IT Project Lead

The IT Project Lead ensures the smooth operation, reliability, and security of Community Water Company’s information technology systems and services. This role is essential to aligning technical infrastructure with our mission of delivering clean, safe, and reliable water to the community.

This position serves as both a strategic leader and a hands‑on technologist. It leads all aspects of the IT program, from project execution and cybersecurity to vendor contract management and cloud integration. The IT Project Lead manages budgets, evaluates technologies, and ensures that IT operations comply with regulatory and organizational standards. This role leads a small in‑house IT team of two, with responsibility for coordinating external consultants and service providers, and may play a role in expanding internal IT capabilities over time.

Position Accountabilities

• Serve as the organization’s primary technical expert for Microsoft platforms (Outlook, Excel, Teams, SharePoint, One Drive, Business Central, etc.) and cloud technologies, including Microsoft Azure.
• Allocate time effectively across support (40%), project management (35%), and governance/documentation (25%) tasks.
• Troubleshoot and resolve hardware, software, and network issues; elevate as needed to external support vendors.
• Lead and manage IT projects, including upgrades, application deployments, and infrastructure enhancements, with a security-first mindset
• Develop and maintain documentation for IT procedures, user instructions, project plans, and security protocols.
• Provide training to staff and promote best practices for collaboration, productivity, and security.
• Manage onboarding and offboarding, including device provisioning and user access configuration.
• Develop and maintain an incident response plan and coordinate cybersecurity awareness training.
• Implement and monitor compliance with cybersecurity, licensing, and data privacy regulations (including Arizona state laws).
• Evaluate vendor contracts for technical merit, security risk, and cost‑efficiency; participate in vendor selection, contract negotiations, and standards reviews.
• Support budget planning and management for IT initiatives.
• Issue and review RFPs/RFQs as necessary to select external service providers or technology solutions.
• Represent IT during board meetings, staff updates, or public meetings as needed.
• Maintain an up‑to‑date IT asset inventory.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications and Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge and skills.

Required:

Microsoft 365 Certified:
Modern Desktop Administrator Associate or equivalent.

Preferred:
Certifications in Microsoft Teams, Dynamics 365, Azure Administration, Windows Server, and Active Directory.

Note:

Certifications are preferred over formal degrees for demonstrating current technical skills.

Experience (Technical): Proficiency in IT project management, cloud infrastructure, operating systems, and network administration. Understanding of security frameworks and risk mitigation strategies. Familiarity with hybrid IT environments spanning on‑premises and cloud platforms.

Remote Work: No

Citizenship: Must provide documentation showing U.S. Citizenship or right to work

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
and Additional Information

• Strong project management and vendor coordination capabilities.
• Ability to independently lead IT operations while engaging cross‑functional teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication, including the ability to convey technical topics to non‑technical audiences.
• Critical thinking, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• High attention to detail and accountability for follow‑through and documentation.

What It Takes to be Successful in This Role

• Leadership in IT governance, including cybersecurity and budget stewardship.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and staff enablement through technology.
• Strategic thinking in IT planning aligned with business and operational needs.
• Ability to balance day‑to‑day support with long‑term planning and infrastructure investment.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Must have legible handwriting. Able to sit for extended periods greater than 2 hours, read and comprehend content on computer screens, read font sizes of 10 points or smaller, and lift 10 pounds frequently and 25 pounds occasionally.

Conditions of Hire

• Must pass a medical examination to ensure fitness for duty