IT Project Manager (Senior/Specialist)

Full Job Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy —thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: IT Project Management Senior/Specialist (non-permanent - Minimum two (2) year duration with potential for full-time permanent)

Location: Thurston County – Olympia, Washington (Remote Optional)

Closes: February 15th, 2026

Salary: $8,113.00 - $10,916.00 Monthly

The Opportunity:

This position provides senior-level project management services for complex IT development, enhancement, maintenance, and infrastructure projects that support enterprise-level and mission-critical systems directly impacting public health and safety.

Drawing on advanced knowledge, independent judgment, and industry best practices, the role ensures effective application of project management standards throughout the project life cycle.

It involves close collaboration with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure project success from initiation to completion.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Assemble and lead project teams and apply project management processes, tools, and best practices to assigned projects.
• Identify and manage interdependencies between projects/assignments.
• Collect project requirements in collaboration with Business Analysts.
• Draft and submit budget proposals.
• Provide assistance to Product Owners in the creation, maintenance and refinement of Product Backlogs.
• Provide leadership, guidance and mentoring to teams in the values, principles and practices of Agile and Scrum.
• Facilitate and conduct Scrum events (Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospectives) throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Identify and remove impediments to team progress.

Required Qualifications:

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience in the field of information technology, such as managing projects, consulting, analyzing, designing, programming, installing and/or maintaining computer software applications, hardware, telecommunications or network infrastructure equipment, or providing customer/technical support.

OR

A Bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, data management, information systems or related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education (DOE) or the Council for Higher Education (CHEA) AND five (5) years of experience with progressively increasing responsibilities.

AND
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace principles.

Additional Required Qualifications:

• Sufficient level of technical background to identify and evaluate complex project risks and issues lead and facilitate the development and implementation of mitigation plans.
• Experience interacting with both business and IT individuals at all levels including the executive level.
• Advanced knowledge of both Agile and traditional project management principles and practices.

Desirable/Preferred Qualifications:

• Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Manager Professional (PMP) Certification or other project management certification.
• Certified Scrum Master (CSM).
• Experience with production support processes and procedures.
• Exposure to software testing.
• Lean certification or knowledge of Lean principles.

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving.

We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve.

If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Cole Alford (Talent Acquisition Specialist) at cole.alford@dcyf.wa.gov.

If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or emailsupport@neogov.com.

“Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service.

Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.