Director, Technology - Strategic Programs
American Water, Camden, NJ, United States
Job Title
Director, Program Management - Strategic Programs
Compensation Salary Range: $145,600 - $231,400. Eligible for annual incentive pay and continued salary growth based on market, geography, skills, education, and experience. American Water is committed to pay equity.
Benefits Comprehensive package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental, vision coverage, disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, and health and wellness programs.
Primary Role This position oversees multiple complex, multi‑disciplinary programs, driving cross‑functional execution for the organization’s critical business initiatives. The role coordinates activities across many projects, managing the main program with attention to strategy, delegation, and implementation. It focuses on coordinating projects, monitoring milestones and deliverables, managing dependencies and critical paths, and providing strategic guidance to teams and project managers while adhering to governance, standards, and processes. The position also ensures alignment of company strategies across functions and subsidiaries, leads collaboration with internal and external resources, resolves issues and conflicts, and promotes consistent team execution. The individual serves as the primary liaison between program sponsor and execution teams.
Key Accountabilities
Supports program strategic objectives as determined by the program sponsor.
Oversees daily program activities with program managers and teams; performs administrative tasks such as driving schedules, generating correspondence, maintaining document repositories, and planning and coordinating meetings.
Acts as liaison between program sponsor and other teams to coordinate delivery of information and direction.
Oversees strategic business and/or technology initiatives, from current state through successful execution, under senior leadership guidance.
Assists and communicates with executives for decision‑making, program management, and initiative implementation.
Serves as a program subject‑matter expert: answers inquiries, develops action plans, and aids in preparing and disseminating communications.
Ensures program tasks and activities run smoothly relative to business and/or technology activities.
Leads teams, eases communication, and unites people across the organization to advance the program.
Partners with change management and communication resources to enable successful rollout and adoption of program changes.
Ensures business value realization and optimization, from value plans through consulting, business‑case development, financial awareness, managing expectations, and identifying business opportunities to add value.
Key Skills
Confident leader with dotted‑line relationships.
Strong cross‑functional leader.
Understanding of the American Water business, its processes, and systems.
Ability to summarize and synthesize issues, risks, and potential solutions.
Confidence in presenting to senior leadership and the Executive Leadership Team.
Capability to address complex issues directly and with tact.
Strong knowledge of end‑to‑end program and project management.
Self‑Management
Proven success in a business‑management role.
Experience with executive‑level advising and interdepartmental collaboration.
Positive approach to doing what’s best for the organization.
Ability to build engagement and alignment across functional areas and hold team members accountable.
Experience / Education
10+ years in business or technology management / operations.
5+ years with American Water specific operations, processes, and systems.
2+ years of project/product management experience.
Experience working in a dynamic and rapidly changing/ambiguous environment.
Bachelor’s in Business Administration or related field, or equivalent experience. Master’s or MBA is a plus.
PMP certification is a plus.
Travel Requirements As necessary.
Additional Skills
Leadership.
Decision‑making.
Organizing and directing multiple teams and departments.
Planning and leading large strategic initiatives.
Multi‑tasking and managing fast‑moving teams and environments.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; proven ability to work effectively at all levels.
Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for managing multiple program phases.
Strong strategic skills to develop long‑term visions and translate them into actionable roadmaps broadly accepted.
Presentation skills engaging audiences from frontlines to the ELT.
Ability to articulate vision of transformation efforts and a sense of mission.
Willingness to take charge and provide direction.
Results orientation; commitment to direction and driving actions to completion.
Demonstrated ability to manage adversity and challenging situations.
Ability to manage senior relationships across all business and functional areas.
Collaborative team‑player oriented toward work relationships, strong culture awareness.
Effectiveness in building trust, respect, and cooperation among teams.
Proven success in a project coordination role.
Nimble business mind focused on creative solutions.
Competencies Competencies relevant to this role include strategic thinking, leadership alignment, cross‑functional collaboration, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
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Compensation Salary Range: $145,600 - $231,400. Eligible for annual incentive pay and continued salary growth based on market, geography, skills, education, and experience. American Water is committed to pay equity.
Benefits Comprehensive package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental, vision coverage, disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, and health and wellness programs.
Primary Role This position oversees multiple complex, multi‑disciplinary programs, driving cross‑functional execution for the organization’s critical business initiatives. The role coordinates activities across many projects, managing the main program with attention to strategy, delegation, and implementation. It focuses on coordinating projects, monitoring milestones and deliverables, managing dependencies and critical paths, and providing strategic guidance to teams and project managers while adhering to governance, standards, and processes. The position also ensures alignment of company strategies across functions and subsidiaries, leads collaboration with internal and external resources, resolves issues and conflicts, and promotes consistent team execution. The individual serves as the primary liaison between program sponsor and execution teams.
Key Accountabilities
Supports program strategic objectives as determined by the program sponsor.
Oversees daily program activities with program managers and teams; performs administrative tasks such as driving schedules, generating correspondence, maintaining document repositories, and planning and coordinating meetings.
Acts as liaison between program sponsor and other teams to coordinate delivery of information and direction.
Oversees strategic business and/or technology initiatives, from current state through successful execution, under senior leadership guidance.
Assists and communicates with executives for decision‑making, program management, and initiative implementation.
Serves as a program subject‑matter expert: answers inquiries, develops action plans, and aids in preparing and disseminating communications.
Ensures program tasks and activities run smoothly relative to business and/or technology activities.
Leads teams, eases communication, and unites people across the organization to advance the program.
Partners with change management and communication resources to enable successful rollout and adoption of program changes.
Ensures business value realization and optimization, from value plans through consulting, business‑case development, financial awareness, managing expectations, and identifying business opportunities to add value.
Key Skills
Confident leader with dotted‑line relationships.
Strong cross‑functional leader.
Understanding of the American Water business, its processes, and systems.
Ability to summarize and synthesize issues, risks, and potential solutions.
Confidence in presenting to senior leadership and the Executive Leadership Team.
Capability to address complex issues directly and with tact.
Strong knowledge of end‑to‑end program and project management.
Self‑Management
Proven success in a business‑management role.
Experience with executive‑level advising and interdepartmental collaboration.
Positive approach to doing what’s best for the organization.
Ability to build engagement and alignment across functional areas and hold team members accountable.
Experience / Education
10+ years in business or technology management / operations.
5+ years with American Water specific operations, processes, and systems.
2+ years of project/product management experience.
Experience working in a dynamic and rapidly changing/ambiguous environment.
Bachelor’s in Business Administration or related field, or equivalent experience. Master’s or MBA is a plus.
PMP certification is a plus.
Travel Requirements As necessary.
Additional Skills
Leadership.
Decision‑making.
Organizing and directing multiple teams and departments.
Planning and leading large strategic initiatives.
Multi‑tasking and managing fast‑moving teams and environments.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; proven ability to work effectively at all levels.
Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for managing multiple program phases.
Strong strategic skills to develop long‑term visions and translate them into actionable roadmaps broadly accepted.
Presentation skills engaging audiences from frontlines to the ELT.
Ability to articulate vision of transformation efforts and a sense of mission.
Willingness to take charge and provide direction.
Results orientation; commitment to direction and driving actions to completion.
Demonstrated ability to manage adversity and challenging situations.
Ability to manage senior relationships across all business and functional areas.
Collaborative team‑player oriented toward work relationships, strong culture awareness.
Effectiveness in building trust, respect, and cooperation among teams.
Proven success in a project coordination role.
Nimble business mind focused on creative solutions.
Competencies Competencies relevant to this role include strategic thinking, leadership alignment, cross‑functional collaboration, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
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