Manager, Software Development at New York ISO

The New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) applies cutting-edge technology to operating a reliable electricity system, managing competitive markets for wholesale electricity, and planning for the Empire State's energy future.  The NYISO’s Information Technology department invites applications for a full-time Manager, Software Development to support the Enterprise Reporting Analytics team.

The Software Development Manager is responsible for directing a team of Software Engineers and QA professionals in all phases of the Software Development Lifecycle related to the design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance of software products. This role will collaborate across other IT teams as well as Product and Project Management to ensure the on-time delivery of high-quality software changes that meet functional requirements and adhere to IT best practices related to software development, security, and test automation.  Our Software Development Managers play a critical part in the reliability of the New York State electric grid and markets. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage a staff of approximately 10 Software Engineers and QA professionals with a budgetary impact of over $1 million. 
• Lead processes for creating, enhancing, developing, evolving and improving internal products as identified in the product portfolio.
• Produce and own product development roadmaps. Consider regulatory requirements, the NYISO strategic plan, Information Technology strategy, internal and external stakeholder input.
• Recruit, develop and retain highly talented technical staff and maintain a balanced mix of technical skills to handle current and future business and technical needs. Build and maintain team bench strength to ensure the ongoing ability to provide effective software development and testing. 
• Develop and mentor direct reports to ensure ongoing team professional development, including setting individual and team goals and managing performance. 
• Empower team to meet the product and project objectives using software development and testing best practices. 
• Collaborate with other Software Development Managers to ensure compatibility with other company produced software and coordinate software releases. 
• Contribute to scope definition for projects, review and approve software requirements and design specifications, work with business analysts and customers to understand and effectively communicate functionality and design alternatives.
• Identify and facilitate the resolution of open questions related to project requirements, scope, and schedule. 
• Coordinate with other IT teams across projects to develop a test strategy including the usage of testing environments to ensure all project schedules are met and overlapping efforts do not invalidate testing efforts. 
• Plan and coordinate with other IT teams to ensure system maintenance activities are achieved without conflicting with business plan commitments. 
• Stay current with technical best practices and trends to develop and maintain IT standards and documentation.
• Partner with Internal Audit team to ensure adherence to current regulations and compliance obligations. 
• Own the software development, testing activities, and resource assignments for all development projects impacting your team’s applications. Ensure best practices are utilized throughout the software development life cycle.
• Create and provide development tasks and estimates; collaborate with project managers to monitor progress, remove roadblocks for teams and ensure plans are maintained and communicated to key personnel and appropriate work groups on a regular basis. 
• Participate with IT management in the development of IT strategic goals and plans, participate in the development and continuous improvement of the NYISO software engineering processes and best practices.
• Ensure IT strategic goals and plans are Create and maintain IT Roadmap documents outlining plans and progress towards achieving IT strategic goals for the applications supported by your team. Maintain and provide related metrics to IT Senior Management. Meet monthly with IT Senior Management to review plans and progress.
• Manage the coordination of development and testing activities to optimize efforts, facilitate the identification and removal of defects during system and user acceptance testing, and ensure that software quality objectives are achieved. 
• Ensure appropriate software documentation is created and maintained including deployment plans, maintenance and support plans, developer guides, etc. 
• Own and manage product support and related on-call rotational assignments for continuous (24x7x365) business operation for all applications that your team owns. 
• Participate in a 24x7 on call rotation on a regular basis where you will be expected to manage critical priority triages of software, network, and other NYISO systems, lead the service restoration efforts, and communicate status to Senior Management.
• Manage change requests, incidents, customer inquiries, and problem tickets to ensure prompt follow-up and timely resolution. 
• Understand and adhere to ITIL processes and best practices related to change and incident management.
• Build and maintain a relationship with third-party software vendors. Ensure work is appropriately prioritized, quality and support levels are sufficient and escalate with vendor support hierarchy as necessary.
• Develop and maintain a team budget, create 5-year projections for capital and non-capital spending. Partner with NYISO Procurement team to negotiate with vendors for favorable contract terms, purchase prices and maintenance costs. 
• Collaborate with IT Management in setting the overall IT department budget. 
• Collaborate with Senior Management to develop and implement Information Technology policies and procedures.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position does possess supervisory responsibility and there are non-supervisory employees who report to this position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in Computer Science, Information Technology, Management, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related field.
• Minimum seven years related experience demonstrating progressively more responsibility (e.g., software development, project management, technical lead and/or supervision).
• Minimum two years’ experience leading a team of software developers or other technical specialists.
• Minimum three years’ experience working in mission critical / enterprise information technology environment.
• Minimum five years’ experience in a full software development life-cycle environment.
• Experience in the energy industry highly desired but not required.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Fundamental understanding of enterprise information technology including network, storage, database technology, languages and tools, and application architecture. 
• Basic understanding of the economic fundamentals of IT management (budgets, project estimates, cost estimates, labor rates,).
• Good understanding of the essentials of business systems architecture. 
• Demonstrated ability to operate successfully in a highly regulated environment. 
• Capable of analyzing and interpreting professional journals or technical procedures. 
• Self-directed and independent worker and manager with the ability to take direction from a manager and implement it without direct supervision. 
• Able to communicate with technical and non-technical people including customers and vendors. 
• Able to lead meetings and present to 50 or more people. 
• Ability to exert leadership in a highly collaborative environment.
• Strong team orientation. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to perform routine office tasks. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Contact with staff and public will occur. Travel may be required to attend and/or conduct meetings, conferences and training. This position may require work on nights, weekends or holidays.

The NYISO takes pride in recruiting, developing and retaining highly talented individuals. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a comprehensive benefits package and innovative reward programs.

The NYISO offers the flexibility to work both in the office and remotely, providing our employees with an enhanced work life balance. While the majority of the responsibilities of this role can be performed remotely, in most cases, employees will have periodic on-site requirements based on business needs.

All offers of employment will be made contingent upon the successful completion of a drug screening and background check.

The NYISO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and as such, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices.