IT Project Manager (Information Technology Specialist I)

Job Description and Duties The Data Technology Division, IT Governance and Support Branch, Information Technology (IT) Project Management Unit within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is searching for an Information Technology Specialist I. The IT Project Manager will have the opportunity to independently lead and manage complex California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Law Enforcement Division (LED) IT projects throughout the Project Approval Lifecycle (PAL). The IT Specialist I will define and guide project approaches for assigned initiatives, applying best practices in Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid project management methodologies. In this role, the incumbent will lead an interdisciplinary project team in developing comprehensive project management plans, ensuring effective communication of goals, expectations, and progress to stakeholders, project sponsors, and team members. This position requires strong leadership, organization, and collaboration skills to successfully deliver high-impact technology projects that support the mission and operational needs of CDFW. Personal Leave Program: Effective July 1, 2025, state employees are subject to temporary salary reductions ranging from 2% to 4.62% in exchange for Personal Leave Program (PLP) hours. Please note that the salary ranges listed in this Job Control may not reflect these reductions associated with the 2025 Personal Leave Program. Please follow the link for more information regarding the 2025 Personal Leave program: Personal Leave Program - Human Resources - CalHR. This position may be eligible for a telework opportunity in accordance with departmental policies and operational needs. Beginning July 1, 2026, employees will be required to work in-person at least four (4) days per week in alignment with Executive Order N-22-25. Additional in-office days may be required based on operational needs. Information Technology Specialist I: Exam Bulletin Link This position is a 12-month Limited Term (LT) and may be extended up to 24 months or become permanent. During this 12-month Limited Term assignment, you will receive full health, dental, and vision benefits! You will also earn State Service and accrue monthly leave credits. You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement. Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate: • Experience with California’s Project Approval Lifecycle (PAL).• Hands-on experience managing IT projects for mission-critical state programs.• Proficiency with Agile project management tools (e.g., Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar) and experience tailoring Agile ceremonies or artifacts for hybrid or complex projects.• Experience developing project management plans and frameworks that include communication plans, risk matrices, stakeholder engagement strategies, and quality assurance approaches.• Demonstrated ability to build strong partnerships with interdisciplinary teams, including technical SMEs, business program staff, vendors, and executive sponsors.• Strong organizational and analytical skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information, track multiple deliverables, and support decision-making with clear documentation.• Experience facilitating cross-functional meetings or workshops, such as requirements sessions, sprint reviews, project kickoff meetings, or stakeholder briefings.• Familiarity with state IT governance processes, including CDT policies, SAM/Statewide IT policy requirements, project reporting, or oversight interactions.• Ability to adapt project methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid) based on project scope, stakeholders, risk factors, or regulatory constraints.• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially in drafting executive-level summaries, project updates, and stakeholder guidance.• Interest or experience in continuous improvement, including refining project workflows, implementing best practices, or improving documentation quality. Statement of Qualifications Candidates are required to submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). The SOQ is a narrative discussion of how the candidate’s education, training, experience, and skills relate to the primary duties of this position. The SOQ should be typed in 11-point Arial font. Please provide a written narrative no more than two (2) pages in length with correct grammar use, punctuation, and spelling. The narrative should address how your education, training, experience, and skills meet the desirable qualifications listed below: 1. Describe your experience managing IT projects. Include the types of projects, your specific responsibilities, methodologies used (e.g., Agile, Waterfall), and the outcomes. 2. Explain your experience with project governance and compliance. 3. Describe your experience developing and managing project budgets. Provide examples of cost estimation, resource forecasting, tracking, and variance management. 4. Describe your experience gathering and documenting business requirements. Include techniques used, stakeholders involved, and how requirements influenced project outcomes. Applications received without an SOQ will be rejected. A résumé is not considered as an SOQ. Please clearly state on your document “Statement of Qualifications.”