Project Manager III (Contractor) - 26R0025305

RESPEC is seeing a Project Manager III to to lead complex, enterprise-level IT and business-transformation initiatives that support the mission and operational effectiveness of the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Project Manager III will provide senior-level leadership across project planning, governance, stakeholder alignment, delivery oversight, and risk management.

You will work closely with technical teams, business leaders, vendors, and executive stakeholders to ensure projects remain aligned with DPS objectives, established governance standards, and project-management best practices. Success in this role requires strong communication, disciplined delivery management, and the ability to navigate large, cross-functional environments.

Core Responsibilities:

Lead the full project lifecycle for large-scale IT and business-transformation initiatives, including defining scope, deliverables, milestones, success measures, timelines, budgets, staffing plans, communications, and risk-management strategies.

Coordinate cross-functional technical and business teams, external vendors, and client stakeholders to maintain alignment and advance project objectives. Monitor delivery performance against approved plans, identify and escalate risks or issues, and drive timely resolution.

Develop and maintain executive-ready status reports, project documentation, governance materials, and communications. Manage scope changes through formal change-control processes and ensure project activities comply with DPS policies, applicable procurement requirements, and established governance practices.

Support vendor-performance oversight, project closeout activities, deliverable acceptance, final reporting, and lessons-learned documentation.

Required Technical Experience

Candidates must demonstrate at least 8 years of experience in each of the following areas:

• Managing large-scale, complex IT or business-transformation projects within a structured delivery environment.
• Applying project-management methodologies, including PMI/PMBOK, Agile, Hybrid, or comparable frameworks.
• Building and maintaining project schedules, budgets, resource plans, and related delivery documentation.
• Managing stakeholders across technical teams, business units, and executive leadership.
• Leading risk management, issue tracking, escalation, and change-control processes.
• Producing clear written and verbal communications, including executive-level reporting.
• Using project-management tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or similar platforms.
• Ensuring compliance with organizational governance, policies, and procurement-related requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

Candidates with the following qualifications will be strongly preferred:

• At least 1 year of experience supporting public-sector or state-government environments, particularly public safety or law-enforcement organizations.
• At least 1 year of experience managing projects within state procurement or contract frameworks, such as FAST, DIR, or similar environments.
• PMP certification, or equivalent project-management certification, with at least 1 year of related experience.
• At least 1 year of experience leading IT system implementations, data-system initiatives, or enterprise-application projects.

Work Model

This is a hybrid position - on-site up to four days per week supporting the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The primary work location is:

Texas Department of Public Safety Headquarters
5805 North Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78752

The selected candidate must be available to work on-site up to four days per week. Telework may be available for the remaining work time, subject to client needs and approval.

Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time, excluding Texas state holidays when the client office is closed. Occasional work outside normal business hours—including evenings, weekends, or holidays—may be required

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.