/careers/diverse-workforce/people-with-disabilities/connect700/) : Yes
The Department of Human Services is unable to provide sponsorship for work visas. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States at the start of employment. DHS does not participate in E-Verify.
The work you'll do is more than just a job.
At the State of Minnesota, employees play a critical role in developing policies, providing essential services, and working to improve the well-being and quality of life for all Minnesotans. The State of Minnesota is committed to equity and inclusion, and invests in employees by providing benefits, support resources, and training and development opportunities.
This position is eligible for telework (https://mn.gov/mmb-stat/policies/1422-telework.pdf) for applicants who reside in Minnesota or in a bordering state, with supervisory approval and satisfactory performance. If you live in a state bordering Minnesota, you must live within 50 miles or less from the primary work location to be eligible for telework.
As a Senior Project Manager, the incumbent will support the Department of Human Services' (DHS) efforts in project and program implementation. This position provides implementation services for complex programs and projects involving multiple DHS administrations, other state agencies, and sensitive and challenging problems.
This position leads the most complex project management implementation activities, leads the most sensitive and challenging projects and provides coaching and mentorship to other members of the team. The position will be responsive to division and senior leadership requests and help build staff capacity enterprise-wide, ultimately helping to institutionalize a culture of Continuous Improvement (CI), Project Management (PM) and performance measurement in the department.
Responsibilities include but may not be limited to:
Using Project Management and Continuous Improvement methodologies, provide project and/or program/portfolio planning and management on large, complex projects across the agency to develop strong, sustainable programs, processes, and policies.
Leading business area leadership and staff across DHS in the design, development and implementation of complex business processes, performance and communication planning, implementation planning, data system development and implementation.
Provide project management consultation and work on cross-agency efforts to promote and standardize project management best practices.
Lead planning for the Smartsheet and Project Management Community of Practice and serve on the planning team for enterprise Smartsheet license management.
Provide leadership expertise and strategic planning for knowledge transfer services and performance measurement at DHS.
Minimum Qualifications
To facilitate proper crediting, please ensure that your resume clearly describes your experience in the areas listed and indicates the beginning and ending month, day and year for each job held.
Three (3) years of experience with project management, continuous improvement projects and complex business processes.
Experience must also demonstrate:
The successful application of project management theory and best practices on large and complex projects; including planning, assigning tasks, tracking and reporting progress, and measuring project success.
Managing projects with strategic value to an organization, including working directly with leadership to align project outcomes with business needs.
Formal training or certification in project management tools or methodologies, including using project management tools (e.g. Gantt charts, communication plans, task tracking and project plans, etc.).
Experience conducting data planning, collection, analysis, and reporting.
Evaluating, designing, and improving business processes and procedures.
Experience leading cross-functional projects, process improvement or operational change initiatives.
Experience training and/or coaching Project Management tools and methodologies.
Effective communication of timelines, expectations, progress, and results.
Ability to hold difficult conversations and facilitate consensus.
The application of Lean, Six Sigma or other continuous improvement methodologies and principles to improvement efforts within an organization.
Utilization of a variety of CI tools and approaches, including customizing tools and templates to support unique business needs.
Preferred Qualifications
Certification in Continuous Improvement methodologies such as LEAN, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Expertise with DMAIC/ DMADV or similar methodology to include defining a problem, analyzing data to understand the problem, identifying solutions and process improvements to solve the problem.
Successful leadership of multiple process improvement projects.
Facilitation of continuous improvement events, such as Kaizen, solution design sessions, and process mapping.
Experience with knowledge management tools, systems, and processes.
Experience creating, modifying, and presenting training to groups of varying size.
Certification in change management or experience with the practical application of change management practices.
Experience with SharePoint including creating sites, setting permissions, and creating document libraries.
Experience with Smartsheet, including sheets, reports and dashboards.
Strong experience in data analysis, interpretation, and synthesis to present accurate and useful information.
Variety of experiences working effectively with others from different backgrounds and cultures.
Additional Requirements
REFERENCE/BACKGROUND CHECKS - DHS will conduct reference checks to verify job-related credentials and a criminal background check prior to appointment.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to all qualified applicants with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability who needs assistance or cannot access the online job application system, please contact the job information line at 651-259-3637 or email careers@state.mn.us . Please indicate what assistance is needed.
