Manager Business Platform Solutions Customer and Communications

CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Manager, Business Platform Solutions - Customer and Communications role is responsible for solutioning how technology systems are designed to support strategic business initiatives and objectives for the Customer and Communications Platforms. This role serves as the primary strategic IT advisor to business leadership, and works to understand the business vision, strategy, and immediate needs. Using these requirements, this role guides relevant stakeholders through an assessment process that results in identifying optimal technical solutions to meet business needs, improve processes, and provide a competitive edge for the enterprise. The Manager, Business Platform Solutions - Customer and Communications will work with Solution Architects and Product Owners and lead the solutioning and designing of technology systems in accordance with standards, policies, and principles defined by Enterprise Architecture. This role is responsible for overseeing a continuous flow of value from all product teams within the Customer and Communications Platforms by ensuring a healthy architectural runway that aligns with the latest enterprise technology strategy.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Build strong relationships with business clients to understand demands and ensure architectural roadmap and strategy continually adapts to meet needs
• Deliver solution designs that when implemented result in the realization of business objectives and make a meaningful and measurable impact on the enterprise
• Provide functional and technical leadership to the Customer and Communications Platforms as it relates to product decisions, integration patterns and implementation approaches, cost estimation, and quality to ensure leadership can make decisions and plan technology budgets effectively
• Lead the solution design and collaborate with the architecture discipline on the approach to broader system design and testing of technology solutions
• Understand the assigned business function's vision, mission, and key objectives to shape the function's technology roadmap in collaboration with the business function leader (executive)
• Shape the architectural runway for the assigned business function to leverage technology in accordance with Enterprise Architecture standards while meeting business requirements and ensuring a continuous flow of value from all product teams aligned to the business function
• Consult business leadership on emerging technology trends and how they can be leveraged to enable business needs
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to support the prioritization of new demand and high-level solutioning to assess effort from a technical perspective
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture to drive solution design and system approaches while staying within architectural guardrails
• Collaborate with architecture and application teams to evaluate solution options, obtain stakeholder alignment, and recommend prioritization of solutions; includes understanding business drivers and justification, requirements gathering, effort estimation, resource planning, managing tech dependencies across platforms, and budget planning
• Collaborate with product teams through the quarter to remove technical impediments
• Understand and communicate technology trends to platform stakeholders to ensure the organization understands potential solutions to emerging business needs and challenges
• Manage day-to-day operations of a solution architecture team to design solutions
• Ensure that delivery of solutions meet requirements outlined in the design documentation for cross-domain platforms, applications, or for a specific segment (division / function) depending on alignment
• Communicate platform technology strategy, updates, escalation of risks/issues to multiple levels of management, including executive leadership teams across the organization
• Manage technical debt across products in the Customer and Communications Platforms
• Maintain familiarity with specific functions such as field operations, communications, legal, supply chain, etc.
• Develop and maintain experience with core components of CenterPoint's technology stack
• Apply agile principles to effectively manage, and hold team members accountable to execute on priorities
• Train their team on consulting skills needed to provide high-level product support
• Oversee budget management and solution estimates to provide input into Platform (assigned business function) financials as and when needed
• Identify if / when new product teams need to be stood up and the skills and capabilities needed to support the new product
• Advise on whether product teams have the appropriate skills and capabilities needed for successful product delivery
• Conduct performance appraisals and perform salary administration
• Contribute to and enforce technology policies and processes
• Ensure compliance with IT Sarbanes-Oxley controls and procedures
• Mentor, motivate, coach, and facilitate diversity on their team and provide feedback for team members
• Perform all aspects of work with a high degree of effectiveness, efficiency and accuracy

EDUCATION DESCRIPTION:

• Requires a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, systems analysis or a related area of study from an accredited college or university

EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 7 years-experience in managing solution design for different business units with practical experience in implementing, using, and supporting product delivery
• A minimum of 3 years-experience serving in a leadership role managing solution design for different business units with practical experience in implementing, using, and supporting product delivery
• Experience with management and delivery of systems supporting Customer and Communications business functions such as CRM, IVR, Marketing Automation, Web and Mobile application development
• Strong knowledge and skills in business process analysis, design, and requirements gathering
• Proven ability to apply process methodology to develop effective solutions to business problems
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication, and facilitation skills
• Exposure to applications developed using a varied mix of environments and/or programming languages
• Creative thinker and problem solver
• Self-starter who can interact effectively with business and technical team members, and in a team environment
• Must demonstrate commitment to compliance with applicable laws and regulations, the Company's Ethics and Compliance Code of Conduct, and other Company policies and procedures, and take all required training courses
• Must demonstrate respect for all individuals and adhere to the Company's values and business practices
• Experience and understanding of the electric and gas utility operation, or other similar regulated industries, demonstrating an ability to navigate and excel in regulated environments.
• Proficiency with desktop productivity and collaboration tools, such as MS 365 suite of products

We want you to know

Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It's an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we'll create a better tomorrow together.

What we bring to you

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

Job Type:Full Time

Posting Start Date: 02/18/2025

Posting End Date: 03/07/2025

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR * 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a), and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

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