Operations Program Manager

Job Description THIS IS AN ONSITE POSITION BASED IN AUSTIN, TEXAS - NO REMOTE OR HYBRID AVAILABILITY FOR THIS POSITION The Operations Program Manager is the planning and execution engine of VVater's Operations organization. Reporting to the Director of Operations, you build the plans, the schedules, the systems, and the coordination that turn strategy and vision into work that is executable and measurable. You are the person who takes a big goal and turns it into a project plan with owners, dependencies, and dates. You build the Gantt chart. You stand up the dashboard. You run the cross-functional coordination between manufacturing, field ops, engineering, procurement, and O&M. You build the lightweight tools and automations that make the whole operation run faster. You track the metrics and surface the problems before they become fires. WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS This role exists to bring rigorous planning, systems, data, and coordination to a fast-scaling Operations organization. Working in close partnership with the Director of Operations and the broader operations team, the Operations Program Manager provides the structure and tooling that turn strategy and vision into executable plans and measurable results. It is a true partnership seat, and success is measured by how much more the entire Operations organization can accomplish because of it. You translate the plan into specific, assigned actions, and you make sure every team knows what to do and by when. WHAT THIS IS — AND WHAT IT IS NOT This role IS: The planning, scheduling, and program-management backbone across manufacturing, field ops, and O&M A systems-and-tools builder who creates dashboards, trackers, automations, and lightweight internal apps A cross-functional coordinator who keeps every team aligned and every project on track A data and reporting engine that gives leadership real-time visibility AI-native and software-fluent; you build tools, not just use them A high-versatility Swiss Army knife who can jump across many types of problems This role IS NOT: A single-function production scheduler who only touches the factory floor A people-management or P&L-ownership role (the Director of Operations owns that) A purely administrative coordinator role (this requires real planning and technical skill) A specialist who only does one thing A 9-to-5 (more on that below) We will be direct, because that is one of our values. This role is demanding. VVater moves at an uncommon pace, and Operations sits at the center of it. Production deadlines are real. Field deployments happen on their own schedule. Problems do not wait for Monday. We are not asking anyone to grind for the sake of grinding. We are transparent and respectful of personal time when the operating tempo allows. But this is a foundational seat in a fast-scaling operations organization, and the right person is energized by that pace rather than drained by it. If you need rigid, predictable hours and fully defined work, this is not your seat. If you love bringing order to fast-moving complexity and being the person who makes the whole operation run, this is exactly where you want to be. Key Responsibilities Planning & Program Management Build and maintain project plans, schedules, and Gantt charts for all major operations initiatives across manufacturing, field deployment, and O&M, including critical path, dependencies, milestones, resource conflicts, and recovery plans. Define scope, milestones, dependencies, owners, and timelines; track progress and drive accountability to dates Manage multiple concurrent programs and projects, keeping all of them visible and on track Anticipate bottlenecks, resource conflicts, and schedule risks, and resolve them before they become problems Run planning tools such as Microsoft Project, or equivalent modern project and work-management platforms Cross-Functional Coordination Coordinate across manufacturing, field operations, engineering, procurement, quality, and O&M to keep work flowing Run the operating cadence, including production and project standups, status reviews, and cross-team syncs Serve as the connective tissue that keeps every team aligned on priorities, timelines, and hand-offs Translate the Director of Operations' vision and priorities into concrete, assigned, tracked action Data, Reporting & Dashboards Build and maintain operations dashboards and reporting across production output, project status, KPIs, utilization, and performance metrics Use Power BI, Excel, or equivalent tools to turn raw operational data into clear, actionable visibility for leadership Establish and track the metrics that matter across manufacturing, field ops, and O&M Provide the Director of Operations and executive team with accurate, real-time operational reporting Systems, Tools & Automation Build internal tools, trackers, and automations that make the operations organization faster and more efficient Vibe-code internal applications, automations, dashboards, forms, and workflows when a fast build beats a slow manual process or an expensive vendor tool. Use modern AI tools (Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Grok, and others) to accelerate planning, documentation, analysis, and coordination Own and improve the operations technology stack in coordination with IT, including work-management, ERP, scheduling, and reporting tools. Operations-side power user/administrator, not just familiarity. Document processes, build SOPs, and create the operating infrastructure that lets the organization scale Execution Support Jump in wherever the operation needs an extra set of capable hands; this is a high-versatility role Support procurement, logistics, and materials coordination as needed to keep production and field work moving Prepare operational documentation, reports, and presentations for internal and customer-facing use Take ownership of ad-hoc operational projects and see them through to completion Qualifications 5+ years in operations program management, project management, production planning, manufacturing operations, or a similar structured operations role Demonstrated mastery of project planning and scheduling (Microsoft Project, Gantt charts, or equivalent) with a track record of keeping complex projects on time Strong data and reporting skills (Power BI, advanced Excel, or equivalent); you can turn operational data into clear dashboards and insights Software and technical fluency; comfortable learning and configuring tools, and able to build lightweight internal tools or automations, including vibe-coding with modern AI Hands‑on fluency with AI tools (Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, or equivalents) Experience in manufacturing, hardware, industrial, construction, energy, or field services operations Familiarity with ERP and MRP systems, work‑management platforms, and manufacturing or field‑service software PMP, CAPM, CPIM, Lean, or Six Sigma certification Experience supporting both factory/production operations and field operations or O&M Real examples of internal tools, dashboards, automations, or apps you have personally built Water, wastewater, or utility industry exposure Proven cross‑functional coordination experience; you have kept multiple teams aligned and moving Exceptional organization, attention to detail, and follow‑through Strong written and verbal communication Comfort with ambiguity and rapid change; ability to work independently and build your own structure Bachelor's degree in engineering, operations, supply chain, business, or equivalent practical experience As a part of our process to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of all applicants, assessment tests are required as part of our recruitment process. Unfortunately, should you elect not to participate in completing the assessment tests, your application will not be able to progress to the next stage or will not be taken into consideration during evaluation. #J-18808-Ljbffr