Overview
Skills
Job Details
Senior Technical Strategist
Lansing MI
Seeking a seasoned professional with direct experience establishing Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services in a complex, enterprise-level environment. This role is not intended for individuals who have performed validation and verification as a secondary responsibility within project management. Instead, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated leadership in the end-to-end development of IV&V functions from initial design and implementation to operationalization and continuous improvement preferably within a large public-sector or similarly scaled organizational context.
Advances its approach to IT investment governance and oversight, strengthening IV&V capabilities is a strategic priority. This position will play a key role in shaping the structure, scalability, and integration of IV&V practices across the project portfolio. A combination of strategic vision, operational insight, and stakeholder engagement experience is essential to successfully institutionalize IV&V as a sustainable, value-driven function
Top Skills & Years of Experience:
- 5+ years of IT project management experience, preferably supporting large, complex technology initiatives.
- 5+ years providing Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) or equivalent quality assurance services.
- Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field required.
Preferred Skills:
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
- Certifications such as Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA).
Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) Analyst
Providing Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services for selected ITIF-funded projects.
Assessing project health, risk management, deliverable quality, and compliance with applicable standards.
Identifying risks and opportunities for escalation to the executive leadership.
Supporting proactive oversight and risk mitigation efforts at both the project and portfolio levels.
While the primary focus will be on ITIF-funded initiatives, the resource may also provide IV&V services to other high-visibility, politically sensitive, or complex non-ITIF projects within the portfolio as capacity and priorities dictate.
POSITION DUTIES
- Conduct IV&V activities across assigned projects, ensuring objective, independent assessment of project health, deliverables, and compliance with standards.
- Review key project documentation, including charters, project management plans, schedules, risk registers, and contracts.
- Evaluate deliverables for quality, completeness, and adherence to requirements.
- Identify risks, issues, and deficiencies early, and recommend mitigation strategies.
- Monitor project progress against scope, schedule, budget, and quality metrics.
- Develop and deliver:
- IV&V Service Plans for assigned projects.
- Monthly Project Health Assessment Reports.
- Independent Deliverable Review Assessments.
- Risk and Issue Logs with mitigation recommendations.
- Executive Briefings for Steering Committees and leadership as needed.
- Final IV&V Summary Reports at project closeout.
- Collaborate with project managers, agency stakeholders, and executive sponsors while maintaining independence of judgment.
- Ensure all reports and documentation meet quality standards and templates.
REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum 5 years of IT project management experience, preferably supporting large, complex technology initiatives.
- Minimum 5 years providing Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) or equivalent quality assurance services.
- Demonstrated experience supporting high-visibility, politically sensitive projects in a public sector or highly regulated environment.
- Strong understanding of project management frameworks (e.g., PMI s PMBOK), risk management practices, and quality assurance principles.
- Excellent analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to prepare professional-grade reports and executive briefings.
- Proven ability to assess project health objectively and recommend actionable solutions.
Education and Certifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field (required).
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (preferred).
- Additional certifications such as Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) are a plus.