Director, Operations Technology

Department Statement

One of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (METRO)s key goals is modernizing its digital ecosystem. Focused on retiring its legacy information technology, Metro seeks to transform its operations and administrative processes through a portfolio of initiatives to streamline, innovate, and digitize its operations. The Director of Operations Technology is responsible for implementing and maintaining a strategic portfolio management process, policies, and procedures to assist in this transformation. By aligning project management methodologies, processes, tools, templates, education, and training with the overall strategic vision for a modernized digital ecosystem, they will manage an overall portfolio of initiatives. This is critical to the ability of the Digital Modernization organization to implement its strategy and organizational objectives. Developing, publishing, and managing an overall Digital Modernization strategic portfolio strategy is key to collaborating with stakeholders to meet Metros Strategic Transformation Plan.
As the Director of Operations Technology, you will lead the strategic development and implementation of IT solutions for bus transportation management. You will leverage automatic vehicle location software and other innovative tools to improve scheduling, routing, and fleet performance. You will collaborate with stakeholders to streamline processes, enhance service reliability, and drive technology-driven improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration or a related field
• In lieu of a non-technical or non-business-related degree a High School Diploma or GED with an additional four (4) years of experience in software development life cycle, change management, IT governance, performance metrics, managing and implementing company-wide IT policies are required

Experience

• Ten (10) years of experience working in, software development life cycle, change management, Information Technology governance, performance metrics, managing and implementing company-wide Information Technology policies. Must include five (5) years of experience in leading small to medium, cross-functional teams, projects and tasks.

Minimum Certification/Licensure

• N/A

Preferred Qualifications

• Incident/Risk Management
• Agile Scrum Master Certification

Medical Group

Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Job Summary

The Director, Operations Technology is a highly skilled senior management role within Digital Modernization that is intimately familiar with Transportation industry and Information technology modernization initiatives. The Director is responsible for leading all aspects of Information Technology delivery activities across a portfolio of applications, systems, and operations related technology supporting Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Operational and Business units. More specifically, the incumbent leads all components of program management disciplines including budget management, staffing, customer satisfaction and relationship management.

Essential Functions

• Leads the software engineering and system development efforts in support of WMATA Operations Technology. More specifically, responsible for managing the relationship with the business community and leads Digital Modernization resources to accomplish the objectives set for given programs.
• Plans and monitors programs by coordinating resources across all project teams and allocating funds as necessary.
• Works with WMATA Business Sponsors to understand their interests and needs and ensures that the program meets their specific needs and requirements over time.
• Manages the program budget, monitors expenditure and ensures the program achieves its financial and business goals.
• Ensures the appropriate solutions are developed and deployed on time for the operational and business community. Manages risk and takes corrective measures to resolve issues.
• Ensures stable operating conditions and greater system up-time of large Systems (such as Maximo, FARE Collection, SCADA systems, Enterprise Video systems, Para transit, Scheduling, Transportation, and Scheduling).
• Implements Industry best practices of enterprise software development life cycle management and standard tools that meets the business goals and vision of Digital Modernization to obtain economies of scale, re-establish mission focus, and reduce operational risk.
• Establishes the appropriate procedures and practices to ensure that common practices and policies are applied across the family of systems and solutions. Partners with the other Digital Modernization leaders to leverage common tools and techniques across the solution offerings.
• Develops and implements strategy for the program team, including developing a robust risk mitigation plan. Reports on program performance to Digital Modernization leadership team.
• Manages and oversees application development projects using project management techniques Works with Digital Modernization Management to create plans, set schedules, estimate resources, define milestones, track progress, and report on results.
• Identifies alternative solutions to unique business problems, integrates the work of others as a team or project, and predicts future environments or the impact on future processing.
• Keeps abreast of current practices and trends in application development and information technology management.
• Participates in defining technological strategic direction to Digital Modernization to ensure industry best practices are met, followed, and implemented.
• Acts as a liaison between Operations Technology and key stakeholders, such as state/local government officials, transit agencies, and other regional leaders, in application development projects.
• Guides Authority technology solutions for business problems. Assists offices in the identification of technology resource consolidation, information technology efficiencies, and leverages existing technology and resources.
• Assists offices in their information planning, develops information technology strategies, designs information technology solutions that align with information technology strategic direction, standards and develops information technology procurement such as developing Requests for Proposal (RFPs) and Requests for Information (RFIs) related to the tools and professional services needed specific to each Program's/Project's needs.
• Understands and follows the Federal/WMATA Contract Officers Technical Representative (COTR) process and procedure.
• Monitors the financial performance of assigned application development projects within Digital Modernization budget guidelines.
• Manages and forecasts technical infrastructure and maintenance budget for large Enterprise Resource Planning systems. Monitors activities of consultants and contractors employed on application development projects.
• Manages software procurement and maintenance contracts, consults with peers regarding hardware acquisitions as appropriate.
• Conducts technical review, assessment and recommendation for all related Operations Technology systems.
• Directs the support of the Authority's enterprise-wide mission critical software applications: Rail Operations Control Systems, work order management systems, internet and intranet applications, safety and public safety applications.
• Executes Software Quality Assurance and Configuration Management policies and procedures for all managed software/systems under their purview.
• Coordinates software changes and upgrades with vendors and other departments. Ensures day to-day technical operability of systems.
• Works with technical support to resolve system outages.

Other Functions

• Assists Authority with technology management improvement.
• Maintains and promotes awareness and accountability with safety policies and procedures while performing job functions.
• Maintains and promotes awareness and accountability with safety policies and procedures while performing job functions. Promotes a positive safety culture and encourages reporting of safety concerns consistent with our Agency Safety Plan, other regulatory requirements within the Safety Management System and just culture principles.

The functions listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.

Employers have access to artificial intelligence language tools (“AI”) that help generate and enhance job descriptions and AI may have been used to create this description. The position description has been reviewed for accuracy and Dice believes it to correctly reflect the job opportunity.