T&D Gis Modernization Product Owner

At Tacoma Power, we understand that the power utility industry is currently experiencing a period of significant transformation. The Transmission and Distribution (T&D) system is being asked to do more because of changes in our environment and the need to support future electrification. Therefore, Tacoma Power has embarked on a series of value streams to modernize and keep current our key operational technologies like our Graphical Information System (GIS). To better support our organization and the GIS product, we have adopted an Agile support model called DevOps. One of the key leaders to the DevOps model is the Product Owner who is responsible for the direction of the GIS Product for the T&D team. This position makes GIS product decisions, manages the product backlog, cultivates user stories, develops success (acceptance) criteria, and ensures the work the team performs is in alignment with the T&D business.
The Product Owner cultivates relationships with many key subject matter experts and supervisors across Tacoma Power by meeting with the regularly to understand the team needs so that User Stories, Business Process and Test Plans are developed and vetted.
The Product Owner is a key part of the organizational change management effort from the impact of ongoing evolution of the GIS environment, solutions, and integrations. The Product Owner will work with other staff, change management professionals, development professionals and testing professionals to ensure there is criteria, thresholds, and program metrics to support mitigation strategies for implantation risks and impacts to ensure the needs of stakeholders' needs are met as they use new systems and processes.
The Product Owner is responsible to drive several meetings including Program Increment (PI) Planning and Sprint Planning meetings. The Product owner will lead the team through exercises to ensure the proper success criteria is developed for each adopted User Story.
The Product Owner also has a key role in making determinations of priority of GIS support issues. The Product Owner can make recommendations on support requests or system failures to redirect team resources to deal with emergent issues that impact the business or schedule the development of solutions in future iterations of development.
The Product Owner works in a matrixed organization comprised of cross functional teams from T&D, Utility Technology Services, ITD, and venders.
We look forward to welcoming you to Tacoma Power, where your skills and commitment to asset management will be highly valued. Join us in making a positive impact on the future of our power utility services.
Responsibilities include:

• Plans and coordinates difficult assignments and projects requiring additional experience/knowledge at the GIS data mapping journey-level.
• An incumbent performs the full range of duties that demonstrates advanced broad practical knowledge in a variety of processes, methods, techniques, and best practices as a GIS mapping professional with an understand of T&D infrastructure attributes, and design.
• As an individual contributor, work involves developing, planning and coordinating complex GIS user stories and success criteria, the modification of established guidelines like the Agile ways of working, and the initiation of new approaches, making and prioritizing daily Scrum work assignments, conducting work reviews, training staff in work procedures, and providing input to formal supervisors.
• Make GIS product decisions. Responsible for reviewing and prioritizing all work items on the Product Backlog. Determine the priority order of User Stories other Product Backlog Items through consultation with SMEs, Scrum Master, and Product Team.
• Manage subject matter experts. Develop and Maintain list of SMEs and their supervisors. Meet regularly with SMEs to create User Stories, Business Process, and Test Plans and vet team ideas. Direct and coordinate SMEs for testing, training and team consolation as related to the GIS Program.
• Collaborate/Lead Organizational Change Management Efforts. Lead meetings with the T&D Section Managers and ASMs regularly to ensure they are aware of the project progress, key milestones, high level items they should be aware of, upcoming resource needs impacting staffing, OCM communication to staff, and other "Asks".
• Drive the Program Planning Meetings. As the Product Owner, Oversee and provide direction during the Sprint Planning meetings held every three weeks. Lead the project team through exercises to understand each of the User Stories, set the acceptance criteria so they can determine the level of effort to size the work. Be creative in breaking User Stories into smaller accomplishable stories or tasks. Get the team to commit to the User Stories.
• Deployment and Support of the GIS Product and Features. Implement continuous improvement projects or efforts to improve how GIS assets are managed. The Product Owner will determine when the product and subsequent features are released to production. The Product Owner will collaborate with subject matter experts, SMEs, and leadership to make this decision. The Product Owner will help the support team, champions, SMEs as users are using the product. The Product Owner will collect feedback that will be used in future releases. The Product Owner will continue to drive this value back into the Product Backlog.
• Communicate to internal customers regarding GIS Modernization efforts, and listen to and take action on feedback.

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree public or business administration or directly related field.
Minimum Experience*
2 years of analytical and/or program coordination/management work in area related to assignment
*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of educationLeading
Experience as a lead directing other GIS engineers or engineering technicians in setting priorities, managing workloads, setting goals for a work group. Experience in leading matrixed work groups without positional authority.
Business Background
A deep understanding of high voltage overhead and underground electrical power systems. An understanding of the electrical connectivity model and how T&D features are mapped and connected to one another. An understanding of T&D feature attributes, expected ranges, appropriate values and standardization. Experience with different mapping work products, their use and the stakeholders who depend on them.
Experience in creating, editing and building T&D electrical infrastructure in a GIS environment. Experience in creating, editing and building construction drawings in AutoCAD. Experience in interpreting As-Build data from T&D electrical infrastructure.

Agile
Training in the use of Agile principles to implement or configure software. Awareness of different Scaled Agile roles and agile process that are utilized in product development. Understanding and reasons for different Agile ceremonies. Experience as a Product Owner or as a Business Analyst developing requirements building epics, user stories, use cases, business requirements, business process designs for as-is and to-be cases, performing gap analysis, developing testing scenarios, desktop procedures and training scenarios. Understanding of DevOps and support models.
Effective Communication
Effective communication both verbal and in writing including the compilation of reports, presentations and records; interacting respectfully and sensitively with individuals and groups to develop and maintain productive relationships and achieve results. Makes excellent customer service a high priority, responding to changing customer needs, and helping customers implement complete solutions.
Professionalism
Conduct all assignments in a professional and timely manner, work with confidentiality and discretion. Work effectively through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics. Use a combination of feedback and reflection to gain productive insight into personal strengths and weaknesses.
Apply
Interested individuals should apply online and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities, and accomplishments related to this position.
Applications received without a cover letter and resume may not be considered.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received for interview consideration.
Reference checks will be conducted on final candidates.
Communication from the City of Tacoma:
We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.
If you have any additional questions regarding this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at 253.591.5400. Employment Type: Non-Classified