Innovation Facilitator at Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, WI

About the Department

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is a regional governmental agency that serves 1.1 million people in the greater Milwaukee area. MMSD provides water reclamation, flood management, and green infrastructure services for our community.  Our mission is to protect public health and the environment through world-class, cost-effective water resource management, leadership, and partnership. Join our diverse team and support your community while protecting our environment.

MMSD is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Innovation Facilitator in the Executive Director Division.  Reporting to the Executive Director, you will perform a variety of activities and projects that drive the implementation of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across MMSD.  You will ensure alignment with organizational priorities to promote a data-driven, technology-enabled, and resilient utility.  You also will facilitate the delivery of specific initiatives within the existing digital transformation framework and focus on completing foundational efforts to unlock broader transformation goals.  

Position Duties

• Coordinate program management functions, including goal setting, strategy refinement, business case and budget definition and tracking, and resource acquisition.
• Collaborate with internal departments to develop a cross-functional team responsible for delivering specific roadmap actions and to synchronize innovation and digital transformation initiatives.  
• Encourage cross-functional experimentation with digital tools, data analytics, and automation.  Pursue external partnerships with academic institutions, technology vendors, and peer utilities.  
• Identify dependencies, risks, and resource necessities across the roadmap portfolio.  Prioritize foundational elements that enable subsequent initiatives, and secure leadership support for the allocation of resources required to execute prioritized roadmap actions.
• Serve as a key liaison between technical teams, leadership, and other stakeholders to align goals and expectations with overarching organizational priorities. 
• Review and update the roadmap to reflect new priorities, technological advancements, or completed work.  Identify bottlenecks and recommend course corrections.
• Promote a culture of innovation and digital culture adoption.  Facilitate change management throughout MMSD.
• Complete special projects as assigned.  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration/management, engineering, information technology, science, or a related field.  
• Six years of job-related experience (advanced education degrees will be considered in lieu of experience).
• Successful track record of developing and leading innovation and digital transformation programs and initiatives.  
• Prior participation in change initiatives and leading or supporting continuous improvement.
• High-level, enterprise-wide program development experience with measurable outcomes.
• Experience introducing or piloting new technologies in operational environments.
• Direct experience in water, wastewater, or public utility organizations.
• Knowledge of field operations and challenges unique to the water/wastewater sector.
• High degree of interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to resolve conflict.
• Ability to network and engage staff of varying levels.
• Proficiency with computing systems.

Other Qualifications

Physical Requirements:

• This work is sedentary and requires little exertion of force.
• Work regularly requires sitting, speaking or hearing, and using hands.  Occasionally requires standing and walking.  

• Work has standard vision requirements.  Vocal communication is required for expressing ideas by means of the spoken word. Hearing is required to receive detailed information through oral communication and/or to make fine distinctions in sound. 
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data.

• Work has no exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
• Work is generally in a quiet location.