Director, Systems Projects (Data Governance)

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority • Los Angeles, CA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Metro’s mission is to provide a world-class transportation system that enhances the quality of life for all who live, work, and play within LA County. This role will lead the development, implementation, and ongoing maturity of the agency’s enterprise data governance framework, ensuring data is trusted, secure, compliant, and strategically leveraged across the organization. The Director will guide cross-functional stakeholders, champion data quality and stewardship, and align governance initiatives with agency-wide digital transformation goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Five years of relevant management-level experience on a large-scale computer system requiring at least two years specialized experience in area of assignment.
• A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.
• Knowledge of Project management SDLC/PMLC (Software Development/ Project Management Life Cycle) methodologies and best practices supporting all stages of the project management life cycle, including initiation, planning, design, implementation, monitoring, controlling, and closure.
• Knowledge of Theories, principles, and best practices of information technology communications infrastructure, including LANs (Local Area Networks), WANs (Wide Area Networks), radio, video, microwave, telephone, and security systems.
• Knowledge of Theories, principles, and best practices of information technology ERP systems, business software applications, Oracle applications and databases, and client/server software architectures.
• Knowledge of Communication planning, developing and delivering presentations, and report writing.
• Knowledge of Contract administration, budgeting, and procurement for public agencies.
• Knowledge of Modern management theory.
• Knowledge of ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) framework.
• Knowledge of COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology) framework.
• Skill in end-to-end management of large-scale IT projects serving in the role of primary Project Manager.
• Skill in Overseeing the development and maintenance of information systems in designated information technology areas.
• Skill in Analyzing and directing the design of highly complex data systems in assigned application areas.
• Skill in Managing large-scale and complex projects from inception to culmination.
• Skill in Transforming business requirements into design specifications.
• Skill in Determining strategies to achieve goals.
• Skill in Analyzing situations, identifying and solving problems, recommending solutions, and evaluating outcomes.
• Skill in Communicating clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Skill in Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with IT service providers, management, and assigned staff.
• Skill in Leading, supervising, training, and motivating assigned staff.
• Ability to Analyze and direct the design of highly complex data systems in assigned technical system areas.
• Ability to Lead and direct large groups to establish and accomplish goals and objectives.
• Ability to Exercise sound judgment and creativity in decision making and problem solving.
• Ability to Communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to Establish and maintain effective working relationships with IT service providers, management, and assigned staff.
• Ability to Lead, supervise, train, and motivate assigned staff.
• Ability to Evaluate and establish appropriate priorities.
• Ability to Meet tight time constraints and deadlines.
• Ability to Multi-task and maintain focus on objectives.
• Ability to Research, compile, analyze, interpret, and disseminate information.
• Ability to Exercise appropriate judgment in answering questions and releasing information.
• Ability to Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, budgets, and labor/management agreements.
• Ability to Plan financial and staffing needs.
• Ability to Develop and manage budgets.
• Ability to Read, write, speak, and understand English.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in a related field.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification and/or ITIL Certification.
• Experience developing and executing enterprise-wide data governance strategies including development of standards, policies and stewardship framework that support organizational compliance and data quality goals.
• Experience assessing data landscape including mapping source systems, data flows, integrations and metadata dependencies to inform governance priorities and modernization initiatives.
• Experience utilizing data governance tools and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) use cases, including datasets readiness, data quality improvement for models, and governance processes that support responsible and ethical use of advanced analytics.
• Experience interpreting and operational rationalizing of data privacy, security and compliance requirements by partnering across legal, security, technology and business units to ensure consistent regulatory adherence.
• Experience implementing governance tools workflows and operating models that resolve data pain points and scale accountability while driving collaboration among technical teams data owners and custodians and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Plans, schedules, researches, provides leadership, and oversees technical staff in order to successfully implement Information Technology (IT) projects supporting major Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), software applications, and/or complex communications infrastructure systems.
• Provides advanced level project management services to lead, administer, and ultimately support the successful delivery of Information Technology (IT) projects.
• Manages complex projects supporting major Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., financial, budget, human resources, and transportation systems) and/or major technology infrastructure systems (e.g., network, telecommunications, business productivity, communications, and security systems).
• Provides oversight and management of technical staff and contractors in activities related to the project deliverables for IT systems and infrastructure.
• Understands and follows a Project Management Life Cycle (PMLC) methodology to successfully deliver technology projects.
• Works with key stakeholders to develop and prepare key integral project management documents, including business cases, project charters, budgets, project requirements, scopes of work, procurement documents, project plans and schedules, tests, and training plans.
• Reviews and analyzes new project requests and justifications for new and expanded programs.
• Gathers requirements to support development of project scope of work.
• Interfaces with vendors for information and cost estimates.
• Prepares solicitation documents for request of proposals, including cost estimate, scope of work, and evaluation process.
• Participates in selection and negotiation processes for hiring of outside contractors.
• Develops departmental plans and schedules.
• Monitors, tracks, and evaluates work progress.
• Tracks budget and actual costs.
• Authorizes payment for equipment, professional services, and licensing related to the project deliverables.
• Allocates assigned staff and other resources required to meet objectives.
• Serves as the liaison between group departments, external vendors/providers of IT, and Metro executives.
• Communicates updates, change orders, status, issues and risk with project stakeholders.
• Consults with stakeholders to clarify and solve systems development needs and problems; establishes and modifies priorities and schedules to ensure stakeholder satisfaction.
• Implements problem resolution programs and tracks project issues.
• Presents plans, project status, and progress against milestones in oral and written reports to the Project Management Office (PMO) and executive management.
• Facilitates governance and strategic planning.
• Ensures conformance with federal and state regulations.
• Researches and evaluates new technology software and hardware.
• Participates on various committees and task forces.
• Conducts special projects and studies and presents progress reports and findings.
• Participates in the department's information security, disaster recovery, and safety programs.
• Communicates and implements safety rules, policies, and procedures in support of the agency's safety vision and goals; and maintains accountability for the safety performance of all assigned employees.
• May be required to perform other related job duties.

Benefits

• Metro provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Metro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status, or disability.
• Metro does not deny participation in the application process to anyone with prior justice system involvement, in line with Fair Chance hiring practices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director