RRC - Project Manager V

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry; pipeline transport and pipeline safety; natural gas utilities; the LP-gas industry, and surface mining operations. You can find more details about us on the Railroad Commission of Texas’ website here https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.

Benefits

To support our mission to serve Texas, we need great people to join our team. We provide a great working environment along with outstanding benefits, including:

- Generous paid time off including vacation, sick time, and at least 12 paid holidays per year

- Telework options for eligible positions

- Flexible work schedules

- Retirement pension with a 150% agency match – you can watch this YouTube video that describes this amazing benefit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJI6M7g73-w

- 401(k), 457(b) and Roth

- Health premiums 100% paid for full-time employees

- Tuition Reimbursement

- Wellness and Exercise Leave

- Career development programs/opportunities for advancement

For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/about-us/jobs/. To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit the Employee Retirement Systems website at https://ers.texas.gov/benefits-at-a-glance.

Job Description

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is seeking a Production Support Project Manager (Project Manager V) to perform complex (senior-level) project management work supporting Production Support and Mainframe Transformation initiatives, including LoneSTAR (COTS Product) and related modernization efforts. This role is responsible for managing production support activities alongside project delivery, ensuring system stability, incident resolution, and continuous improvement of operational processes. The position requires strong coordination across business, technical, vendor, and stakeholder teams to maintain system reliability while supporting ongoing modernization and data migration efforts. This role operates under limited supervision with significant latitude for independent judgment, prioritization, and decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

- Production Support Management

- Lead and manage Production Support operations, including:

- Incident, problem, and change management processes

- Root cause analysis (RCA) and resolution tracking

- Coordination of defect triage and prioritization

- Ensure adherence to SLA/KPI targets for system availability, response, and resolution times

- Coordinate with development, infrastructure, and vendor teams to resolve production issues efficiently

- Monitor production systems and ensure system stability and performance

- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce recurring issues and improve operational efficiency

- Project Management Responsibilities

- Manage multiple interrelated projects and production support initiatives simultaneously

- Coordinate planning, initiation, execution, and closure of projects

- Develop and maintain:

- Project plans

- Schedules and timelines

- Resource allocation plans

- Budget estimates and tracking

- Ensure deliverables meet quality standards and project requirements

- Monitor project progress, risks, and dependencies, and take corrective action as needed

- Stakeholder & Communication Management

- Act as the primary liaison between:

- Business stakeholders

- Technical teams (Dev, QA, Data, Infrastructure)

- Vendors and external partners

- Provide regular updates, including:

- Project status reports

- Production support metrics (incidents, SLAs, trends)

- Communicate complex technical issues clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences

- Risk & Issue Management

- Identify risks related to both project delivery and production support

- Develop mitigation and contingency plans

- Manage escalations and ensure timely resolution of critical issues

- Ensure compliance with state standards and governance frameworks

- Vendor & Contract Management

- Coordinate with vendors and contractors supporting production systems and modernization efforts

- Participate in procurement processes and the evaluation of vendor proposals

- Monitor vendor performance and ensure contractual obligations are met

- Modernization & Data Initiatives

- Support transition of applications and data from mainframe/legacy systems to modern platforms

- Coordinate production readiness activities for new system deployments

- Ensure smooth integration between legacy and modern systems during transition phases

Essential Job Functions

- Manages projects using accepted project management methodologies to assign tasks to team members, and develop the project management artifacts and reports, and to coordinate complex contracted and internally facing work.

- Initiates multi-agency or enterprise-level projects or efforts as related to Mainframe Transformation, and obtains authorization and commitment, and demonstrates business need and project feasibility to move new tools and processes into an

- Operational workflow for ongoing support. Includes work in Production Support-related assignments.

- Coordinates project activities with other state agencies, governmental jurisdictions, or private sector partners and contractors.

- Develops criteria for evaluating programs, proposals, and other pertinent information related to project assignments.

- Develops project budgets, schedules, work plans, resource requirements, and cost estimates and projections.

- Develops and implements plans to communicate and explain project methodology and processes to interested groups and team members.

- Develops outsourced contracts/solicitations and manages the procurement process.

- Reviews and recommends proposals and bids to management.

- Monitors and manages project cost to ensure project completion within budget.

- Monitors and manages project quality to ensure project deliverables are acceptable and fulfill the terms of the project contract or specifications.

