Director of Modernization (Project Management)
Summary of Job Responsibilities
The Director of Modernization serves as the enterprise-wide leader for the PRISM (Pension Administration System) modernization initiative. This is a multi-year transformation effort focused on evolving systems, processes, and capabilities across the organization. The Director acts as the strategic conductor of all modernization activities related to the PRISM project, ensuring alignment, integration, delivery of value, transparency, and accountability across disciplines. This role provides leadership, oversight, and coordination to ensure the modernization roadmap is executed effectively, sustainably, and in alignment with organizational goals.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Individuals must be able to perform these duties with or without reasonable accommodations.
Strategic Leadership
- Own and maintain the enterprise modernization roadmap, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, and budget
- Partner with the Project Management Office (PMO) to establish and manage governance structures that support effective decision-making and transparency
- Serve as the central communication hub for modernization, developing clear and consistent updates for executives, trustees, staff, and stakeholders
- Facilitate alignment across diverse stakeholder groups to ensure modernization goals reflect enterprise priorities and needs
- Provide leadership and direction to project managers, business analysists, technical leads and other program resources in making day-to-day decisions and escalate decisions to the Executive Steering Committee in accordance with criteria established for the Program.
Operational Execution
- Partner with Product Management, PMO, Change Management, IT, Information Security, and business functions to ensure modernization efforts are sequenced, coordinated, and collaborative
- Track systemic risks, issues, and resource needs at the enterprise level; escalate and intervene as necessary to maintain momentum
- Lead procurement strategy and execution for modernization-related solicitations; manage vendor relationships and contractual obligations in coordination with the legal division
- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and other success metrics; monitor performance, benefits realization, and outcomes to ensure modernization delivers on its expected value
- Provides regular updates, program dashboards, and executive briefings to ensure transparency
- Routinely report to the Executive Steering Committee and Board of Trustees on scope, schedule and budget for the project.
- Develop and manage the program budget, financial forecasts and reporting, and develop and defend program budget requests
- Serves as the primary point of contact for executive sponsors, steering committees, and cross-functional stakeholders
- In coordination with primary business groups, manage vendors to ensure that vendors perform work in accordance with contractual requirements and program objectives
Organizational Success
- Strengthen the organization's internal capacity to manage transformation by developing/revising playbooks, frameworks, and repeatable practices
- Partner with Human Resources to ensure workforce and talent planning supports both current modernization needs and future state operations
- Promote a culture of learning, adaptability, and continuous improvement throughout the transformation journey
Other Duties/Responsibilities
- Performs other duties as assigned
Job Qualifications
- Proven experience leading large-scale, multi-year transformation or modernization initiatives
- Strong program management skills with expertise in governance, risk management, and cross-functional coordination
- Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement abilities and comfort influencing at all levels of the organization, including C-Suite
- Experience managing vendor relationships and procurement processes
- Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and drive enterprise-wide alignment
- Proficiency with project management tools (e.g. excel, MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet, etc.)
- Strategic thinker with a problem-solving mindset
Working Conditions
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Standard office environment with frequent telephone communication, computer operation, and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy and printer machine.
- Occasional moving and positioning supplies in excess of 20 pounds
- All employees are expected to present themselves in a professional manner in alignment with the financial services industry
- Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time
- Ability to operate standard PC equipment
- Ability to handle stress associated with frequent deadline and tight schedules
- Flexible work arrangements based on organizational policy
- Ability to travel occasionally
Hybrid Work Option
• Opportunity to work from home up to two days per week. Eligibility dependent upon factors detailed in PERA's Work from Home Policy.
Interested Candidates:
Complete the employment application online at https://www.copera.org/careers. Please have copies of your resume and cover letter available to upload. Please review the following question. You will be asked for a response to this as part of your application:
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Describe your experience leading a multi-year enterprise transformation or modernization initiative. What was your role and what was the scope, duration, and budget?
Job Description Disclaimer
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of an employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned with or without notice.
Unfortunately, at this time, PERA cannot consider candidates that require sponsorship (now or in the future), or are located outside of the US.
All Colorado PERA employees are subject to PERA's Ethics Policy and some employees are subject to the Personal Trading Policy. These policies include restrictions on outside business activities and employment and have certain requirements on personal trading. You may request copies of these policies from PERA's talent acquisition team and any questions can be answered by PERA's Investment Administration team.
About Colorado PERA
Looking for a career where you can make a difference? Colorado PERA offers benefit services to public employees across Colorado, including teachers, state troopers, snowplow drivers, correctional officers and many others who provide valuable services. As Colorado's largest pension plan, we serve and educate over 700,000 members who are former and current public employees.
At PERA you will earn more than a paycheck. PERA is a culture where you can grow your potential and work in an inclusive environment, where diverse perspectives are valued. We hire exceptional employees and recognize that our people are our best asset. Not only do we make sound investments for our members, PERA invests in our employees' growth through training and leadership opportunities.
To promote wellbeing, we offer hybrid or flexible working options for most roles and a total rewards and benefit program including health, dental and vision coverage - eligibility starts the first day of the month following the date of hire for most plans; generous paid time off and volunteer hours; pension and retirement plans, including PERA's defined benefit plan, 457 defined contribution plan, and 401(k) employer match, as applicable; tuition assistance; free, convenient on-site parking or RTD subsidy; free on-site fitness center to stay active; employee assistance program; training, leadership and mentoring programs and more. PERA is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer.
To learn more about life at PERA, watch this video or visit www.copera.org/careers.
Position Title: Director of Modernization
Division: Modernization Office
Reports to: Chief Administrative Officer
Job Status: Exempt, Full-time
Salary: $175,000.00 to $215,000.00 Annual, Commensurate with experience
Posting Dates: 09/26/2025 to 10/12/2025
