Cowlitz County, WA
The Cowlitz County IT Director is responsible for providing leadership, management, and coordination of the Information Technology Department. The primary focus of this position is to assure the integrity, enhancement, and stability of all information systems and networks. The IT Director will collaborate with department employees, department heads, and elected officials to provide strategic direction to anticipate future needs of the county and individual departments’ communications and data systems.
First review of applicants will be on October 6th, 2025. For more information, please visit our website: www.co.cowlitz.wa.us
Benefits Information:
Cowlitz County offers a generous benefits package, which includes:
VEBA/Health Retirement Account for those who qualify
Retirement through Washington State Public Employees Retirement System
Vacation, Bonus, and Leave Days Paid
Reasonable work hours
The County:
Cowlitz County is a great place to live and work. Located along the Columbia River, less than an hour from the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Cowlitz County provides an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities and easy access to the Arts. The I-5 corridor runs right through Cowlitz County, providing quick access to the Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon metropolitan areas.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Prepare and propose the department’s annual budget. Oversee and control fiscal operations and expenditures of the department. Oversee all purchases and acquisitions.
Develop, propose, and implement procedures and policies to attain the goals and objectives of the department. Organize, coordinate, and oversee all activities of the department.
Research, assess requirements, and propose all acquisitions or enhancement of computer hardware and software to ensure appropriate standards to satisfy the county’s informational and database systems plan.
Manage and supervise the department’s staff, including hiring, discipline, and firing. Perform or oversee training, counseling, evaluations, motivation, assign work, and set work priorities, and approve leave.
Conduct department staff meetings. Promote open communications and sharing of ideas. Provide informational presentations to county employees and management staff as required.
Direct and assist outreach to individual departments for assessment of the department’s system needs, including proposed automation or upgrades, and system design to best meet the needs of the department. Develop procedures and means to achieve project goals, with consideration of the department’s timing requirement and budgets.
Coordinate technology development and training for IT department staff and also end-users according to their needs and work duties. Coordinate training with ‘outside’ sources as needed.
Develop and maintain adequate working relations with customers and stakeholders of the department and assure adequate communications to customers.
Meet and provide regular reports to the County Commissioners. Promptly communicate problems and provide resolution ideas. Provide ongoing recommendations to continuous improvement of the department.
Stay up to date with technology developments.
Perform other duties and projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field, and five (5) years of experience in the IT field that includes supervisory responsibilities. Or, equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that would provide the required skills, knowledge, and abilities.
Working knowledge of LAN and WAN infrastructure technologies, Internet technologies and applications, Client-server technologies and applications, and IT customer service. Ability to plan and track department budgets.
Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
Required Skills and Abilities:
Develop long and short-term planning, and evaluate accomplishments of set goals.
Interpersonal skills with respect to personnel management, including supervisory and team-building skills.
Knowledge of latest computer hardware, software, peripheral equipment, and applications. Maintain relevant knowledge and skills current to the latest technologies in a fast-changing industry.
Effectively present information and recommendations, both in oral and written form and at a professional business level. Able to convey technical information to a wide range of audiences.
Effectively work in a demanding political environment. Establish and maintain effective working relations with other department heads and managers, elected officials, county employees, vendors, and the general public.
Excellent customer service skills. Good analytical and problem-solving skills. Time management skills.
Able to maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive and confidential issues.
Cowlitz County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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