IT ARCHITECT - BUSINESS ANALYSIS

Department: Houston Information Technology Services (HITS). Reporting location: 611 Walker St., Houston, TX 77002 (on site).

About the role

The Public Safety Business Relationship Manager (BRM) establishes and maintains a trusted partnership between the Houston Police Department (HPD), the Houston Fire Department (HFD), the Houston Emergency Center (HEC), and HITS. This role works closely with Public Safety leadership to understand mission priorities, operational challenges, and compliance obligations, then translates those needs into well-shaped IT demand, actionable initiatives, and measurable outcomes. The Liaison supports and assists the Public Safety CTO, manages sensitive executive-level communications, and ensures police technology strategies align with the overall HITS roadmap. The position bridges business and technology, focusing on business value, continuity, and disciplined follow-through.

Responsibilities

• Strategy
  • Partner with Public Safety Departments (HPD, HFD, HEC) and HITS leadership to plan new initiatives, align roadmaps, and brief stakeholders on strategic priorities.
  • Emphasize business value over solutions; incorporate digital awareness, risk assessment, business continuity, and change management.
  • Advocate for leveraging HITS service catalog and develop business cases with clear rationale, cost/benefit, and risk.
• Demand Management
  • Obtain and synthesize information from business stakeholders to identify, shape, and properly document demand.
  • Lead discovery sessions/workshops, define high-level scope, and prepare initiatives to move from idea to charter.
  • Track ROI and key metrics; provide transparency on cost, value, and optimization opportunities.
• Communication
  • Serve as the point of contact for HPD, HFD, and HEC into HITS; build strong horizontal and vertical relationships across IT and business.
  • Manage sensitive, executive-level communications with professionalism and discretion.
  • Demonstrate emotional intelligence to handle tense relations with tact, care, and respect; stand your ground when standards, security, or compliance matter.
• Delivery Oversight
  • Ensure continuity and follow-through.
  • Engage as a project/program stakeholder; monitor progress against joint objectives and SLAs; refine SLAs based on business need.
  • Interface with vendors and solution centers; verify solutions meet business requirements and expectations.
• Technology Awareness
  • Maintain a broad knowledge across infrastructure, networks, cloud, cybersecurity, data/integration, applications, and mobility ecosystems.
  • Stay current with public safety technology trends and recommend upgrades/new services as appropriate.

Requirements

• CJIS Certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire) is mandatory.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive background check, including criminal history, fingerprinting, and security clearance per HPD and CJIS standards.
• Candidate must maintain eligibility for access to sensitive law enforcement systems and data.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in positions including a business analysis or project management component within a large enterprise or government environment.
• Proven emotional intelligence, conflict mitigation, and diplomacy; strong character to uphold standards and compliance.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication; executive presence; ability to translate complex technical topics into business terms.
• Working knowledge of Six Sigma, IT best practices, project management principles, requirements engineering, and business case development.
• Demonstrated ability to lead upstream preparation/initiations and maintain continuity through delivery.

Education

Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Management and Information Systems (MIS) or a closely related field. Holds multiple system-specific technical certifications recognized as mastery of a particular technical discipline. A Master’s degree in Computer Science or Management and Information Systems or closely related field may substitute for up to two (2) years of the experience requirement.

Experience

At least ten (10) years of specialized experience in business systems analysis and design.

Schedule

Monday – Friday, office hours. Subject to change.

Preferences

• Departmental IT Liaison / Business Relation Manager experience.
• Experience in public safety, law enforcement, fire, emergency response, or emergency management.
• Familiarity with police operations and technologies (e.g., CAD/RMS, 9-1-1, body-worn cameras and digital evidence, MDTs, radio/LMR).
• Awareness of criminal justice information security and confidentiality expectations.
• Preference given to eligible veteran applicants provided such persons possess the qualifications necessary for competent discharge of the duties involved in the position applied for, and are among the most qualified candidates.

Pay

Pay Grade 30. Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate’s qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification.