Information Technology (IT) Manager - Wireless Communications

City of Mesa•Mesa, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This classification has been designated as a non-classified, non-merit system, at-will position. An Information Technology (IT) Manager is responsible for developing the service strategy for one or more services, guiding the City’s investment in that service, and developing the workforce needed. An IT Manager understands IT service cost drivers and connects cost of service to consumption drivers, and manages the service-level agreements (SLAs) for specific services. The IT Manager guides continuous improvement efforts for the service and meets with solution and system architects to discuss impact of new technologies and the architecture roadmap. The IT Manager interacts with vendor managers to identify and evaluate emerging technology and their impact upon services. The IT Manager in Business Solutions is the engagement manager for resource planning and management conversations with business partners. This includes reviewing business requests for service enhancements, cost evaluations, standards reviews, and prioritization with customers and team. The IT infrastructure manager supports the City’s service delivery by providing reliable IT infrastructure support to ensure sustainability and efficiency. IT Managers manage resource availability in order to continuously support City departments and evaluates overall IT infrastructure capacity in order to ensure optimum system performance. Methods include: facilitating meetings and governance boards; acting as an advisor and reviewing or consulting on proposed work plans and project progress; implementing, evaluating, and modifying procedures, including the administration and ongoing development of varying customer-related services; completing continuous long-term and short-term strategic information technology planning for Citywide information technology services; and identifying Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) and customer resources necessary to accomplish goals and objectives. Additional duties include: marketing DoIT services to City customers and managing customer expectations, as well as monitoring, reporting, and addressing issues related to customer satisfaction; formulating budgets, procedures, and long-range plans in relation to City customer’s business requirements; supervising and directing professional staff in accomplishing DoIT and customer objectives. Duties include coordinating the completion of multiple projects and service deliverables, ensuring that customer project and services objectives are balanced against available resources; ensuring all work is done in alignment with City and IT long-term strategies; and performing related duties as required. Excellent communication skills are essential in dealing with both internal and external parties. Incumbents must possess sufficient communication skills and business and technical knowledge in order to communicate meanings and impact using both business and technical terminology. Incumbents work independently and with initiative in performing day-to-day responsibilities to meet the continuous demands associated with the completion of simultaneous projects and requests for a variety of resources. This class is supervised under the general supervision of an Assistant Chief Information Officer or Chief Information Officer, who evaluates work through reports, conferences, meetings, and results achieved. Employees in this class are required to be available on a 24-hour basis to cover emergency situations. This class is FLSA exempt-administrative. Position Assignment: The City of Mesa is seeking an experienced and technically skilled IT Manger to support the Wireless Communications Team within the DoIT. This position is responsible for management and oversight of the planning, design, installation, maintenance, and optimization of the City’s wireless communications infrastructure and related subscriber equipment for both the City and the Members of the TOPAZ Regional Wireless Cooperative (TRWC). The IT Manager works collaboratively across the DoIT, City departments, and external stakeholders, the Members, Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the TRWC to ensure high-performance, scalable, reliable, and resilient network systems supporting Public Safety and other wireless communications users. The ideal candidate will bring a mix of leadership, technical ability and experience, project management skills, and supervision expertise in the following areas: In collaboration with the Members of the TRWC and TRWC Executive Director, manage and oversee wireless communications network planning, engineering, and maintenance in accordance with the goals and objectives of the TRWC and in compliance with FCC, EIA/TIA, and Public Safety wireless communications practices and standards. Supervise telecommunications engineers, project managers, Communications Project Liaisons, and technicians, assign workloads, review work, provide mentorship, and support professional development. Ensure execution of and contribute as necessary to all phases of wireless communications infrastructure and subscriber projects, including research, feasibility studies, requirements, specifications, permitting, construction oversight, vendor coordination and management, and system acceptance testing including radio coverage testing and evaluation. Ensure coordination and collaboration with internal City departments (example: Engineering, DoIT, Public Safety, Utilities, etc.) and external Member organizations of the TRWC to align infrastructure projects with broader City and TRWC objectives. Ensure timely preparation and evaluation of RFPs/RFQs, manage vendor contracts, actively manage and monitor budgets, and ensure compliance with safety, permitting and other legal requirements. Address public concerns regarding wireless communications network impacts and engage with external Public Safety organizations, school districts, and other public entities to explore partnerships and wireless communications network and shared communications site opportunities in collaboration with the TRWC Executive Director. Ensure timely troubleshooting and inspections of communications systems at remote locations. Advanced-level knowledge of Public Safety Land Mobile Radio (LMR) technologies and architecture including P25, conventional, trunked, simplex, repeated, VHF, 700/800 MHz, microwave, fiber optic, ERCES, and radio site hardening standards and practices with an emphasis on availability, reliability, and resilience of Public Safety LMR networks. Experience working in a shared-system cooperative environment to support all Members of the TRWC equally and provide engineering and radio system administrative support to all Members. Participate and provide managerial leadership in wireless communications network lifecycle planning, budgeting, and technology road mapping. Build an effective working relationship with the TRWC Executive Director and understand there is a dotted-line reporting relationship to the TRWC Executive Director.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Management, Public Administration, Project Management, or related field.
Extensive (5+ years) experience in IT management or project leadership.
Considerable (3 - 5 years) experience in managing, supervising, or leading the coordination and management of large-scale systems or services.
Advanced-level knowledge of Public Safety Land Mobile Radio (LMR) technologies and architecture including P25, conventional, trunked, simplex, repeated, VHF, 700/800 MHz, microwave, fiber optic, ERCES, and radio site hardening standards and practices with an emphasis on availability, reliability, and resilience of Public Safety LMR networks.
Experience working in a shared-system cooperative environment to support all Members of the TRWC equally and provide engineering and radio system administrative support to all Members.
Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver’s License by hire or promotion date.

