Senior Technical Strategist

Project Scope:

The State of Michigan's SUITE Investment Management Team is 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.

As the SUITE team 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 within the State's project delivery ecosystem

As part of this structure, the Investment Management program within the SUITE team is specifically responsible for administering the ITIF portfolio, overseeing investment governance processes, portfolio-level reporting, and project performance monitoring.

This staff augmentation resource will be embedded within the SUITE Investment Management team and will play a critical role in:

• 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 EPMO and DTMB 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 DTMB portfolio as capacity and priorities dictate.

The role is designed to strengthen DTMB's ability to deliver transformational projects successfully while maintaining public trust, fiscal responsibility, and operational excellence.

Roles/Responsibilities:

• Conduct IV&V activities across assigned DTMB projects, ensuring objective, independent assessment of project health, deliverables, and compliance with DTMB 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 DTMB's quality standards and templates.

Mandatory Skills:

1. Minimum 5 years of IT project management experience, preferably supporting large, complex technology initiatives.
2. Minimum 5 years providing Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) or equivalent quality assurance services.
3. Demonstrated experience supporting high-visibility, politically sensitive projects in a public sector or highly regulated environment.
4. Strong understanding of project management frameworks (e.g., PMI's PMBOK), risk management practices, and quality assurance principles.
5. Excellent analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills.
6. Ability to prepare professional-grade reports and executive briefings.
7. Proven ability to assess project health objectively and recommend actionable solutions.
8. Bachelor's degree in information technology, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field (required).

Desirable Skills:

1. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (preferred).
2. Additional certifications such as Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) are a plus.