This is a non-merit system, employment-at-will, long-term contract position. This role is eligible for a hybrid work schedule (must work 3 days in office upon approval).
The Deputy Director, IT Strategy & Architecture is responsible for defining the overall IT strategy and architecture for WSSC Water. The role creates a compelling vision for the future and inspires others to achieve it. S/he is responsible for keeping abreast of emerging trends in water and wastewater with an emphasis on Smart Water technology and IT in general, identifying opportunities where technology can be leveraged to achieve business objectives and develop appropriate strategies and plans to ensure the evolution and adoption of technology in advance of business needs. Additionally, the role defines necessary change management plans to ensure successful adoption across the Commission.
The Deputy Director, IT Strategy & Architecture is further responsible for ensuring alignment with the overall strategic plan of the Commission, understanding its objectives and milestones and developing appropriate plans to ensure success in achieving the goals of the strategy. With an emphasis on engagement and collaboration, the Deputy Director of IT Strategy & Architecture works with all levels of the organization to help identify the various business challenges to achieving the objectives and helps to develop programs to elevate the use of technology to drive operational improvements, customer and employee engagement and service excellence.
- Essential FunctionsCollaborates closely with the CIO and other IT Deputy Directors to identify and select IT solutions necessary to support the strategy, vision and mission of WSSC Water; ensures the IT strategic plan is aligned with and in support of WSSC Water’s Commission-wide strategic plan
- Supports development of budgetary projections for IT strategy in collaboration with other IT Deputy Directors and CIO
- Manages the development, communication, and implementation of a comprehensive IT strategic plan in collaboration with the CIO and IT Deputy Directors
- Manages the execution of the IT strategic plan
- Understands, helps to refine, advocates for, and supports the implementation of WSSC Water’s overall IT strategic plan that includes both business projects and IT foundational projects
- Works with business leaders and IT leadership to ensure the IT strategic plan anticipates new and evolving business requirements and industry trends
- Helps promote innovation and the use of technology to optimize business processes and enhance informed decision-making
- Works with IT Deputy Directors, IT Architects and the CIO to develop multi-year budgets and plans that ensure WSSC Water’s IT environments anticipate future needs and support evolving customer and business needs
- Evaluates new technologies; works with other IT Deputy Directors and business partners to introduce new products and services used in the current market with features that could potentially improve efficiencies and lower expenses throughout WSSC Water
- Ability to identify, assess and recommend innovative use of technology to drive business benefits
- Supervises employees including selecting or recommending selection, training, assigning and evaluating work, counseling, disciplining, and/or termination or recommending termination
- Other FunctionsMonitors and evaluates the performance of teams and business processes to assist departmental staff in streamlining tasks and initiating new or revised systems approaches as appropriate
- Works collaboratively across the enterprise to build a roadmap that defines the migration of the organization to the envisioned future state architecture
- Serves as the subject matter expert and advisor on technology strategies and recommendations to promote best practices and ensure alignment with the future state architecture
- Participates in architectural efforts at all levels and continually assesses project architecture for improvements based on lessons learned from implementation projects
- Develops executive-level presentations for external audiences to highlight the IT Strategy and Architecture
- Stays current on IT and industry trends and evaluates appropriateness for WSSC Water and develops strategies for implementing technologies that enhance benefits to the business
- Ensures the enterprise application’s design aligns and evolves with strategic architectural direction and leverages the company’s technical infrastructure environment, including legacy application, to maximize operational performance and business value; works with technology and business teams to create a technical framework for deployment of technology
- Reviews hardware/software decisions (as required) within WSSC Water to identify improvement opportunities from the findings of a technology-based assessment
- Develops multi-year budgets and plans that ensure WSSC Water’s infrastructure and support teams’ responsiveness to evolving technology needs
- Performs related duties as required
- Work Environment And Physical DemandsBusiness casual office settingRequired Knowledge, Skills, And AbilitiesIn-depth understanding of all aspects of IT including: systems development, operations, networking (wired and wireless), telecom (both traditional PBX and VoIP), mobility and cyber security
- Experience implementing, managing and operating solutions based on traditional IT, operational technology (SCADA), Internet of Things (IoT) in both on-premises and cloud environments
- Experience with implementing, managing and operating advanced meter reading infrastructure solutions for a large utility
- Ability to assess risks, evaluate alternative mitigation strategies and ensure impacts are effectively managed
- Familiarity with cyber security and cyber resilience requirements in a critical infrastructure environment including for both IT and OT platforms
- Experience with managing and supporting on-premise and multi-cloud deployments
- Solid understanding of solution acquisition lifecycle, vendor management and financial management
- Ability to communicate effectively across all levels (including Commissioners) of the organization’s complex technology issues and influence the decision-making process
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage numerous projects and activities concurrently, ensuring the priorities are correct and assigned, and initiatives are completed within schedule and budget
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent vendor management skills with strong negotiation skills to ensure best value acquisitions of technology
- Strong customer focus skills with the ability to anticipate customer requirements and translate into practical solutions, assist customers in developing goals and objectives and drive solutions to business challenges
- Ability to work well with employees from different disciplines with varying degrees of technical experience, create excitement, and drive organizational change
- Knowledge of HR policies, performance coaching, planning and strategic management
- Familiarity with Oracle Enterprise Business Suite, Windows 365, AWS, Azzure and IBM product suites
- Minimum Education, Experience RequirementsBachelor’s degree and 10+ years professional IT experience in cyber security, networking and communications technology, system support, system development, and system implementation for both on-premise and cloud solutions in a complex 24/7/365 environment supporting mission-critical operations that include:
- 5+ years of management experience that includes employee supervision
- Experience in TOGAF, Zachman, NIST or similar architecture frameworks, including recommending and leading the implementation of a best-in-class EA management software to oversee, manage, maintain, document, and communicate, over 5 layers of enterprise architecture
- Experience in the concurrent management of multiple projects comprised of employees and multiple vendors with a demonstrated track record of successful on-time and on-budget delivery
- Comprehensive understanding of financial management concepts for both on-premise and cloud-based IT deployments
- Comprehensive understanding and experience managing complex cyber security/resilience challenges in the critical infrastructure sector
- Leading the design, development, and implementation of scalable and secure enterprise-wide solutions, encompassing applications, infrastructure, data, and integration layers
- Additional RequirementsCompletion of the WSSC Water Financial Disclosure statement within 30 days of employment and annually thereafterPreferencesBroad understanding of water/wastewater utility operational systems, specifically in the areas of customer service, plant operations, financial operations, and utility asset management
- Excellent project management skills and experience with multiple implementation approaches including waterfall and Agile
- Extensive experience working for a water, gas, or electric utility company
- Comfortable with change and driving innovation
Salary$183,025 - $311,638
Posting Detail Information
EEO StatementAN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Commission to select new employees and to promote current employees without regard to race, sexual orientation, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, or handicap. The Commission does not discriminate against qualified individuals with a disability and will make reasonable accommodation for any disability that does not result in undue hardship for the Commission.Close DateOpen Until FilledYesSpecial Instructions to ApplicantsAdditional InformationAll applicants selected will be subject to drug screening and a background check/verification.
