Enterprise Applications Manager

Enterprise Applications Manager 

Non-Union Position
Applications Support Group 2; Portland, Oregon (US-OR)  

Hybrid schedule available for Oregon & Washington residents. 
Regular FT 
Posting # 5386  

 

About Us:

At NW Natural, we offer more than rewarding career opportunities and a vibrant, inclusive work culture. We invite you to join us in providing safe and reliable utility services and renewable energy to better the lives of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be the leader in service excellence, innovation and environmental stewardship for our customers, while building on our strengths as a trusted energy provider and environmental leader for our industry.  

 

In addition to environmental stewardship, we’re also deeply committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at NW Natural. Our DEI Council started 21 years ago, and today we continue to foster a culture where all employees can experience a sense of belonging, shared purpose and possibility.
 

The Role:

The Operations Manager will lead the Enterprise Applications team supporting Engineering and Operations. This role is responsible for managing the people, processes, and technology supporting enterprise work management, geospatial, and engineering solutions. The Operations Manager will ensure that critical applications are stable, scalable, secure, and aligned with business needs while driving continuous improvement and enabling innovation.

Day to Day:

• Team Leadership & Management
• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of application analysts, developers, and support specialists.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture with an emphasis on accountability, growth, and customer focus.
• Oversee resource planning, workload distribution, and staff development.
• Application & Operations Management
• Own the lifecycle of enterprise applications supporting work management, geospatial, and engineering functions.
• Ensure application reliability, performance, and compliance with IT standards.
• Partner with vendors, consultants, and internal stakeholders to optimize and evolve systems.
• Strategy & Planning
• Collaborate with IT leadership and business stakeholders to develop the roadmap for enterprise applications within Engineering and Operations.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and system enhancements.
• Drive adoption of best practices, governance, and standards in application management.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Act as the primary liaison between IT and business partners in Engineering and Operations.
• Understand business requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Ensure alignment of application capabilities with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Financial & Vendor Management
• Manage budgets, forecasts, and cost optimization for assigned applications and services.
• Negotiate and manage vendor contracts, service level agreements (SLAs), and license renewals.

Come on your first day with:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of IT experience, with at least 3 years in an application management or operations leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience managing enterprise applications in Engineering, Geospatial (GIS), or Work Management domains.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven track record of delivering stable, secure, and scalable IT solutions.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with enterprise GIS platforms (e.g., Esri ArcGIS).
• Familiarity with Work Management systems (e.g., SAP, Maximo, or similar).
• Experience in utilities.
• ITIL certification or practical knowledge of ITIL processes.
• Strong vendor management and contract negotiation skills.
• Key Competencies
• Leadership & Team Development
• Business Acumen
• Strategic Planning
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making
• Communication & Collaboration
• Change Management

What we offer:

Health & Wellness –

• Rich health insurance benefits with competitive employer contribution
• Free access to an online wellness resources platform 

 

Work Life Balance -

• Up to 23 Vacation Days 
• 80 Hours of Sick Time 
• 10 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays
• Flexible work arrangements 
• 3 weeks paid parental leave
• Green Team / Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council / Safety Team / Women’s Netw