Director of Information & Operational Technology
American Water Works Association, Charlottesville, VA, United States
Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority
Charlottesville, Virginia
Lead Technology. Protect Critical Infrastructure. Serve Your Community.
The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) is seeking a strategic and forward-thinking Director of Information & Operational Technology to lead enterprise technology and mission-critical operational technology systems that support essential water, wastewater, and solid waste services for the Charlottesville–Albemarle region. This is a unique opportunity to oversee both enterprise technology systems, data, and industrial control systems (SCADA/ICS) that directly impact public health, environmental stewardship, and infrastructure resilience.
Position Overview - Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Information & Operational Technology provides executive leadership for all technology functions, including IT infrastructure, data, cybersecurity, SCADA systems, telecommunications, and enterprise applications. This role serves on the Authority’s senior leadership team and plays a key role in strategic planning, risk management, emergency preparedness, and long-term capital investment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Lead enterprise-wide technology strategy aligned with organizational goals
- Serve as a member of the senior management team
- Drive innovation, resiliency, and modernization initiatives
Cybersecurity & Risk Management
- Oversee enterprise and industrial cybersecurity programs
- Lead risk assessments, incident response, and business continuity planning
- Ensure secure integration between Informational Tech and Operational systems
Technology & Systems Oversight
- Direct enterprise IT systems (ERP, cloud, networking, telecommunications)
- Oversee SCADA, PLCs, RTUs, and industrial control infrastructure
- Manage vendor relationships and system lifecycle planning
Division Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing technology team
- Establish performance metrics and service standards
- Ensure staffing, succession planning, and professional growth
Capital Planning & Budgeting
- Develop and manage operating and capital budgets
- Lead multi-year technology capital improvement planning
- Oversee procurement and contract management
Emergency & Essential Operations
- Serve as technology lead during emergency response events
- Ensure continuity of critical systems during outages or incidents
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or related field required.
- Master’s degree in a related field is preferred
- 10+ years of progressive experience in Technology and/or industrial control systems
- 7+ years of leadership or management experience
- Experience in utilities, municipalities, or critical infrastructure is preferred
- Demonstrated expertise in cybersecurity, infrastructure, and technology governance
- Professional certifications (e.g., PMP, CISSP, CISM, CRISC, GICSP) preferred
- Strong leadership and strategic decision-making skills
- Deep understanding of enterprise technology, data architecture, and industrial control systems, with the ability to align systems to organizational and operational needs
- Ability to communicate complex technical issues to executive leadership
- Experience managing risk in highly regulated or mission-critical environments
Work Environment & Expectations
- Combination of office, field, and facility environments
- Occasional exposure to industrial settings and active infrastructure sites
- Participation in emergency response and after-hours support as needed
- Position designated as Essential Personnel