IT Project Manager Senior (Grid Operations Support)

City of Austin

5d•$97,450 - $125,200•Hybrid

About The Position

The ideal candidate will apply strong technical and interpersonal skills to deliver projects centered on operational technology and electric grid systems. Working closely with area-specific program managers, this role supports the utility’s grid resilience and modernization goals by understanding operational drivers and ensuring effective project execution. The position serves as the primary liaison with Planning, Engineering, Work Management, System Operations, and Field Operations to align on OT needs, field readiness, and system integration requirements. The candidate will define clear objectives for operational projects and ensure that foundational activities—such as stakeholder engagement, communication planning, risk assessment, milestone development, and resource coordination are completed to enable focused and successful delivery. This role ensures all OT projects meet established requirements, emphasizing system performance, field deployment needs, cost and resource management, and on time completion. It requires thorough documentation of each project phase and the accurate transition of operational and system information across functional teams. The position leads continuous improvement efforts for existing operational systems and processes and maintains reporting and dashboards related to project execution, operational readiness, resource use, vendor spend, and budget performance. The candidate will analyze operational requirements, translate them into functional specifications, and design cross-functional solutions while overseeing testing activities for OT and field integrated systems, including integration, performance, and user acceptance testing. The role follows established governance across project management, OT system development, testing, operations, service management, and change management. It also participates in evaluating new grid technologies and planning long-term roadmaps that support modernization and resilience. Additionally, the position provides coaching, guidance, and task assignments to project teams to ensure strong collaboration and successful outcomes in operational environments.

Requirements

Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
Knowledge of information technology project management principles, concepts, and practices.
Knowledge of system development lifecycle used for the development of new systems and enhancements to existing systems.
Knowledge of application programming, database, and system design.
Knowledge of XML and data interfaces.
Knowledge of internet and network architecture.
Knowledge of operating principles and information systems hardware and software.
Skill in using project management software.
Skill in developing process models and data flow diagrams.
Skill in selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new concepts.
Skill in facilitating meetings of diverse stakeholders.
Ability to develop written business requirements and models.
Ability to accurately identify and determine customer needs and take appropriate actions and/or steps to address identified needs.
Ability to recognize, value, and include different perspectives, experiences, approaches, and cultures in achieving organizational goals.
Ability to gain and maintain the trust and confidence of others and the organization through consistency and reliability.
Ability to give, receive, or share thoughts, ideas, perspective, and data to create shared understanding.
Ability to inspire, motivate, and influence others to achieve individual and collective goals.
Ability to make sound decisions in a timely manner that solve issues and stand the test of time.
Ability to recognize, plan, focus upon, and work toward what is most important or critical.
Ability to recognize strengths and areas for improvement in others and to provide opportunities, guidance, and encouragement to build skills and capacity.
Ability to recognize, manage, and resolve conflict efficiently and equitably.
Ability to see a broad view of an issue or challenge across typical organizational lines and beyond the present.
Ability to create, convey, and instill a unified vision and purpose.
Ability to see past the moment and adapt to a rapidly changing environment.
Ability to achieve organizational goals and objectives.
Ability to navigate relationships involving complex, emotional, and/or value-based issues in order to influence and achieve positive results.
Ability to define, analyze, and find solutions for difficult or complex problems.
Ability to view the big picture.
Ability to quickly become familiar with emerging technologies.
Ability to identify trends as well as isolated events.
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 four (4) years.
Master's Degree in a related field may substitute for two (2) years of experience.
This position requires a criminal background investigation and NERC Personal Risk Assessment.

Nice To Haves

Active Project Management Professional (PMP) or Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification, or the ability to obtain certification within six months of hire.
Experience working on projects within local, state, or federal government.
Experience leading and managing electric utility projects.
Experience driving enterprise‑level organizational change management initiatives.
Experience overseeing contracts and managing vendor performance and relationships.
Experience drafting business cases, statements of work, request for information/proposal and contract documents for external services and assets.

Responsibilities

Directs and manages enterprise/corporate level IT project development from beginning to end, including highly complex or at-risk projects, submitting proposals and recommending subsequent budget, scope, and schedule changes and/or contingency plans where necessary.
Develops project scope, cost estimates, human resource requirements, work plans, time schedules, communication plans, and makes work assignments to meet complex project or program objectives.
Writes Request For Proposals (RFP) for external services and manages contracts and vendor performance, deliverables, and payments.
Develops full-scale complex project plans and associated communications documents; identifies and manages project dependencies and critical path; and tracks and reports on project milestones and deliverables.
Develops written business requirements and models.
Provides leadership in discussions of project management department goals and objectives with IT senior management.
Estimates the resources and participants needed to achieve project goals and, where required, negotiates with other department managers for the acquisition of required personnel from within the City of Austin.
Defines the project success criteria and disseminates them to involved parties throughout the project life cycle.
Effectively communicates project expectations to sponsor team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion, and facilitates project management and project status review meetings.
Develops successful transition, training plans, and recognition for resources on the project team.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.