Business Systems Manager

City of Galveston; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Galveston seeks a Business Systems Manager to guide its enterprise applications and business systems. You will partner with city departments to translate needs into technical solutions, oversee implementations, and ensure reliable, secure systems that support efficient public service.

You will supervise staff, manage vendors, and coordinate data reporting, security, and access controls while balancing operational support with strategic improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in IT or related field with 10 years’ enterprise systems experience.
• At least 5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Experience with enterprise systems across multiple departments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversees daily operations of the business systems function, including administration, support, maintenance, upgrades, integrations, and reporting.
• Supervises staff, sets performance expectations, coordinates training.
• Partners with department leadership to identify requirements and propose improvements.
• Leads system implementations and major enhancements from requirements through deployment.
• Ensures security, compliance, and data protection across applications.

Skills

Enterprise application administration

Business process analysis

Project management

SQL / relational databases

Reporting tools

System integration

Application security & data protection

Software procurement / contracts

Staff supervision / leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in information technology, information systems, business administration, or a related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Description SUMMARY:

An island community rich in history and opportunity, Galveston is the ideal place to live, work and raise a family!

The Business Systems Manager plans, directs, and oversees the City’s enterprise applications and business systems. This position works with City departments to evaluate business needs, improve processes, and implement technology solutions that support and enhance effective service delivery to internal and external customers. The manager is responsible for application support, system implementations, integrations, reporting, vendor coordination/management, and the supervision of assigned staff. The position establishes priorities and ensures business systems are reliable, secure, and aligned with City objectives. The business systems manager augments business team capabilities as senior advisor/technical lead and subject manager expert.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manages the daily operations of the business systems function, including application administration, support, maintenance, upgrades, integrations, and reporting.
• Supervises assigned employees; establishes performance expectations, assigns work, evaluates performance, identifies training needs, and supports professional development.
• Partners with department leadership and system owners to identify business requirements, evaluate existing processes, and recommend improvements.
• Develops and maintains a prioritized work plan that balances operational support, system improvements, and project commitments.
• Oversees enterprise applications supporting functions such as human resources, payroll, finance, permitting, utility billing, fleet management, public safety, municipal court, and document management.
• Leads system implementations and major enhancements, including requirements gathering, configuration, data conversion, testing, training, deployment, and transition to ongoing support.
• Develops work plans related to data conversion validation, testing and training for the enterprise team and business stakeholders to ensure successful implementations.
• Establishes application support procedures, service expectations, escalation practices, and documentation standards.
• Coordinates the investigation and resolution of complex application issues, recurring problems, and service disruptions.
• Oversees interfaces and integrations between systems to support accurate, timely, and secure data exchange.
• Coordinates the development and maintenance of reports, dashboards, and data extracts to support departmental operations and management decisions.
• Works with department data owners to improve data quality, establish validation practices, and resolve data discrepancies.
• Coordinates application access and security roles with system owners and appropriate IT personnel, consistent with approved access requirements.
• Establishes change management practices for application configuration, releases, upgrades, and integrations, including testing and business approval.
• Manages vendor relationships, monitors service delivery, escalates unresolved issues, and evaluates vendor performance.
• Assists with software selection, procurement, contract review, licensing, renewals, and budget development.
• Maintains an inventory of supported applications, integrations, licensing requirements, support arrangements, and system lifecycle needs.
• Coordinates with Infrastructure Services and IT Support Services to resolve issues and support system availability, performance, security, and recovery.
• Ensures application procedures, configurations, integrations, and support responsibilities are documented and maintained.
• Communicates project status, operational risks, resource needs, and recommended actions to the CIO and department stakeholders.
• Supports the relationship between the City of Galveston and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors, and City staff; maintains confidentiality of work-related issues and City information;
• Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Employees may at any time be required to work in order to provide for the safety and well-being of the general public, including the delivery and restoration of vital services, in the event of an emergency.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Exercises direct supervision over assigned personnel, including recruitment, work assignments, scheduling, performance evaluations, coaching, and corrective action consistent with City policies.
• Coordinates the work of consultants, contractors, and vendors supporting business systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Enterprise application administration, configuration, support, and lifecycle management.
• Business process analysis, requirements gathering, and workflow improvement.
• Project management principles and system implementation practices.
• Relational databases, SQL, reporting tools, and system integration concepts.
• Application security, role-based access, change management, and data protection practices.
• Software procurement, licensing, contract administration, and budget preparation.
• Principles of employee supervision, performance management, and staff development.

Ability to:

• Translate departmental needs into clear business and technical requirements.
• Evaluate competing priorities and allocate staff and resources effectively.
• Lead projects involving multiple departments, vendors, and technical teams.
• Analyze complex problems, identify root causes, and implement practical solutions.
• Explain technical issues and recommendations to nontechnical audiences.
• Establish productive working relationships and resolve disagreements professionally.
• Hold employees and vendors accountable for service quality and commitments.
• Exercise independent judgment and protect confidential information.
• Prepare clear reports, procedures, project plans, and recommendations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, information systems, business administration, or a related field, and ten years of progressively responsible experience supporting or implementing enterprise business systems, including five years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and directly related experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting municipal government or other public-sector business systems.
• Experience managing enterprise resource planning systems or applications supporting multiple departments.
• Experience with business process analysis, systems integration, reporting, and data conversion.
• Experience managing software vendors, contracts, and implementation projects.
• Relevant certifications in project management, IT service management, or business analysis.

Compensation Range DOQ

The City of Galveston is an equal opportunity employer and will consider only the qualifications of the applicants. The City does not tolerate any form of discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, or physical/mental disability in employment or provision services.

Galveston Island is a coastal barrier island located along the Gulf Coast of Texas. Galveston's convenient coastal location along with its close proximity to Houston, has contributed to the city becoming the economic engine it is today - including being the employment center of Galveston County. The City of Galveston has a population of approximately 50,000 and is home to key industries in medicine, education and maritime.