Nice To Haves

Experience planning, budgeting, managing, and administering shared Public Safety Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems.
Knowledge of and ability to follow and recommend improvements to TRWC policies and procedures.
Experience planning and executing projects for the growth, expansion, and upgrade of Public Safety LMR networks.
Working knowledge of public safety radio systems, including P25, VHF, and 700/800 MHz bands, and conventional and trunked networks.
Knowledge of FCC rules, regulations, and applicable municipal codes, including ERCES.
Experience leading wireless communications projects from planning through close-out.
Skill in managing project scope, schedule, and budget using tools such as Hive and Microsoft Project.
Experience overseeing wireless communications infrastructure and subscriber systems, including coverage prediction, field testing, failure analysis, and preventative maintenance.
Ability to support high network availability (99.999%) and meet public safety radio coverage requirements.
Experience drafting, administering, and modifying contracts and intergovernmental agreements.
Experience developing and managing operations, maintenance, and capital budgets.
Skill in vendor management, procurement processes, cost control, and contract compliance.
Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical staff, stakeholders, contractors, and public partners.
Ability to build collaborative working relationships and support consensus-based decision-making.
Ability to represent the TRWC in meetings, committees, and other official functions.
Willingness to attend industry conferences, participate in technical committees, and remain current with emerging technologies and regulations.
Knowledge of and ability to comply with applicable safety practices and procedures.
Good (1 - 3 years) experience in the area of assignment is desirable.
Experience with presentations, project management, team facilitation, budgeting, marketing, advertising, training, asset management, and purchasing are highly desirable.
Experience or training in customer service techniques is also desirable.

Responsibilities

Developing the service strategy for one or more services, guiding the City’s investment in that service, and developing the workforce needed.
Understanding IT service cost drivers and connecting cost of service to consumption drivers, and managing the service-level agreements (SLAs) for specific services.
Guiding continuous improvement efforts for the service and meeting with solution and system architects to discuss impact of new technologies and the architecture roadmap.
Interacting with vendor managers to identify and evaluate emerging technology and their impact upon services.
Acting as the engagement manager for resource planning and management conversations with business partners.
Reviewing business requests for service enhancements, cost evaluations, standards reviews, and prioritization with customers and team.
Supporting the City’s service delivery by providing reliable IT infrastructure support to ensure sustainability and efficiency.
Managing resource availability in order to continuously support City departments and evaluating overall IT infrastructure capacity in order to ensure optimum system performance.
Facilitating meetings and governance boards.
Acting as an advisor and reviewing or consulting on proposed work plans and project progress.
Implementing, evaluating, and modifying procedures, including the administration and ongoing development of varying customer-related services.
Completing continuous long-term and short-term strategic information technology planning for Citywide information technology services.
Identifying Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) and customer resources necessary to accomplish goals and objectives.
Marketing DoIT services to City customers and managing customer expectations.
Monitoring, reporting, and addressing issues related to customer satisfaction.
Formulating budgets, procedures, and long-range plans in relation to City customer’s business requirements.
Supervising and directing professional staff in accomplishing DoIT and customer objectives.
Coordinating the completion of multiple projects and service deliverables, ensuring that customer project and services objectives are balanced against available resources.
Ensuring all work is done in alignment with City and IT long-term strategies.
Managing and overseeing wireless communications network planning, engineering, and maintenance in accordance with the goals and objectives of the TRWC and in compliance with FCC, EIA/TIA, and Public Safety wireless communications practices and standards.
Supervising telecommunications engineers, project managers, Communications Project Liaisons, and technicians, assigning workloads, reviewing work, providing mentorship, and supporting professional development.
Ensuring execution of and contributing as necessary to all phases of wireless communications infrastructure and subscriber projects, including research, feasibility studies, requirements, specifications, permitting, construction oversight, vendor coordination and management, and system acceptance testing including radio coverage testing and evaluation.
Ensuring coordination and collaboration with internal City departments and external Member organizations of the TRWC to align infrastructure projects with broader City and TRWC objectives.
Ensuring timely preparation and evaluation of RFPs/RFQs, managing vendor contracts, actively managing and monitoring budgets, and ensuring compliance with safety, permitting and other legal requirements.
Addressing public concerns regarding wireless communications network impacts and engaging with external Public Safety organizations, school districts, and other public entities to explore partnerships and wireless communications network and shared communications site opportunities.
Ensuring timely troubleshooting and inspections of communications systems at remote locations.
Participating and providing managerial leadership in wireless communications network lifecycle planning, budgeting, and technology road mapping.
Building an effective working relationship with the TRWC Executive Director.