This position is mainly virtual but requires the flexibility of the incumbent to come into the office in Olympia infrequently or as business needs arise.

The ideal candidate for the IT Project Manager – Journey role is an experienced agile practitioner who thrives in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

They bring a strong foundation in Agile project management, including hands-on facilitation of ceremonies such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, retrospectives, and backlog grooming. As described in the position, this role “works with and leads the scrum teams to define and to scale agile processes appropriate for project technology teams” and requires someone who can confidently guide multiple scrum teams through complex, multi-sprint delivery cycles while maintaining alignment with agency priorities.

This candidate excels at removing impediments, driving resolution of issues, and ensuring that teams operate efficiently and predictably. They demonstrate skill in monitoring development inputs and outputs, analyzing sprint reports, and using data to identify improvement opportunities—reflecting the position’s requirement to “identify any gaps and correct impediments to performance.” They partner seamlessly with Product Managers and Technology Managers to align backlog priorities, support defect remediation, and maintain delivery continuity across competing workstreams. Their communication skills allow them to work effectively with customers, stakeholders, external agencies, and technical teams, ensuring transparency and trust throughout the software development lifecycle.

Finally, the ideal candidate embodies ESD’s values of Access, Love, Equity, Belonging, and Stewardship. They demonstrate curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to meeting the needs of others—qualities reflected in the required equity competencies. They champion continuous improvement, helping teams adopt new tools, workflows, and best practices while minimizing disruption. With experience in Azure DevOps or similar tools, and ideally certifications such as CSM, SAFE, PMP, or PMI-ACP, they contribute to a resilient, innovative organization where “employees are optimistic and empowered to improve how they work and the organization.” Their work directly supports the financial systems that underpin critical statewide programs, making accuracy, quality, and reliability central to their professional identity.

Application of agile tools and processes. This includes:

Ensure scrum teams operate efficiently. This includes:

• Collaborates and contributes to schedule management, requests and reviews backup plans for delivery of work, so that work continues to progress, and Ensures development support for all deployments

Drives continuous improvement and best practices in software deployment. This includes:

AND:

Required equity competencies:

The required experience includes:

Technical Problem-Solving and Analysis: Ability to analyze and solve highly complex problems through a methodical process. Fixes application errors or failures on extremely complex applications or processes.

Systems Analysis: Ability to understand business processes or portions of large and extremely complex projects and propose technical solutions that can improve those processes; design information systems to automate business processes.

Ability to demonstrate and adhere to the following ESD Employee Competencies:

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.

Please submit your Cover Letter and Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Caleb Baldwin or at 253-306-2999 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.

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