- Identifies potential project risks and difficulties and designs strategies to mitigate or avoid them.

- Proposes and manages risk to deliver the product on schedule, within budget, while meeting customer requirements.

- Compiles and distributes project information, status reports, and project budget expenditures.

- Creates documentation procedures to capture and manage changes to the original project plan.

- May provide project status information for presentation to legislative and other interested groups.

- May plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others, including resource and performance management.

- Performs related work as assigned.

For Military Crosswalk Information, Please Visit

http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf

Qualifications Minimum Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university, preferably with major coursework in Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Processing, Communications, Business, or a related field.

- At least six (6) years of progressive Project Management experience leading or managing projects. This should include the preparation of project-related documentation, planning, managing project activities, and the implementation of projects.

- At least four(4) years of experience leading or managing projects that included the transition of applications or data from legacy/mainframe systems to other platforms, including modern technologies.

- At least four(4) years of experience that involves Information Technology programs, projects, and efforts.

- Total years of experience may run concurrently.

- Experience and education may substitute for each other on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

- At least eight (8) years of progressive project management experience in project management theories and practices applicable to highly complex hardware and software projects; of systems and procedures used to evaluate a third-party vendor's performance; and of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the administration of the projects undertaken (for example, the Texas Project Delivery Framework and associated Texas law).

- At least five (5) years of experience leading or managing projects that included the transition of applications or data from legacy/mainframe systems to other platforms, including modern technologies.

- At least three (3) years of experience planning for and assessing resource needs for IT-related strategic objectives.

- Experience should include budgeting for and participating in IT procurement activities and scheduling.

- At least one (1) year of experience in data-focused projects, like moving from Legacy to newer systems.

- At least one (1) year of experience in projects using Informatica (on-prem or cloud) or Mulesoft ESB to move data.

- At least one (1) year of experience in Data Warehouse projects.

- Experience in working in fast-paced and ever-changing environments; establishing the project's goals and objectives; exercising sound judgment in making critical decisions; analyzing complex information and developing plans to address identified issues.

- Graduate degree (MBA, Master's in Computer Science, MS in Technology or Engineering-related studies, or similar).

- Current certification as a Project Management Professional (or similar professional IT certification).

- Working understanding of the Texas Project Delivery Framework.

- Working understanding of outsourced contracts and the various artifacts (solicitations, etc.) and of the State procurement process.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

- Strong knowledge of:

- Project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid)

- Production support processes (ITIL preferred)

- Ability to:

- Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

- Analyze complex production issues and drive resolution

- Lead cross-functional teams in a matrix environment

- Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills

- Ability to prepare and present reports to leadership and external stakeholders

- Skill in project management monitoring, in addressing changes in scope or timing, and in operating computers and applicable software.

- Ability to manage project activities; to establish project goals and objectives; to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions; to analyze complex information and develop plans to address identified issues; to demonstrate negotiation and facilitation skills; to identify project risks and gaps; to prepare reports; to communicate effectively; and to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.

- Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions; analyze complex information and develop plans; interpret complex data; and effectively demonstrate negotiation and facilitation skills.

- Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences.

- Ability to maintain working relationships with internal/external stakeholders.

- Ability to take initiative and work independently.

- Ability to work effectively on a team as a member and a leader.

- Ability to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.

- Ability to address issues/concerns in a professional manner.

- Ability to work a consistent schedule such as Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM, with occasional flexible hours, after hours, weekends, and holidays.

Note:

Salary will be determined based on education and experience.

Work Hours:

Standard office hours for Commission employees are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our agency offers alternative schedules for employees, provided they do not adversely affect operations or service levels and standard hours of operation are maintained. The Commission may also offer telework in accordance with the agency's approved Telework Plan. Alternate work schedules may be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview process.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS:

Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Recruit Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting. To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS Recruit to register or log in:  https://capps.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

Remarks

- There is one available position.

- Official transcripts, DD214 or DD1300, copies of license/certifications, or other minimum requirement validations will be requested at the time of the job offer.

- Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa.

- Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. An applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense relevant to the position may be disqualified from employment.

THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS ONLY ACCEPTS ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSTING.

Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls. Only candidates selected to interview will be contacted. Notifications to applicants are sent electronically to the email address you provide.

The Railroad Commission of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not

discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age

or disability in employment or in the provision of services.

The Railroad Commission of Texas is a tobacco-free workplace.