Project Governance & Training Strategist

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The Project Governance and Training Strategist is a master/expert level individual contributor professional providing management and guidance to groups and individuals in Cleco's Project Delivery System (PDS) for large capital project management. The Project Governance function plays a key role in maintaining and implementing project management policies, processes, procedures, and templates while continually seeking improvements in process through KPI development and monitoring as well as flight or post-mortem reviews of projects to help identify areas for improvement or adoption in processes, procedures and templates. This position reviews projects before gate approval and provides expert opinion on the readiness and completeness of projects to executive management and project sponsors. This position also acts as the lead role in developing training materials for the PDS and develops and coordinates training plans for project managers, project controls analysts, project controls schedulers, project coordinators, and other project oriented personnel. In addition, this role provides high level PDS training and review for executives across the company as needed. This position identifies development needs and facilitates training across the organization while leading discussions with senior management focusing on continued development needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Champions a corporate culture that emphasizes transparency, integrity, safety, environmental responsibility, employee development, diversity and inclusion, customer service, and operational excellence.
• Maintain, update and implement Project Management policies, procedures, and templates (Project Delivery System (PDS) "owner")
• Provides high level PDS training to company executives as needed
• Provides expert opinion on the readiness and completeness of projects to executive management and project sponsors
• Regarded as the technical expert in Project Governance & Controls.
• Coordinate project gate reviews
• Coach projects through the Stage Gate Process and act as a Gate Reviewer on all medium to larger size/complex projects
• Reviews and signs off on project scorecards before projects are allowed to be considered for gate approval
• Interface with project controls function to track and report on the portfolio of projects
• Maintains Cleco's 13 modules of training for the Project Delivery System
• Mentor project managers on project governance throughout the life cycle of a project
• Work with ECPM management to develop career path and training opportunities for project delivery resources (i.e. move from Project Coordinator to Project Controls, or Project Controls to Project Manager)
• Coordinate and deliver PDS training to Project Managers and project support personnel. Track training completion and training requirements
• Works independently and receives minimal guidance
• Decision-making involves the use of judgment and there is emphasis on the development of new/improved procedures and on the translation of policy into operational plans
• Solves unique and complex problems that has broad impact on the business

Qualifications
Required Education, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree preferably in Engineering, Business, Accounting, Finance or Construction Management from an ABET accredited curriculum
• 7+ years of related experience
• Some people manager experience (preferred)
• Ability to negotiate and influence with a consultative approach
• Strong knowledge of leading practices for their practice area
• Willingness and ability to learn new technologies on the job
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex results to technical and non-technical audiences
• Proficient at functioning effectively within a team environment and ability to present ideas and opinions in a respective and collegial manner
• Progression to this level is strictly restricted based on critical individual capabilities and business requirements and must be supported by market survey data
• Demonstrated significant experience in the delivery of capital projects via cost controls, schedule management, risk and issue management, or project management/administration
• Licenses and Certifications - Project Management Professional (PMP) certification desirable
• MBA desirable
• Experience with project management software e.g. Primavera P6, Fusionlive, SharePoint, Power BI, etc. preferred

Primary Competencies
Behavioral

• Balances stakeholders
• Builds effective teams
• Business insight
• Communicates effectively
• Courage
• Demonstrates self-awareness
• Drives Results
• Ensures Accountability
• Instills trust
• Nimble learning
• Plans and Aligns
• Strategic mindset
• Safety
• Drives vision and purpose

TECHNICAL

• Analytical skills
• Compliance

May perform other duties as assigned.

Salary dependent on experience, skills, education, and training.