Senior Director, Project & Program Controls

Summary

The Senior Director, Project & Program Controls is responsible for driving disciplined execution, transparent performance management, and consistent delivery of operational, capital, and maintenance programs across the Operations Business Unit. Working in close partnership with Project Delivery and Operating Facilities, this role leads the integration of standards for cost, schedule, risk, and scope management to ensure effective full life‑cycle project delivery.

The Senior Director also guides the development of operating budgets and capital investment proposals, ensuring that decisions support long‑term organizational needs and infrastructure priorities. Through strong cross‑functional collaboration and data‑driven oversight, this role strengthens delivery excellence, enhances governance practices, and supports NYPA’s mission by enabling the successful execution of all work programs. #LI-VB1

Responsibilities

• Understand, communicate, execute tasks and/or implement elements of the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA’s) Asset Management System as defined in Business Unit Policies and Procedures established to support NYPA’s Asset Management Policy CP 10-5 and NERC Reliability Standards Compliance program as defined in Utility Operations Business Unit Policies and Procedures established to support Corporate Policies CP 10-4 and CP 2-9. Provide leadership, motivation and collaboration which are critical for successful asset management and NERC Reliability Standards Compliance.
• Oversee the overall strategy of the business and facilitate the implementation of investments to realize organizational values and goals
• Direct, plan and successfully deliver the short- and long-range investment portfolios, consistent with asset, organizational and corporate strategy plans, and performance targets.Identify, prioritize, and initiate projects originating from the Regional Asset Management Plans (RAMPs) and CAMP that are strategic improvements to the Asset Management Plan or that mitigate risks associated with current assets.
• Ensure the development of business case assessments that provide business justification and cost analyses for successful decision making.
• Direct analytical and functional support in the areas of investment planning and resource development.
• Manage and communicate portfolio change management and risk mitigation across all associated business units.
• Provide comprehensive, reliable data analysis and strategic information for Operations Senior Leadership.
• This position has the potential to have a direct role in emergency preparedness, incident management or response and as such will require training in the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• Develop and implement a project controls center of excellence.
• Develop consistent program management plans across the entire work portfolio that include standardized project coding structures and financial authorization, project estimates, schedule management, cost plans and performance reports. Control the application of consistent work breakdown structures aligned with various financial business units and work management systems.
• Oversee the development and management of work estimates, work schedules and cost plans that identify project historical, current, and future costs as well as financial performance measures.
• Oversee the integration and management of project cost and schedule including planned and actual comparisons as well as forecast analysis, offering information to mitigate future work risk.
• Set, monitor, and improve the processes and standards for consistent and accurate program-wide reporting which identify current performance, cost or schedule trends and improvement recommendations
• Oversee the management of scope change and project risk, its impact to various aspects of project performance, and communications to key stakeholders around potential impacts and mitigation tactics.
• Oversee the effective implementation of new control processes that drive improvement (i.e. document control, change management, contract management)
• Ensure that work performance measures are established and baselined, continuously monitored and communicated, and all lessons learned ultimately built into future planning efforts.
• Conduct on-going risk analysis using key risk indicators and other risk identification methods considering both likelihood and impact of risks; develop formal risk response plans for risks above accepted risk appetite levels as prescribed in the AM Risk Framework.
• Oversee the processing of procurement transactions using standard processes and documents to manage project and program delivery

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership and influencing capabilities to align Project and Program Controls with NYPA’s current and emerging strategic objectives. Ability to influence and manage performance across project and program stakeholders – providing clarity in purpose, context and actions required to affect sustainable improvements in performance.
• Superior analytical problem-solving ability for dealing with escalated issues from projects under management. Technical and financial integrity earned through demonstrated success in implementing of large, complex projects or programs, managed from project initiation through implementation and lessons learned.
• Program and portfolio management and the associated methodologies, techniques, processes, and approaches (i.e., Project and Portfolio Management – PPM).
• Strong understanding of all project and portfolio management tools and software.
• Proficient in project control practices including work estimating, scheduling, cost management, document control and change management.
• Knowledge of the utility industry, current trends, strategies, challenges, etc. and operating practices.
• Ability to advise and influence various groups within the organization of established policies, procedures and business processes to ensure adherence and conformity within the Authority.
• Detail-oriented and organized; ability to manage and interpret large volumes of data.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; excellent presentation skills.
• Strong managerial, communication and interpersonal relationship skills with the ability to work with various functional groups of all skill levels.
• Ability to effectively operate within a large, dynamic environment with experience in senior level management.

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technical or business-related field.  An MBA or advanced degree in a related field is preferred.
• Minimum ten (10) years of utility industry experience in power plant/transmission engineering, construction, or project management.
• Minimum five (5) years’ experience in utility finance or planning function with budgeting and/or portfolio management expertise.
• Minimum 3 years of experience managing employees / leading a team.

Physical Requirements

Up to 25% travel primarily within NY State