Analyst I : Innovation Program Manager

Town of Chapel Hill • Chapel Hill, NC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Working directly under the CIO of the Technology Solutions (TS) Department, this position leads a cross-functional innovation program to identify, develop, and implement new ideas and solutions. The role serves as a change agent, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and managing complex projects from ideation to implementation, including close coordination with IT Governance, without direct supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

• Knowledge of principles and methods of program evaluation, performance management, process design, and strategic planning.
• Knowledge of project management methodologies, stage-gate processes, software development lifecycle, and the lifecycle of innovation programs.
• Knowledge of IT Governance frameworks, technology standards, and compliance processes.
• Knowledge of emerging trends and practices in technology, digital transformation, and organizational change management.
• Ability to foster collaboration and lead new technology initiatives.
• Ability to identify process gaps, generate ideas to improve and streamline processes, and identify modernizing opportunities.
• Ability to synthesize complex, technical and/or confidential information to develop policies, procedures, reports, and recommendations.
• Ability to manage a heavy workload consisting of multiple projects and pilots.
• Ability to meet multiple deadlines and manage changing priorities.
• Ability to architect and deploy generative secure AI workflows and advanced prompting scripts to automate and optimize organizational processes.
• Ability to administrate enterprise software systems, with a focus on configuring low-code automation platforms, managing AI integration frameworks, and provisioning tenant-level access for department-wide innovation tools.
• Ability to leverage the Microsoft 365 environment to build low-code solutions, construct automated workflows using Power Automate, manage complex SharePoint structures, and design team spaces for cross-departmental collaboration.
• Ability to create and oversee engaging training sessions and presentations to diverse audiences through effective public speaking.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into summaries.
• Ability to solve problems and make sound decisions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, vendors, and residents.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to model behavior consistent with our values of RESPECT.
• An associate’s degree in technology management, information systems, computer science, public or business administration, or a related field required.
• A minimum of 3 years of related experience required.
• Compliance with Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) security standards, which necessitates fingerprinting for a comprehensive background check.

Nice To Haves

• A valid NC driver’s license and the availability of private transportation or the ability to provide transportation between job sites is required.

Responsibilities

• Leads an innovation team made up of key staff members and subject matter experts from various departments to evaluate and prototype new technologies and operational improvements.
• Determines methodologies for experimentation and validation.
• Works closely with the established IT Governance process to ensure all innovation initiatives align with technology standards, security protocols, and organizational strategy.
• Recommends updates to approved technology list and policies impacted by new innovation.
• Oversees the entire lifecycle of innovation projects, from idea generation and research to execution and implementation.
• Helps determine success measures and follows up with departments for all technology related pilot projects.
• Develops and manages an innovation program roadmap, ensuring alignment with the strategic goals of the TS Department and the broader organization.
• Facilitates brainstorming sessions, to collect requirements and use cases, coordinates interdependent workstreams, and manages project timelines and resources.
• Tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success or failure of innovation initiatives in order to make recommendation for scalability or termination.
• Communicates project progress, risks, and results to stakeholders at all levels, acting as the primary point of contact for innovation efforts.
• Receives and works closely with IT divisions to determine appropriate project assignment.
• Depending on team capacity, might be assigned to any TS application-based project task to balance workload or act as a backup.
• Completes all other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Eligible for a flexible work arrangement upon the successful completion of the initial probationary period and demonstrated satisfactory job performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree