Systems & Project Management Director

The Iowa DOT’s Motor Vehicle Division is seeking an experienced, strategic, and business-focused leader to serve as the Systems & Project Management Bureau Director
. This senior leadership role reports to the MVD Director and oversees a bureau of approximately 18 professionals responsible for business governance of the division’s core operational systems, vendor partnerships, and project portfolio. While supporting the Mission of Making Lives Better Through Transportation, the person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by five CORE values:
Safety First, People Matter, Customer Focused, Servant Leadership, and Integrity Without Exception.

This position serves as the business owner of MVD’s mission-critical systems, responsible for the collection of over $1.5 billion in annual transportation revenue through conducting over 300,000 daily transactions, and supporting more than 15,000 authorized system users statewide.

• Provide business oversight of MVD’s core operational systems delivered through a long-term vendor partnership.
• Set system enhancement priorities to ensure statutory compliance, positive customer/employee experience, revenue integrity, and reliable service delivery.
• Oversee business-side testing, system issue triage, and production readiness processes.

• Lead division-wide project intake, prioritization, tracking, and reporting.
• Establishes and maintains standardized project management practices for all approved division projects.
• Evaluate competing initiatives using criteria such as compliance, risk, customer impact, and available resources.
• Provide clear recommendations on portfolio decisions and resource allocation.

• Serve as the business lead for MVD’s primary system vendor and key product lines.
• Monitor vendor performance and contractual alignment.
• Plan for long-term sustainability of MVD products and services including alignment with emerging technology and national best practices.

• Serve as MVD’s primary business liaison with the Department of Management Division of IT.
• Communicate system priorities, portfolio decisions, and risks to leadership, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Serve as a member of the MVD leadership team, contributing to division-wide initiatives.

As a State of Iowa employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance
• Insurance benefits start first of the month following 30 days of employment. 2025 health and dental insurance premiums can be found here.
• Opportunities for professional growth and development.
• Paid time off effective immediately - biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match
• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions.
• Employee Discount Programs from a variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).
• We encourage you to view more about the State of Iowa Employee benefits and costs at the State of Iowa Employee Benefits Website!

You have the freedom to flourish in Iowa – Apply now!

The Iowa Department of Transportation is an equal-opportunity employer. If you require a reasonable accommodation in completing any screening, interviewing, pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please direct your request to the aa-eeo

Reasonable accommodation such as interpreter, translator, written materials, modified equipment/devices, ADA access, etc. This does not include scheduling needs.

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify
, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect…