Program Manager – Community Driven Programs - DPW-Environmental Services

City of Indianapolis; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Indianapolis DPW is seeking a Program Manager to lead the Community Powered Infrastructure (CPI) and Vision Zero (VZ) programs. You will guide strategy, coordinate with divisions, and ensure compliance with city priorities while fostering strong partnerships with community groups and public safety entities.

You will oversee staff, manage program budgets, and establish performance metrics to deliver accessible, safe, and innovative improvements citywide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 3 years of relevant experience; seven years total acceptable with related fields.
• Strong leadership and people-management skills to guide staff and influence stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, able to present complex information clearly.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities under tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical, budgeting, and program evaluation skills.
• Commitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusive community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction and leadership for CPI & VZ programs and related initiatives.
• Develop long-term program goals, metrics, and continuous improvement systems.
• Coordinate with senior leadership and align with DPW strategic priorities.
• Oversee budgeting, funding opportunities, and vendor relationships.
• Represent DPW in community meetings and partner with stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Budgeting

Program evaluation

Equity & inclusion

Public engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) aims to improve residents' quality of life through bettering public spaces and infrastructure, and through providing excellent public services. With a focus on multi-modal connectivity, thriving green spaces, meaningful capital improvements, universal accessibility, and collaborative public and private partnerships, DPW builds and maintains public infrastructure and park land; manages solid waste collection; and keeps the City's entire vehicle fleet rolling. One of the largest city agencies, "Team DPW" commits itself to effective efficient customer service for residents and visitors to Indianapolis. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Overview

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) aims to improve residents' quality of life through bettering public spaces and infrastructure, and through providing excellent public services. With a focus on multi-modal connectivity, thriving green spaces, meaningful capital improvements, universal accessibility, and collaborative public and private partnerships, DPW builds and maintains public infrastructure and park land; manages solid waste collection; and keeps the City's entire vehicle fleet rolling. One of the largest city agencies, "Team DPW" commits itself to effective efficient customer service for residents and visitors to Indianapolis. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

Job Summary

The Program Manager – Community Driven Programs provides strategic, operational, and administrative leadership to the Community Powered Infrastructure (CPI) & Vision Zero (VS) Programs and related strategic initiatives within the Department of Public Works (DPW). This position oversees, guides, and supports the Project Manager – Strategy & Technology and other assigned staff to ensure the successful development, coordination, execution, and evaluation of CPI and VZ rapid response project initiatives citywide. The Program Manager is responsible for shaping program vision, strengthening cross-departmental coordination, ensuring compliance with City priorities and policies, managing program-level budgets, establishing performance metrics, and maintaining strong partnerships with community organizations, businesses, public safety entities, and other stakeholders. This role ensures that CPI and VZ consistently deliver accessible, community-driven, safe, and innovative improvements across Indianapolis

Position Responsibilities

Program Oversight & Strategic Leadership

• Provide overall direction, strategy, and leadership for the CPI &VZ Programs and associated initiatives.
• Develop long-term program goals, performance metrics, and continuous improvement systems.
• Evaluate program effectiveness, recommend enhancements, and ensure alignment with DPW’s strategic priorities.
• Coordinate program outcomes with senior leadership and contribute to broader departmental planning.

Staff & Project Oversight

• Directly supervise the Project Manager – Strategy & Technology and other assigned program staff.
• Establish clear expectations, deliverables, workflows, and escalation points for project-level execution.
• Provide coaching, decision support, and technical guidance to ensure consistent, high-quality project delivery.
• Review project plans, timelines, scopes, and budgets to ensure accuracy and feasibility at a program level.

Cross-Department & External Coordination

• Lead coordination between all DPW divisions, including operations, engineering, finance, legal, and communications.
• Serve as primary liaison for public safety partners, contracted vendors, community groups, educational institutions, and nonprofit partners engaged in CPI efforts.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with stakeholders to streamline project planning, resource allocation, and installation processes.

Operational Management & Process Development

• Develop and refine program policies, procedures, application standards, review processes, and documentation.
• Oversee CPI cost-share program operations, including application review protocols, pricing standards, procurement coordination, and compliance tracking.
• Ensure timely communication of program requirements, updates, and resources to internal and external partners.

