Division Director
Indianapolis, IN, US, 46204
Work for Indiana
Begin a fulfilling career with the State of Indiana by joining one of the largest employers in the state, offering a range of opportunities across 60+ agencies. At the state, you'll find competitive compensation, a robust benefits package and a commitment to work-life balance. Most importantly, you'll have the chance to make a real and measurable impact on the lives of Hoosiers across Indiana.
About the Indiana Department of Education (DOE):
The Indiana Department of Education provides innovative support to Indiana schools, teachers, students, and parents. We proactively work with educators, policymakers, business leaders, and community-based organizations to build student success. Our strategic priorities include:
- Delivering quality, purposeful educational opportunities for each student.
- Elevating and supporting Indiana’s educators.
- Increasing partnerships and delivering aligned, effective, and efficient support.
Role Overview:
The Office of the Indiana Secretary of Education is seeking a dynamic, strategic, and forward-thinking Director of Project Management to lead a team of project managers working on high-priority projects for initiatives that promote innovation and improve student outcomes across the state. This role requires strong leadership skills, project management expertise, and a deep understanding of how to ensure project outcomes connect to the mission of the impacted state agencies.
The Director will provide strategic planning and oversight of education-related project management and coaching/mentoring of multiple Senior Project Managers on the team. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience with innovative project management, a strong sense of ingenuity, adaptability, and collaborative leadership to support the department’s goals and drive continuous improvement in Indiana's K–12 and higher education systems.
Key responsibilities:
- Serve as a strategic liaison to cabinet‑level leaders, ensuring vertical priorities are translated into actionable project plans.
- Develop and manage project strategies that span both K12 and higher education systems.
- Lead and grow a vertical‑level project management team responsible for executing cabinet‑priority initiatives.
- Serve as an operational integrator across K12 and higher education agencies, ensuring alignment of policy, operations, and implementation.
- Establish governance structures for priority projects, including decision‑making frameworks, reporting, escalation paths, and accountability mechanisms.
Salary:
The salary for this position traditionally starts at $93,002.00 but may be commensurate with education and work experience. Use our Compensation Calculator to view the total compensation package.
A Day in the Life:
The essential functions of this role are as follows:
- Review and evaluate organizational effectiveness, goal determination, and strategic planning, etc., makes recommendations for improvement.
- Develop and coordinate plans and policies, resources, and mission as well as goals, vision and expectations of agency or program.
- Provide guidance to agencies and the public regarding applicable laws and rules.
- Supervise subordinate personnel including hiring, determining workload, and delegating assignments, training, monitoring, and evaluating performance, and initiating corrective or disciplinary action.
- Monitor agency or program budget including revenues, expenditures, and budget projections.
- Communicate with news and other media. responds to media questions or requests in an appropriate public relations manner.
- Coordinate with other government officials on planning issues (i.e. federal and/or state agency directors, etc.).
- Coordinate, review and evaluate the use of appropriate controls and standards for the agency.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.
This position is exempt from overtime compensation for additional work hours which may be required to complete essential functions or other assigned work. Exempt employees may work more than 75 hours in a pay period without additional compensation and must report a minimum of 75 hours per pay period of work hours and/or paid leave taken to receive their base biweekly salary.
What You'll Need for Success:
Individuals in this role should minimally be able to articulate or demonstrate the following:
- Extensive knowledge of agency and/or organizational program(s) and business practices.
- Extensive knowledge of State programs and resources, public policy, and program evaluation.
- Ability to develop and/or measure program outcomes.
- Ability to create and maintain strong working relationships with key public and private government and business leaders.
- Ability to identify problems, determine accuracy and relevance of information, and use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
- Ability to work with internal and external customers to assess needs, provide assistance, resolve problems, and satisfy expectations.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, establish credibility, and influence leaders at all levels.
- Make sound, well-informed, and objective decisions. Perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
- Ability to identify problems. determine accuracy and relevance of information, and to use sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives and to make recommendations.
A degree is not required.
Individuals should have the ability to perform essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Supervisory Responsibilities/Direct Reports:
Benefits of Employment with the State of Indiana:
The State of Indiana offers a comprehensive benefit package for full-time employees which includes:
- Three (3) medical plan options (including RX coverage) as well as vision and dental plans
- Wellness Rewards Program: Complete wellness activities to earn gift card rewards
- Health savings account, which includes bi-weekly state contribution
- Deferred compensation 457(b) account (similar to 401(k) plan) with employer match
- Two (2) fully-funded pension plan options
- A robust, comprehensive program of leave policies covering a variety of employee needs, including but not limited to:
- 150 hours of paid New Parent Leave and up to eight weeks of paid Childbirth Recovery Leave for eligible mothers
- Up to 15 hours of paid community service leave
- Combined 180 hours of paid vacation, personal, and sick leave time off
- 12 paid holidays, 14 on election years
- Education Reimbursement Program
- Group life insurance
- Referral Bonus program
- Employee assistance program that allows for covered behavioral health visits
- Qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Free Parking for most positions
- Free LinkedIn Learning access
Equal Employment Opportunity:
The State of Indiana is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting, selecting, developing, and promoting employees based on individual ability and job performance. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to complete the application and interview process as well as perform the essential functions of a role. If you require reasonable accommodations to complete this application, you can request assistance by contacting the Indiana State Personnel Department at jobs@spd.IN.gov.
Nearest Major Market: Indianapolis
