Operational Technology (OT) Program Manager (SCADA)

Job Title: Senior Operational Technology (OT) Program Manager (SCADA)

Houston, TX - Hybrid onsite (minimum 3 days per week in office, up to 2 days working remotely).

Project Leadership & Execution:

• Manage the IT lifecycle of OT projects from initiation to completion, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Drive IT/OT integration initiatives, ensuring seamless collaboration between enterprise IT and industrial control systems (ICS).
• Collaborate: Work closely with industrial automation teams and stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, deliverables, and success criteria for OT digital deliverables.
• Act as the primary contact and coordinator between the Industrial Automation Department and the Digital departments that support Operational Technology.
• This role will track and facilitate IT processes for the Operational Technology on behalf of the Industrial Automation Department.
• Develop Plans: Create project plans, including timelines, budgets, resource allocation, and risk mitigation strategies, tailored to the specific needs of OT environments.
• Manage Execution: Oversee project execution, ensuring tasks are completed on time and within budget, while maintaining quality standards and addressing any roadblocks.
• Integration: Facilitate seamless integration of IT solutions with existing industrial automation systems, minimizing disruptions and maximizing compatibility.

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Act as a liaison between IT, operations, and engineering teams to align OT initiatives with business objectives.
• Coordinate with cybersecurity teams to ensure OT systems adhere to industry security standards (e.g., NIST, ISA/IEC 62443).
• Work with vendors and service providers to deliver high-quality OT solutions while managing contracts and service agreements.

Risk Management & Compliance:

• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to OT project execution and cybersecurity threats.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations (e.g., NERC CIP, FDA, ISO 27001) and internal IT/OT governance policies.
• Implement best practices for change management, system resilience, and disaster recovery in OT environments.

Technical & Business Alignment:

• Oversee the IT responsibilities in the deployment of SCADA, DCS, MES, PLC, and other industrial automation systems.
• Support IT/OT infrastructure initiatives, including edge computing, cloud integration, and IoT deployments.
• Stay up to date with emerging OT trends, technologies, and regulatory changes impacting the organization.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Industrial Automation, or a related field (Master s preferred), or 10 years of experience
• 5+ years of project management experience in Operational Technology (OT), IT/OT convergence, or industrial automation.
• Strong experience in leading large-scale OT transformation projects within a corporate IT environment.
• Expertise in project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, PMP, PRINCE2).
• Knowledge of ICS, SCADA, MES, IIoT, and cybersecurity frameworks (e.g., NIST, IEC 62443).
• Experience with cloud-based OT solutions (AWS, Azure IoT, Edge Computing).
• Strong understanding of networking, industrial protocols (Modbus, OPC UA, Ethernet/IP), and OT cybersecurity.
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.

Helpful Certifications:

• PMP (Project Management Professional)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified SCADA Security Architect (CSSA)
• ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Expert
• Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing Certification

Must Have Skill (Top 3):

1.) Project Management create and manage schedules, manage costs/resources

2.) Strong written and verbal communication & interpersonal skills

3.) Familiarity with Industrial Automation, SCADA, Operational Technology, Networking, Cybersecurity

Prior applicable job experience:

1.) PM experience in a field-level software and/or hardware technology rollout to large organizations

2.) Experience in coordinating cross-functional teams in an industrial automation context within a large corporation

3.) Developing and facilitating adoption of standards in the domain of Software, Operational Technology, SCADA, networking, and/or Cybersecurity