PMO Director

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Date:  May 14, 2026
Location: 

Springfield, IL, US, 62702

Job Requisition ID:  56194

Job Requisition ID: 56194 
Opening Date: 05/14/2026
Closing Date: 05/28/2026
Agency:Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois
Salary:
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time 
County: Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 1
Merit Comp Code: Agency Excluded from Collective Bargaining Coverage

Please follow the directions below when applying for this position.

**DO NOT CLICK THE APPLY BUTTON**

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION PLEASE VISIT THE TRS WEBSITE:

Careers | Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) is one of the largest public pension systems in the United States. We provide retirement, disability and survivor benefits to teachers, administrators and other public-school personnel employed outside the city of Chicago.

TRS serves over 456,000 members and manages a multi-billion-dollar investment portfolio for the exclusive benefit of the membership.

TRS is an agency of the State of Illinois governed by a Board of Trustees. Full-and part-time employees are eligible for the State of Illinois comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental and vision coverage. All employees hired after August 17, 2001 participate in the TRS retirement pension plan. Employees also have the option to contribute to additional State of Illinois deferred compensation plans. The TRS pension plan is a participating reciprocal system under the Illinois Pension Code Retirement Systems Reciprocal Act.

Learn more about careers at TRS: Careers | Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

 

Job Summary

The PMO Director (Project Management Office Director) is a senior leader responsible for overseeing the organization’s enterprise project delivery. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this position serves as the bridge between strategic priorities and execution by ensuring initiatives are prioritized effectively, delivered consistently, and adopted successfully across the organization.

This role provides strategic direction, governance, and operational leadership for the Project Management Office (PMO) The Director establishes standards, processes, and tools that support disciplined execution while promoting change readiness, stakeholder alignment, and sustainable outcomes in support of organizational goals.

Essential Functions

  • Provide strategic oversight of the enterprise project portfolio to ensure alignment with organizational goals, capacity, and priorities
  • Lead and mature the Project Management Office, including governance models, delivery methodologies, and performance standards
  • Establish and maintain standardized project management practices, tools, and reporting frameworks
  • Ensure consistent visibility into project status, milestones, risks, dependencies, and outcomes for executive leadership
  • Partner with executive sponsors and senior leaders to ensure accountability and effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle
  • Establish standards for incorporating OCM practices into project management 
  • Ensure any potential risks are assessed and addressed for all significant initiatives

 

Essential Functions (Continued)

  • Design and govern the enterprise initiative intake, prioritization and portfolio management process
  • Facilitate portfolio-level decision-making based on strategic alignment, value, risk, capacity, and change impact
  • Oversee resource and capacity planning in partnership with functional leaders and HR
  • Provide enterprise-level insight into initiative load, sequencing, and organizational risk appetite 
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the COO and executive leadership team
  • Translate strategic objectives into executable initiatives, governance structures, and delivery roadmaps

Essential Functions (Continued)

 

  • Proactively escalate risks, trade-offs, and delivery implications with clear options and recommendations
  • Support leadership decision-making with data-driven insights on delivery performance and organizational impact
  • Lead, mentor, and develop PMO staff and consultants, including project managers, business analysts, and change practitioners
  • Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and disciplined execution
  • Drive continuous improvement through performance metrics, lessons learned, and outcome evaluation
  • Promote collaboration and a “One Organization” mindset across departments

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Knowledge of enterprise portfolio management and project governance practices to align initiatives with organizational strategy, capacity, and risk.
  • Knowledge of change management methodologies and their use in project management to assess impacts, address resistance, and support sustainable adoption of enterprise initiatives.
  • Skill in partnering with executive leaders to advise on priorities, risks, trade-offs, and delivery decisions using clear, data-driven insights.
  • Skill in designing and leading standardized intake, prioritization, and reporting processes that provide enterprise visibility and support informed decision-making.
  • Ability to lead, develop, and mature PMO team while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the organization.

Minimum Requirements

  • Information Technology, bachelor’s degree in business administration, Project Management, or a related field
  • 7+ years of experience in project management, or enterprise delivery leadership
  • PMP certification (Project Management Professional)
  • Demonstrated experience building, leading, or maturing PMO functions
  • Experience managing complex, cross-functional initiatives with significant organizational impact
  • Strong executive presence with the ability to influence without direct authority

 

Preferred Requirements

  • Experience in financial services, pension systems, public sector, or highly regulated environments
  • Knowledge of Agile and traditional project delivery methodologies

Work Hours:  8:30 am - 4:30 pm M-F 
Headquarter Location: 2815 W. Washington St., Springfield, IL 62702-3397 
Work County: Sangamon
Agency Contact:  Christina Lonbom
Email: clonbom@trsil.org
Phone #: 217-814-2226
Posting Group: Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

 

TRS is a non-code state agency.

**APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS**

Candidates must submit applications through the TRS Careers Website:

Careers | Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

 

Please follow all instructions and include all required documents. You WILL NOT be considered for the position if you attach a CMS100, CMS100b or any other document in lieu of a Resume or CV.

TRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or completing any pre-employment testing, please direct your inquiries to Human Resources at (217) 814-2111, or HRServices@trsil.org. Hiring decisions are not based on or affected by political factors, including political sponsorship, affiliation, or support.

 

 


Nearest Major Market: Springfield