Program Manager

​

Job Req ID: 1085 

Division: Innovation & Technology Management 

Salary Range: $184,205.00 to $184,205.00 

Job Type: Unclassified     

Business Area: Public Utilities 

Personnel Area: PU Administrative Services 

Closing Date: 10/30/2026 

​

Under the general direction of the Deputy Director of the Innovation and Technology Division within the Public Utilities Department (PUD), the Program Manager, Enterprise Programs and Performance provides strategic leadership, organizational oversight, and operational direction for three critical functional areas: Project Management and Governance, Data Analytics and Reporting, and Enterprise Asset Management.

This position exercises a wide range of leadership and management to ensure effective, efficient and innovative technology services and solutions are delivered. It is responsible for establishing and maintaining an integrated framework for program and project delivery, enterprise performance measurement, data-driven decision-making, and lifecycle asset management. The Program Manager ensures that enterprise initiatives, technology investments, business processes, and performance reporting are aligned with departmental priorities, regulatory obligations, infrastructure reliability, financial stewardship, and the delivery of safe, reliable, and cost-effective water and wastewater services. 

Minimum Requirements:

• A bachelor's degree in Information Systems Technology, Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Data Analytics, Project Management, or a related field; and
• At least ten (10) 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.

Key Areas of Responsibilities:

The Program Manager, Enterprise Programs and Performance will:

Project Management and Governance

• Establish, lead, and continuously improve an enterprise project and program management framework that supports 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 that communicates project status, financial performance, schedule variances, risks, resource constraints, and measurable business outcomes.
• Manage the team responsible for providing project management oversight for PUD information technology projects and applications.
• Collaborate with PUD staff and the City's Department of Information Technology (DoIT) to promote alignment with ITIL best practices and effective governance of mission-critical and business-critical systems.

Data Analytics and Reporting

• Provide strategic direction for enterprise data analytics, business intelligence, performance reporting, and data integration capabilities that support 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 the consolidation and effective use of PUD's extensive data resources.
• Establish and maintain processes that enable departmental divisions to report on 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.

Enterprise Asset Management

• Provide strategic leadership for the department's enterprise asset management program, including the governance, optimization, and effective use of SAP to support asset lifecycle management.
• Oversee the 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.

Enterprise Performance and Organizational Leadership

• Integrate project governance, data analytics, and enterprise asset management into a coordinated operating model that improves departmental planning, execution, performance visibility, and accountability.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to departmental leadership on enterprise performance, program delivery, systems capabilities, process improvement, and organizational readiness.
• Collaborate regularly with the IT senior leadership team, PUD business divisions, and the City's Department of Information Technology to exchange information, gather feedback, plan future 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 consistent with the standards of a world-class water utility.

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

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• A master's degree or advanced education in information technology or a related field is highly desirable. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is also highly desirable.
• 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.
• Experience managing complex projects and programs, including resource allocation, budget development and forecasting, schedule management, stakeholder engagement, implementation, and project closeout.
• Broad technical knowledge and the ability to foster creative, innovative, and effective problem-solving among staff.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage time-sensitive initiatives while maintaining progress on long-term strategic projects.
• Ability to translate organizational vision and strategy into actionable plans, roadmaps, and measurable results.
• Strong organizational skills and the 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.
• Proven ability to build, develop, and retain high-performing teams of IT professionals committed to continuous improvement and exemplary customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Strong business and political acumen, with the ability to work effectively with executive leadership and navigate complex organizational environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational skills and 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.
• A commitment to integrity, public service, fiscal responsibility, innovation, and organizational excellence.

The Department: 

The City of San Diego, through the Public Utilities Department, owns and operates the Water and Wastewater Systems. The Water System serves the City and certain surrounding areas, including retail, wholesale and reclaimed water customers. The Water System’s service area covers 403 square miles, including 342 square miles within the City, operates and maintains roughly 3,300 miles of drinking water pipelines, and has approximately 1.4 million retail customers. The Wastewater System consists of two sub-systems: the Municipal Sub-System and the Metropolitan Sub-System. The Municipal system is a sewage collection and conveyance system for the City’s residents, and the Metropolitan system treats and disposes of the wastewater generated by the City and 12 members of the Metro Joint Powers Authority who represent 15 other cities and districts surrounding the city. The wastewater system covers approximately 450 square miles, operates and maintains roughly 3,000 miles of wastewater pipelines, and serves a regional population of over 2.3 million customers. For more information, please visit the Department on the City's website.

The City:

With more than 1.4 million residents, the City of San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and the second largest in California. The City of San Diego’s strong economy, diverse population, great educational institutions, unsurpassed quality of life, and world-renowned location make it the ideal place to work, live, and play. With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and major attractions, San Diego has something to offer for everyone.

The City’s Mission, as stated in the Strategic Plan is “Every day we serve our communities to make San Diego not just a fine city, but a great City.” The City’s Vision is "Opportunity in every neighborhood, excellent service for every San Diegan". 

As one of the region’s largest employers, the City of San Diego employs nearly 13,000 highly dedicated employees and has a combined Fiscal Year 2027 operating and capital budget of approximately $6.42 billion. Additional information about the City of San Diego can be found on the City’s website.

Benefits:

The City offers a robust benefits package that includes:

• Defined retirement plan, including pension reciprocity, dependent on an employee’s eligibility status (new hire, rehire, etc.). 
• A wide variety of cafeteria-style health and wellness plans or in-lieu cash waiver.
• 11 paid City holidays per calendar year and 1 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+ 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, and complimentary LinkedIn Learning professional development opportunities.
• Free transit pass (including MTS Trolley, MTS Bus, and all Rapid and Rapid Express bus services).
• Access to premier City golf courses at a discounted rate. 
• Reduced-rate fitness center memberships.
• City-paid life insurance. 

For additional details, please review the Benefits Summary for Unclassified Employees  (Download PDF reader) or contact the Benefits Division of the Risk Management Department at (619) 236-5924. 

Pre-Employment Requirements and Screening Process:

Employment offers are conditional, pending the results of all screening processes applicable to the position. All the processes required by the City of San Diego must be successfully completed before employment begins. Please refer to the City’s pre-employment requirements and screening process webpage for additional information.  Nothing in this job posting constitutes or should be construed as part of an express or implied contract for employment with the City of San Diego. 

Resumes will be screened according to the qualifications outlined above and the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview.   

 
The City of San Diego has an active Equal Opportunity/ADA Program for employment and vigorously supports diversity in the workplace.