Salary: $102,788.00 - $156,167.00 Annually
Location : Dauphin County, PA
Job Type: Civil Service Permanent Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Public School Employees' Retirement System
Division: Strtgc Pj Mgmt Off
Opening Date: 09/15/2026
Closing Date: 9/28/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Job Code: 01973
Position Number: 00026238
Union: Non Union
Bargaining Unit: A3
Pay Group: ST11
Bureau / Division Code: 00721132
Bureau / Division: Strategic Project Management Office
Worksite Address: 5 N. 5th Street
City: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Zip Code: 17101
Contact Name: Veronica Witmer
Contact Phone: 717.720.4785
Contact Email: [email protected]

THE POSITION

Do you have experience planning and executing complex information technology projects? Can you utilize and analyze data to make strategic recommendations? Can you collaborate with leadership to not only prioritize and coordinate projects but also ensure organizational alignment? The Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) is searching to fill a Project Manager 3 position that will serve as the Director of Strategic Project Management. If you want to drive innovation through project management and contribute to the adaptation and continuous improvement of information technology projects - Apply today.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK
This position oversees strategic, agency-wide projects and supports leadership in delivering major initiatives. It also ensures consistent project management practices across the organization. As a Director of Strategic Project Management, you will perform the following duties:

• Project Leadership: Guide large and complex strategic projects for the agency
• Portfolio Oversight: Monitor the agency project portfolio and identify potential issues
• Methodology Development: Establish consistent project management practices for all initiatives
• Cross-Agency Coordination: Collaborate with IT and security offices to ensure thoughtful change management
• Governance Communication: Serve as liaison to senior leaders on matters related to agency initiatives

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description
Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 60-minute lunch.
  • Hours may be flexible, to be discussed during interview process.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time. This position will be required to report to the office 1 day a week, and any additional days depending on operational needs. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY
QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Six years of experience in leading IT projects and a bachelor's degree; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes six years of experience in leading IT projects.

Other Requirements:

• This particular position also requires six or more years of full-time professional experience in a senior leadership role (reporting directly to the CIO, Deputy Secretary, Agency Head, other C-Suite executive or equivalent) responsible for leading high-impact, cross-functional strategic initiatives or enterprise-wide projects from concept through execution and demonstrating measurable outcomes in cost savings, performance improvements, or stakeholder alignment
• This particular position also requires completion of at least one (1) complex (multi-agency or cross functional team and involving both internal and external stakeholders) organizational change initiatives, such as digital transformation, operational restructuring, or policy implementation. (This includes successful management planning, adoption strategies, communication, as measured by improvements in efficiency, culture, or service delivery.)
• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency.
• You must be able to perform Essential Functions as presented in the linked Position Description.

Legal Requirement:

• You must pass a background investigation.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.

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Health & Wellness

We offer multiple health plans so our employees can choose what works best for themselves and their families. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health coverage, vision, dental, and wellness programs.*

Compensation & Financial Planning
We invest in our employees by providing competitive wages and encouraging financial wellness by offering multiple ways to save money and ensure peace of mind including multiple retirement and investment plan options.

Work/Life Balance
We know there's more to life than just work! Our generous paid leave benefits include paid vacation, paid sick leave, eight weeks of paid parental leave, military leave, and paid time off for most major U.S. holidays, as well as flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities.*

Values and Culture
We believe in the work we do and provide continual opportunities for our employees to grow and contribute to the greater good. As one of the largest employers in the state, we provide opportunities for internal mobility, professional development, and the opportunity to give back by participating in workplace charitable giving.

Employee Perks
Sometimes, it is the little "extras" that make a big difference. Our employees receive special employee-only discounts and rates on a variety of services and memberships.

For more information on all of these Total Rewards benefits, please visit and click on the benefits box.

*Eligibility rules apply.
01

Additional Requirement - Do you possess six or more years of full-time professional experience in a senior leadership role (reporting directly to the CIO, Deputy Secretary, Agency Head, other C-Suite executive or equivalent) responsible for leading high-impact, cross-functional strategic initiatives or enterprise-wide projects from concept through execution and demonstrating measurable outcomes in cost savings, performance improvements, or stakeholder alignment?

• Yes
• No

02

If you indicated YES to the question above, please describe the details of the experience you possess. Please be sure to address the items listed below in your response. The claimed experience must also be provided within the experience section of your application. If you indicated NO to the question above, type N/A in the box below.

1. The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
2. The specific duties you performed related to your experience in a senior leadership role
3. Your level of responsibility

03

Additional Requirement - Have you completed at least one (1) complex (multi-agency or cross functional team and involving both internal and external stakeholders) organizational change initiatives, such as digital transformation, operational restructuring, or policy implementation? (This includes successful management planning, adoption strategies, communication, as measured by improvements in efficiency, culture, or service delivery.)

• Yes
• No

04

If you indicated YES to the question above, please describe the details of the experience you possess. Please be sure to address the items listed below in your response. The claimed experience must also be provided within the experience section of your application. If you indicated NO to the question above, type N/A in the box below.

1. The name(s) of the employer(s) where you gained this experience
2. The specific duties you performed related to completing at least one(1) complex organizational change initiative?
3. Your level of responsibility

05

Do you possess six or more years of full-time experience in leading IT projects?

• Yes
• No

06

If you are claiming experience in the above question, please list the employer(s) where you gained this experience in the text box below. The employer(s) and a description of the experience must also be included in the appropriate sections of your application if you would like the experience to be considered in the eligibility decision. If you claimed you do not have experience, type N/A in the text box below.
07

You must complete the supplemental questions below. These supplemental questions are the exam and will be scored. They are designed to give you the opportunity to relate your experience and training background to the major activities (Work Behaviors) performed in this position. Failure to provide complete and accurate information may delay the processing of your application or result in a lower-than-deserved score or disqualification. You must complete the application and answer the supplemental questions. Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position or to determine your sc