Director, IT Infrastructure and Operational Technology

Nexus Water Group; Sugar Land (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off: Starting at 3 weeks annually

Health and Wellness Benefits

401(k) Program with Matching Contribution

Professional development opportunities

Life insurance and Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Nexus Water Group is seeking a Director of IT Infrastructure and Operational Technology based in Sugar Land, TX. The role entails leading the strategy, security, and performance of IT infrastructure and operational technology to support reliable water and wastewater operations.

Key responsibilities include overseeing IT and OT functions, maintaining security, and managing teams. Ideal candidates should possess a bachelor's degree in a related field and have extensive leadership experience in IT and operational technology.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience.
• 5+ years of experience with operational technology systems in utility or critical infrastructure.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Lead IT Infrastructure and OT Security functions.
• Execute IT and OT strategy aligned with business goals.
• Partner with Cybersecurity to maintain security posture.
• Manage capital and operating budgets and vendor relationships.

Skills

IT infrastructure management

Operational Technology (OT) security

Team leadership

Cybersecurity principles

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Engineering, or Computer Science

Job description

Overview

The Director, IT Infrastructure and Operational Technology leads the strategy, security, and performance of IT infrastructure and OT systems that support safe, reliable water and wastewater operations.

This role will oversee both IT Infrastructure and OT Security functions, ensuring strong integration between enterprise systems and industrial control environments. You'll partner closely with cybersecurity and operational teams to maintain secure, reliable, and modern technology environments that enable continuous service delivery.

Work Location

• Role is based at our Sugar Land, TX office
• Primarily office-based with some travel to operational and field locations (up to 20%)

What We Offer

• Paid Time Off: Starting at 3 weeks annually along with 11 company-paid holidays.
• Health and Wellness Benefits: The first day of the month after your start, you'll have access to your health, dental, prescription and vision benefits to help you stay well.
• 401(k) Program with Matching Contribution: We offer a 100% match on contributions up to 4% of your salary, plus an additional 3% employer contribution.
• Grow With Us: Professional development opportunities through training, professional certifications, and education allowance.
• Additional Benefits: Other great benefits include company provided life insurance and Employee Assistance Program just to name a few.

What You'll Do

• Lead two functional teams - an Operational Technology (OT) Security team overseeing industrial control systems and SCADA, and an IT Infrastructure team overseeing data centers, networks, cloud platforms, unified communications, and telecommunications
• Lead and execute IT and OT strategy aligned with business goals, regulatory requirements, and capital planning
• Ensure reliability, availability, and lifecycle management of systems supporting utility operations
• Partner with Cybersecurity to maintain a strong security posture across IT and OT environments
• Develop teams across IT Infrastructure and OT Security, building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Manage capital and operating budgets, vendor relationships, and strategic technology partnerships
• Establish performance metrics, service levels, and operational processes to support a 24/7 utility environment
• Serve as a senior technology advisor to leadership and represent the organization in industry and regulatory forums

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive IT leadership experience
• 5+ years of experience working with operational technology systems (e.g., SCADA, RTUs, PLCs) in a utility, energy, or critical infrastructure environment
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record

Preferred (Nice to Have)

• Experience supporting cybersecurity frameworks, such as NIST CSF
• Experience leading large, cross-functional technology teams
• Experience managing large-scale technology investments and vendor partnerships

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure (networks, cloud platforms, data centers, telecommunications)
• Experience with industrial control systems and industrial networking protocols
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles in regulated environments
• Ability to lead and develop technical teams across multiple disciplines
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex concepts to non-technical audiences
• Ability to balance operational reliability with modernization and long-term strategy

About Our Company

We are a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state, or local law.

We are an E-Verify participating employer.