Financial & Resource Management

• Manage program-level financial planning, including budget development, forecasting, cost-share structure, and reporting.
• Identify funding opportunities, grants, and partnerships to expand CPI & VZ impact and sustainability.
• Approve project budgets, financial transactions, and vendor invoices within delegated authority.

Community Engagement & Public Education

• Oversee development and dissemination of educational materials, public-facing guidance, and training resources related to CPI, and support Administrator - Vision Zero on similar duties.
• Represent DPW at community meetings, neighborhood associations, and citywide events.
• Ensure equitable access to program resources and responsiveness to community feedback.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Ensure all CPI, VZ and related projects comply with City policies, safety requirements, right-of-way standards, and ADA/design guidelines.
• Develop risk mitigation tools and emergency response protocols related to installations and community-led infrastructure improvements.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field with 3 years of relevant experience in public policy, infrastructure, project management, or communications/community engagement. Any combination of education and experience in related fields equal to seven (7) years is acceptable. Strong leadership and people-management skills with the ability to guide staff and influence stakeholders. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information clearly. Proven ability to manage multiple projects and priorities under tight deadlines. Strong analytical, budgeting, and program evaluation skills. Ability to build consensus, negotiate solutions, and manage conflict constructively. Commitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusive community engagement.

Working Conditions

Essential functions are regularly performed in an office setting without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Physical Conditions

• Sitting at a desk the majority of the day
• Some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10) pounds
• Tasks may involve extended periods of time at keyboard or workstation
• Tasks require the ability to perceive and hear sounds and see visual cues or signals
• Tasks require the ability to communicate orally

All rates are bi-weekly.

2026 Rate Sheet - To view our rate sheet, please copy and paste this link into your web browser: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:67382b58-4d1a-4519-89d7-8453f91e19a1

Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month):

Basic: Employer Paid

Optional Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month)

• 25-29 $0.058
• 30-34 $0.083
• 35-39 $0.099
• 40-44 $0.132
• 45-49 $0.223
• 50-54 $0.363
• 55-59 $0.600
• 60-64 $0.795
• 65-69 $1.329
• 70 + $2.054

Important Perf Update

• For more information on eligibility options, refer to Proposal 21-288 https://bit.ly/3exq8yR
• All employees hired/rehired after 1/1/2022 have a choice to select the PERF Hybrid plan (3% + Pension) or the INPRS My Choice: Retirement Savings plan (3% + 1% Contribution). The Hybrid plan consists of two components:

Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.

Part one - This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.

Part Two - This Consists Of An Additional Variable Rate Contribution Paid By The City Toward Your ASA. This Variable Rate Contribution Is Currently 1% Of Your Gross Wages. Vesting In The Value Of The Variable Rate Employer Contribution Will Vary By Length Of Participation. You Are

• 20 percent vested after 1 full year of participation
• 40 percent vested after 2 full years of participation
• 60 percent vested after 3 full years of participation
• 80 percent vested after 4 full years of participation
• 100 percent vested after 5 full years of participation
• All employees hired/rehired prior to 1/1/2017 are grandfathered into PERF Hybrid plan. The Hybrid plan consists of two components:

Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.

Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employee's career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the member's age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.

• City Employees hired/rehired between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/21 that are members of the City AFSCME labor union can choose to enroll in either the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan or the PERF Hybrid plan. Both plans are described above. Employees have 60 days to choose which option they want, and by state law this cannot be changed. If no choice is made, the employee will then be automatically added to the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan.

The Indiana General Assembly has enacted a provision that allows public employees to make voluntary contributions in addition to the mandatory three percent (3%) contributions. Employees may contribute up to an additional ten- percent (10%) of their compensation per pay period to the annuity savings account. This means that the maximum level of contributions to the annuity savings account under this new provision is thirteen percent (13%) of an employee's compensation per pay period.

Employees who separate from the city within their first ten (10) years of employment need to contact INPRS - PERF regarding their ASA account.

Questions relating to PERF may be directed to INPRS - PERF at:

Indiana Public Retirement System

Public Employees' Retirement Fund

One North Capitol, Suite 001

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

[phone]

01