Program Manager

City of San Diego

1d • $184,205 - $184,205

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Deputy Director of the Innovation and Technology Division within the Public Utilities Department, the Program Manager, Enterprise Programs and Performance provides strategic leadership, organizational oversight, and operational direction for Project Management and Governance, Data Analytics and Reporting, and Enterprise Asset Management. The role establishes and maintains an integrated framework for program and project delivery, enterprise performance measurement, data-driven decision-making, and lifecycle asset management. It aligns enterprise initiatives, technology investments, business processes, and performance reporting with departmental priorities, regulatory obligations, infrastructure reliability, financial stewardship, and the delivery of safe, reliable, and cost-effective water and wastewater services.

The position is accountable for business strategy, governance, service outcomes, and functional priorities across its assigned areas. It is not responsible for serving as the technical administrator of individual systems. The Program Manager works collaboratively with IT leadership, technical teams, business divisions, and citywide technology partners to ensure technology services meet departmental needs and support operational objectives.

The City of San Diego Public Utilities Department owns and operates the Water and Wastewater Systems. The City employs nearly 13,000 employees and has a combined Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budget of approximately $6.42 billion.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems Technology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Data Analytics, Project Management, or a related field.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible professional experience, including project management, contract administration, vendor management, policy and procedure development, business process evaluation, and systems and solutions design and analysis.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the information technology industry, emerging technologies, and evolving technical and operational practices.
• Ability to independently evaluate complex issues, make sound decisions, and implement solutions with significant financial and operational implications.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills, including the ability to identify business needs and recommend practical, innovative solutions.
• Broad technical knowledge and ability to foster creative, innovative, and effective problem-solving among staff.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple initiatives, competing priorities, and complex operational demands.
• Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams and foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Strong business and political acumen, with ability to work effectively with executive leadership and navigate complex organizational environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, and strong attention to detail.
• Proven experience in budget development, financial oversight, and resource management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and broad-based experience managing large, complex IT programs within a diverse public- or private-sector organization.
• Commitment to integrity, public service, fiscal responsibility, innovation, and organizational excellence.

Nice To Haves

• A master's degree or advanced education in information technology or a related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Responsibilities

• Establish, lead, and continuously improve an enterprise project and program management framework supporting departmental priorities, operational initiatives, technology implementations, process improvements, and strategic investments.
• Develop and maintain standardized project management policies, procedures, methodologies, templates, reporting requirements, and governance practices.
• Develop executive-level portfolio reporting on project status, financial performance, schedule variances, risks, resource constraints, and measurable business outcomes.
• Manage the team providing project management oversight for Public Utilities Department information technology projects and applications.
• Collaborate with Public Utilities Department staff and the City's Department of Information Technology to promote alignment with ITIL best practices and effective governance of mission-critical and business-critical systems.
• Provide strategic direction for enterprise data analytics, business intelligence, performance reporting, and data integration capabilities supporting water and wastewater utility operations.
• Oversee the effective use and continued development of Snowflake as an enterprise data platform, Tableau for analytics and visualization, and MuleSoft for application integration and data exchange.
• Promote data integration and reconciliation across SAP and other departmental systems through appropriate enterprise data architecture, application interfaces, and data management practices.
• Manage the team responsible for departmental data governance, reporting, and consolidation and effective use of Public Utilities Department data resources.
• Establish and maintain processes enabling departmental divisions to report operational performance and business outcomes using consistent, reliable data.
• Serve as the department's liaison to the City's Chief Data Officer and promote alignment with citywide data governance and reporting initiatives.
• Provide strategic leadership for the department's enterprise asset management program, including governance, optimization, and effective use of SAP to support asset lifecycle management.
• Oversee development and continuous improvement of asset management policies, procedures, standards, data structures, business processes, and performance measures.
• Promote consistent asset data standards, asset hierarchies, asset criticality classifications, location structures, naming conventions, and lifecycle records across water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Integrate project governance, data analytics, and enterprise asset management into a coordinated operating model that improves departmental planning, execution, performance visibility, and accountability.
• Advise departmental leadership on enterprise performance, program delivery, systems capabilities, process improvement, and organizational readiness.
• Collaborate regularly with the IT senior leadership team, Public Utilities Department business divisions, and the City's Department of Information Technology to exchange information, gather feedback, plan initiatives, and identify and address process breakdowns affecting technology service delivery.
• Identify opportunities for continuous service improvement, develop and implement process improvement recommendations, and escalate issues for resolution as necessary.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Manage complex projects and programs, including resource allocation, budget development and forecasting, schedule management, stakeholder engagement, implementation, and project closeout.
• Translate organizational vision and strategy into actionable plans, roadmaps, and measurable results; manage competing priorities and time-sensitive initiatives while progressing long-term strategic projects.
• Lead, develop, and retain high-performing IT teams and establish effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Benefits

• Defined retirement plan, including pension reciprocity, subject to employee eligibility.
• Cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or an in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and one floating holiday per fiscal year.
• Approximately 176 hours of paid annual leave for an employee's first 15 years of service and approximately 216 hours for 16 or more years of service.
• Up to 24 hours of paid discretionary leave per fiscal year.
• Up to 320 hours of paid parental leave per childbirth or placement of a child.
• Up to 40 hours of paid bereavement leave per fiscal year.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per fiscal year.
• Complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass covering MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and Rapid and Rapid Express bus services.
• Discounted access to City golf courses.
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance.

What This Job Offers

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