Project and Portfolio Manager - OSU Health Plan

Scope of Position

The Project amp; Portfolio Manager is responsible for managing both individual projects and overseeing the OSU Health Plan (OSUHP) project portfolio to ensure alignment with organizational strategies and successful execution. This dual role combines hands-on project management across the full project lifecycle with strategic oversight of the project portfolio, focusing on resource optimization, risk management, process improvement, and consultative execution support. The Project amp; Portfolio Manager will collaborate closely with business leaders, initiative owners, project teams, and external clients to drive execution, monitor performance, mitigate risks, and report progress. The role also involves developing, governing, and driving the adoption of cross-functional business processes that require coordination across multiple functions and stakeholders. This position is crucial for driving OSUHPs success and will contribute to high-impact, outcome-driven results across the organization.

Position Summary

The Project amp; Portfolio Manager will oversee individual project execution while managing the broader project portfolio to ensure alignment with OSU Health Plan's strategic goals. This position requires expertise in managing projects through all phasesinitiation, planning, execution, and closurewhile optimizing and aligning resources, prioritizing initiatives, and providing consultative execution support. The role involves working closely with internal and external stakeholders to drive the successful, on time and on budget completion of cross functional projects. Additionally, the Project and Portfolio Manager will lead process improvements, drive adoption of tools and best practices, and enhance the organizations project delivery maturity.

Key responsibilities include managing multiple projects concurrently, ensuring effective communication with stakeholders, leading cross-functional teams, and overseeing resource allocation. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance strategic and tactical execution. They must be highly organized, results-driven, and adaptable to the evolving needs of the business, all while maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders at all levels. This role requires a blend of technical expertise and business acumen, as well as the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive successful outcomes across diverse teams and initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Business, Information Technology, or a related field or combination of education and experience.

• Six (6+) years experience in formal project and/or portfolio leadership or equivalent experience.

• Minimum of three (3+) years experience in role where responsible for operations, on/off boarding customers, specific technologies, specialties, and/or disciplines preferred.

• Proven track record of customer relationship management with suppliers, managers/directors, customers, etc.

• Familiarity with healthcare or health plan operations.

• Proficiency in the utilization of excel, power point, project management tools and software (e.g., MS Project, JIRA, Asana) and portfolio management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Planview).

• PMP or PgMP certification preferred.

Our Comprehensive Employee Benefits Include

• An array of retirement plan options, each with a generous employer contribution.

• Affordable health insurance options, including dental, vision and prescription coverage that begin on day one.

• Paid vacation and sick leave, including short and long-term disability and paid parental leave.

• Get the most out of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

• And much more!

Duties and Responsibilities

The duties of this position are performed under general supervision.

Project Management (40% of time)

• Scope Development: Collaborate with OSUHP shared services, product line leaders, key stakeholders, and external clients to define project objectives, estimate effort (time and cost), and ensure alignment with project needs. Ensure formal scope acceptance, covering all necessary work to achieve project goals.
• Requirements Elicitation: Collaborate closely with stakeholders to validate scope and requirements, evaluating information from multiple sources, and collaborating with internal and external teams to document business, operational and technology requirements. Challenge assumptions and drive decision making to ensure successful project execution.
• Project Life Cycle Management: Manage all stages of the project lifecycleinitiation, planning, execution, controlling, and closure. Consult on project charters, secure signoffs, and lead teams through planning, validation, solutioning and implementation. Track schedules and milestones to ensure timely delivery, report progress, and manage risks and issues. Engage in multiple projects simultaneously.
• Stakeholder Management amp; Communications: Maintain regular communication with stakeholders, providing updates on project progress, risks, and issues. Develop and execute communication plans, presenting updates to various audiences, and serve as the primary liaison between project sponsors, initiative owners, internal teams, customers, and vendors. Apply situational leadership to manage diverse stakeholders effectively.
• Risk amp; Quality Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate project risks. Ensure deliverables meet quality standards and business requirements.

Portfolio Management (40% of time)

• Portfolio Oversight: Collaborate and consult with business leaders, senior management, and initiative owners to ensure project portfolio aligns with organizational priorities and to ensure the successful execution of cross functional initiatives. Includes consulting with initiative owners throughout initiative lifecycle, tracking performance across projects, identifying risks, delays, or resource constraints, and providing regular updates to senior leadership.
• Portfolio Prioritization amp; Resource Management: Facilitates the successful integration of OSUHPs prioritization, capacity planning and portfolio execution capabilities. Optimizes resource allocation across the portfolio, balancing workloads and ensuring support for critical initiatives.
• Project amp; Portfolio Management Capabilities Deployment amp; Adoption: Aids in equipping the organization to successfully execute enterprise initiatives and drives the adoption of best demonstrated practices and tools.

• Management Reporting Provide regular updates to senior management, highlighting challenges, performance, and opportunities for improvement.

Operational Readiness- Operations (15% of time)

• Needs Assessments: Execute operational assessments to evaluate the impacts of new business/work efforts to existing processes.
• Process amp; Tool Development: Apply thought leadership and critical thinking skills to be able to develop viable cross functional operational processes and tools. Consult with SMEs and lead/contribute to cross functional task forces focused on project delivery quality, process improvement and operational readiness.
• Process amp; Tool Deployment: Deploy new or enhanced processes and tools in support of new business or optimization opportunities.
• Process amp; Tool Governance and Adoption: Build consensus among stakeholders, drive ongoing governance and adoption of new processes and tools.

• Best Practice Identification: Stay connected with other project managers within OSUWMC and the University to align and share best practices.

Other Duties as Assigned (5% of time)

Organizational Expectations

Practices within the Medical Center's policies and procedures. Adheres to the Intensive Caring Value statements as demonstrated through positive patient/guest relations, positive and effective interactions with staff, and formulating and meeting developmental goals.

Skills

• Analytical Skills: Assesses information, identify patterns, breaks down complex problems, and evaluates data to make informed decisions or solve issues.
• Consultative Skills: Listens to understand, provides advice and insights, guides clients and colleagues toward effective solutions.
• Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels. Strong organizational navigation and people skills to effectively communicate and manage change.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate teams, drive accountability, and ensure high-quality outcomes.
• Problem-Solving: Identifies, analyzes, and find solutions to challenges or issues.
• Critical Thinking: Ability to think clearly and logically, to analyze information, and to make well-reasoned decisions. Questions assumptions, considers different perspectives, and evaluates evidence before forming conclusions.
• Thought leadership: Offers innovative ideas, insights, and guidance that influence others. Shares knowledge and expertise to inspire and lead others.

Competencies:

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with tactical execution.
• Effective stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and resource allocation in a dynamic environment.
• Results-driven, with a focus on delivering business value.
• Possesses a natural curiosity and a willingness to roll up your sleeves to ensure successful outcomes.