Manager Information Technology | Automation COE

Manager Information Technology | Automation COE

As the Manager of Automation Center-of-Excellence, you'll lead a high-performing team focused on enterprise-wide automation initiatives across infrastructure, platform, and application domains. This role focuses on advancing Infrastructure as Code (IaC), configuration management, and modern DevOps practices to improve scalability, reliability, and operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise with leadership capability, driving standardization and adoption of automation frameworks while enabling engineering teams to deliver high-quality, automated solutions.

You are responsible for:

Automation Strategy & Leadership

• Define and execute the enterprise automation strategy aligned with IT and business objectives.
• Establish the Automation COE as a governing body for standards, best practices, and reusable solutions.
• Lead and mentor a team of automation engineers.
• Promote a culture of automation-first thinking and continuous improvement.

Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

• Drive adoption of IaC practices using tools such as Terraform or Bicep/ARM.
• Develop standardized reusable modules and blueprints for infrastructure provisioning.
• Ensure version control, testing, and lifecycle management for all infrastructure code.
• Partner with cloud and infrastructure teams to design scalable, resilient, and secure environments.

Configuration Management

• Implement and maintain configuration management frameworks (e.g., Ansible, SCCM).
• Ensure consistent system configurations across environments (dev, test, prod).
• Promote immutable infrastructure principles where appropriate.
• Develop compliance and drift detection mechanisms.

DevOps & CI/CD Enablement

• Champion DevOps practices including continuous integration, delivery, and deployment automation.
• Design and optimize CI/CD pipelines using tools such as Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, or GitLab.
• Integrate security, compliance, and quality checks into pipelines (DevSecOps).
• Enable self-service platforms and developer productivity tooling.

Tooling & Platform Engineering

• Evaluate, standardize, and maintain enterprise automation and DevOps toolchains.
• Collaborate with platform engineering teams to build internal developer platforms (IDPs).
• Ensure integration across monitoring, logging, and automation systems.

Manager Information Technology | Automation COE

1) Directs the delivery and maintenance of quality information and communication systems solutions to support PNW business processes that follow all I/S guidelines and architectures. Ensures client assistance and 7 day per week/24 hours a day support for operational systems consistent with Service Level Agreements and business processes are optimized. Ensures preferred technical architecture and business requirements are balanced to provide effective information and communication systems solutions, sound architecture, and cross-system integration objectives.

2) Resolves technical issues and recommends and implements viable alternatives and solutions.

3) Ensures departmental costs remain within approved budget. Continually improves department work processes.

4) Develops unit level strategic plans that support corporate and I/S plans. Supports client planning process and prioritization for systems technology implementation. Assigns, directs, facilitates, reviews and approves unit work activities. Ensure effectiveness and productivity of the work unit.

5) Maintains knowledge and understanding of business processes. Manages, negotiates, and meets client's expectations.

Implements performance management programs. Spends time with staff on performance focusing. Develops and retains a highly skilled technical team including a supervisory backup. Actively seeks to improve own skills and knowledge to apply to current and emerging business and technical environment. Ensures appropriate staffing levels and that staff has technical skills and business skills to support objectives of the organization.

6) Acts to produce effective teams. Ensures the development of a cooperative culture that supports team accomplishments.

7) In a timely manner, communicates issues openly and honestly with staff, peers, management and customers.

This position may require access to and/or use of information subject to control under the Department of Energy's Part 810 Regulations (10 CFR Part 810), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 CFR Parts 730 through 774), or the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter M Part 120) (collectively, 'U.S. Export Control Laws'). Therefore, some positions may require applicants to be a U.S. person, which is defined as a U.S. Citizen, a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder'), a Political Asylee, or a Refugee under the U.S. Export Control Laws. All applicants will be required to confirm their U.S. person or non-US person status. All information collected in this regard will only be used to ensure compliance with U.S. Export Control Laws, and will be used in full compliance with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of national origin and other factors. For positions at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Stations (PVNGS) all openings will require applicants to be a U.S. person.

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates ('Pinnacle West') maintain a continuing policy of nondiscrimination in employment. It is our policy to provide equal opportunity in all phases of the employment process and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This policy of nondiscrimination shall include, but not be limited to, recruiting, hiring, promoting, compensating, reassigning, demoting, transferring, laying off, recalling, terminating employment, and training for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other classification or characteristic protected by law.

For more information on applicable equal employment regulations, please refer to EEO is the Law poster. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of every person hired to work in the United States, refer to E-Verify poster. View the employee rights and responsibilities under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Arizona Public Service is a smoke free workplace.