IT Program Manager (Austin Water)

City of Austin•Austin, TX

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

IT Program Managers deliver technology services and business enabling solutions with great agility and leverage, magnify and improve existing best practices to complete incredibly complex Citywide initiatives. Ensures the best possible use of all resources to deliver maximum value and benefit to the portfolio while also developing the leaders of tomorrow. Serves as City IT’s expert and primary resource for the oversight, management, and performance of the lifecycle of City IT investments and initiatives. As the water utility industry undergoes a major digital transformation, the convergence of Information Technology (IT), Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has created a complex regulatory and security landscape. The IT Program Manager will serve as a Utility Technology Compliance Program Manager, bridging the gap between technical innovation, project execution, and rigorous regulatory oversight. This role ensures that Austin Water’s infrastructure from billing systems to SCADA networks and sensors remains secure, resilient, and fully compliant. This position ensures compliance is not just a goal, but a verifiable, ongoing state that protects public health and mitigates legal risk. This position will manage compliance programs for critical utility technology systems, including IT and OT environments. The successful candidate will act as the primary liaison for internal and external audits, including EPA, State, and third-party reviews. This role requires strong project management skills combined with expertise in regulatory compliance and cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.

Requirements

Knowledge of project management methodologies (for example, that of the PMI, PRINCE2 and agile approaches) and PLC stages.
Knowledge of systems development life cycle concepts and methodologies.
Knowledge of project planning/scheduling tools (for example, Microsoft Project and Open Workbench).
Knowledge of emerging tools and technologies in information technology and their applications to business processes.
Knowledge of methods and practices for defining project strategy and plan, driving continuous improvement, and defining and operationalizing project roadmaps.
Knowledge of contract types, contract procurement and administration processes, and building proposals.
Knowledge of the principles and methods to identify, analyze, specify, design, and manage functional and infrastructure requirements.
Skill in risk management, performance measurement, resource management, quality assurance, planning and scheduling, budgetary, project tracking and reporting, and contract management.
Skill in leading quality assurance and contract management skills.
Ability to make sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions.
Ability to remove barriers and enable teams to complete their objectives.
Ability to build team spirit to sustain cooperative working relationships.
Ability to train, coach, and mentor the team.
Ability to vary styles of interaction to match the needs of a variety of business and technical audiences.
Ability to resolve conflict by effectively dealing with disagreements and handling emotionally charged individuals.
Ability to make decisions independently and to assume higher-level leadership responsibilities in critical situations.
Ability to monitor shifting regulatory and geopolitical factors that can have an impact on project/portfolio success.
Ability to adhere to required compliance to all change management policies and procedures.
Ability to adhere to required compliance to all information security policies and procedures.
Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field related to the job, plus six (6) years of experience in a related field.
Experience may substitute for education for up to 4 years.
Master's Degree in a related field may substitute for two (2) years of experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Project Management and IT/OT audit or compliance.
Proven track record managing compliance in a critical infrastructure or highly regulated environment.
Familiarity with audit software and GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) tools.
Understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and regulatory mandates for utilities or other highly regulated entities.

Responsibilities

Manages and ensures successful delivery of critical and high-risk initiatives/programs.
Plans and facilitates project work efforts to deliver on time, in budget, and within scope in accordance with business priorities.
Reports on overall performance and progress of City-wide programs/initiatives and ensures project requirements are met.
Collaborates with project managers to execute project plans and identify & coordinate resource needs.
Evaluates and manages trade-offs between project size and complexity, cost, urgency, risk, and stakeholder value.
Leads cross-functional meetings and foster teamwork, drive escalation and resolution of issues.
Partners with stakeholders to define success metrics, and ensure effective, high-quality program and project outcomes that produce value.
Tracks program status and manages program team complexities to mitigate issues & risks.
Ensures programs adhere to City IT project methodology compliance standards.
Ensures program execution resources collaborate and operate efficiently and effectively together to meet the program goals and objectives.
May be responsible for the full range of supervisory activities: selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.