New High-Level Executive Position Announced for USVI’s Super PMO as Part of Rebuild Initiative

The Office of Disaster Recovery (ODR) is set to enhance the Rebuild USVI initiative with the creation of a Super Project Management Office (Super PMO). This new office aims to streamline the coordination among contractors, government agencies, and other crucial stakeholders in the reconstruction efforts, as unveiled by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. earlier this year. To lead this ambitious subdivision, the ODR is on the hunt for an executive delivery manager, a position that promises an annual salary exceeding $185,000 in reflection of the expertise and leadership demanded.

Adrienne Williams-Octalien, the Director of ODR, highlighted during a recent Committee on Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning meeting that the Super PMO is poised to adopt global best practices. Its core functions will encompass stakeholder coordination, prioritization of master projects, schedule management, and procurement. Furthermore, it aims to ensure resource balancing, program controls, compliance, expedited payment processing, as well as managing design and program risks. The establishment of the Super PMO is expected to yield multiple advantages, such as economies of scale, shortened acquisition cycles, and enhanced opportunities for local small businesses.

Addressing the operational challenges, Williams-Octalien pointed out the limitations of the Department of Property and Procurement (DPP) in handling acquisitions of significant scale and complexity. Despite these hurdles, the DPP is slated to play a crucial support role, focusing on the procurement of locally and federally funded goods and services outside the Super PMO’s scope.

The staffing needs for the Super PMO remain under assessment, with Williams-Octalien providing a candid response to Senator Milton Potter’s inquiry. Initial project bundles, including upgrades to medical facilities on St. Croix and several schools on St. Thomas, will dictate the immediate staffing requirements. The approach to scaling the workforce will be flexible, leveraging contracted labor as necessary to manage the expanding workload.

However, Senator Donna Frett-Gregory raised valid concerns regarding the feasibility of expanding the workforce efficiently under the current bureaucratic system. She urged for a pragmatic strategy that minimizes red tape to ensure the Super PMO’s successful implementation and progress in the USVI’s rebuilding efforts.