Lead IT Release Project Manager

This position exists within the Program & Project Management Group of the Care Delivery, Laboratory Sub-Portfolio. The position will develop the release/upgrade standardized process for Laboratory Information Systems(LIS) upgrades throughout the Kaiser Permanente enterprise. Ideally this individual will be located in Atlanta, GA but can be in any KPIT facility.

The Care Delivery, Laboratory Sub-Portfolio is a high energy, fast paced environment where concepts of High Reliability Organizations (HRO) and a commitment to the quality and urgency of our actions and outcomes are focused on the highest possible results for the safety of our patients and members within Kaiser.  This position will be the program-level point of contact for all laboratory sub-portfolio release/upgrade projects and will assist the Application Support Services Managers, Sub-Portfolio Investment Program Manager and Executive Director, as needed, related to application upgrades, technical specifications, vendor product development/release schedules and coordination of LIS systems to Care Delivery national and regional system upgrade/release impacts.

Essential Functions:

• Project Management & Resource Coordination of regional release/upgrade teams across the eight regions of Kaiser, application support services teams, regional release/upgrade teams, business release/upgrade teams, alternative resourced teams and internal KPIT technical teams.
• Coordinate upgrades and release schedules among the LIS vendors (Cerner, Sunquest, Genetic Systems)
• Development and management of standardized release/upgrade process and the management of on-going activities and resources to complete all regional upgrades to the defined release schedule.
• Represent the Laboratory Sub-Portfolio in coordinating schedules/plans with other Care Delivery programs and projects.
• Coordinate regional upgrade/release schedules with other information systems (regional and national) through continuous interaction with the various Care Delivery Programs within IT.
• Coordinate with the Care Delivery Laboratory Sub-Portfolio Program Manager and Executive Director to communicate release/upgrade impacts across the enterprise.
• Coordinate with KPHealthConnect, SOX, technical and data center teams, Regional Compliance and Solution Design Consultants to ensure consistent and compliant system design documentation, financial estimation and implementation processes.
• Create a standardized process for regional upgrades for all Laboratory Information Systems such as Cerner Millennium, Cerner CoPathPlus, Sunquest FlexiLab, Sunquest CoPath, Genetics Information Systems, and other Laboratory Information systems.
• Manage a KPIT, on-shore/near-shore/off-shore team to systematically schedule and implement upgrades to all laboratory systems in all regions.  The Laboratory Sub-Portfolio Regional Upgrade schedule will be coordinated with national and regional programs that impact regional upgrade schedules and impacts to regional and national information systems (Epic/KPHealthConnect, Common Provider Master, Common Membership Systems, etc.) to ensure consistent/compatible design and implementation of laboratory information systems within the Kaiser Permanente Data Centers.
• Ensure compliance with all Kaiser policies as well as any federal regulations regarding transmission protocols by reviewing all technical specifications and requirements with all internal KPIT authorized process and knowledge owners.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Information Systems, Project Management or related field, or 4 years of additional equivalent work experience
• Minimum of 6 years experience in project management of healthcare information systems (preferably with Laboratory Information Systems)
• 4 years experience in managing complex information system upgrade/release processes (release notes development, testing strategies, project management and infrastructure)
• Minimum of 3 years experience in managing on-shore/off-shore resources
• Minimum of 6 years experience with Microsoft Operating Systems (Windows 2003 Server, Windows XP), IBM/AIX and Citrix/ICA Client infrastructures/architecture
• Excellent time management and multi-tasking skills with demonstrated experience in managing and scheduling multiple engagements and coordinating the activities of various resource pools (cross-regional, on-shore, off-shore and internal team members)
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office 2003 or higher applications Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio and Project
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience in interacting and communication with a wide range of individuals (end user, regional business leaders, IT and Business executives).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with business/information technology process redesign development of healthcare information systems.
• Prior experience with large enterprise and/or Data Center implementations.
• Experience with KPIT Project Management Certification.
• Project Management Institute Project Management Professional Certification.
• Certified Laboratory Scientist OR Clinical Laboratory Technologists OR Clinical Laboratory Cytotechnologist.
• Experience with Cerner Corporation Laboratory System Systems (Millennium and CoPathPlus or comparable product lines)-additional experience in Sunquest Laboratory Information Systems, a plus.