Program Manager – IT & OT Transformation (Oil & Gas)

Program Manager – IT & OT Transformation (Oil & Gas)

Location: Calgary, Canada

Engagement Type: Contract

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager – IT & OT Transformation with 8–10 years of experience and strong exposure to the Oil & Gas industry to lead complex, safety-critical transformation programs across IT and Operational Technology (OT) environments.

This role requires deep understanding of operational technology landscapes, safety-critical systems, geographically distributed site execution, and strong program governance capabilities. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience delivering IT & OT convergence programs within upstream, midstream, or downstream Oil & Gas operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and govern large-scale IT & OT transformation programs within safety-critical Oil & Gas environments.
• Manage multiple interdependent projects spanning OT production systems, OT non-production systems, and enterprise IT workloads.
• Own end-to-end program lifecycle including planning, execution, risk management, budget control, dependency tracking, and quality assurance.
• Drive site-by-site transformation across geographically distributed operational facilities (plants, pipelines, terminals, rigs, refineries), rather than centralized data center migrations.
• Coordinate closely with operations, engineering, IT, OT, cybersecurity, vendors, and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety, cybersecurity, and vendor certification requirements.
• Manage executive-level stakeholder communications, including steering committee reporting, KPIs, and risk escalations.
• Align delivery schedules with operational constraints such as production freezes, shutdown windows, maintenance cycles, and system validation periods.
• Mentor and guide project managers and technical leads to ensure consistent governance, reporting standards, and delivery excellence.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 8–10 years of experience in program and project management.
• Mandatory experience within the Oil & Gas vertical (upstream, midstream, or downstream).
• Proven track record delivering IT & OT transformation programs in operational environments.
• Strong understanding of:
• OT infrastructure and industrial control systems
• Safety-critical environments
• IT/OT convergence challenges
• Experience with project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid).
• Hands-on experience with program management tools such as MS Project, Jira, Azure DevOps, Smartsheet, or equivalent.
• Strong stakeholder management, leadership, and executive communication skills.

Preferred Skills & Certifications

• PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2, SAFe, or equivalent certification.
• Experience with SCADA, ICS, DCS, Industrial IoT, or automation programs.
• Knowledge of NERC CIP or similar regulatory frameworks.
• Experience leading change management initiatives within operational environments.

Key Competencies

• Program governance in safety-critical environments
• Risk, dependency, and regulatory management
• Site-based execution leadership
• Executive communication and reporting
• Operationally aligned planning and delivery