Director of Business Information and Technology Services

Role The Director of Information Technology (IT) provides technology vision and leadership by setting objectives and strategies that support the mission of the Agency, bringing together local decision‑makers to develop solutions to regional issues including improving equity, transportation, air quality, clean energy, economic development, goods movement, public health, public safety, housing, and more. Reporting to the Senior Director of Data Science and Information Technology for daily operations, and also reporting major technology strategic, risks and implementation action items to the CEO, and in collaboration with senior leadership and executive team, the Director devises and directs the Agency's technology strategy and ensures that all systems necessary to support its operations and objectives are in place. The Director selects and implements suitable technology to streamline all internal operations to help optimize their strategic benefits and improve customer experience. The Director is an influential leader who inspires, motivates, and guides others towards an understood goal, continually leading by example and making technology 'easy' for the customer.

Overview of the Information Technology Department The Information Technology (IT) department plays a pivotal role in supporting the agency's mission by providing innovative and efficient technology solutions. IT is responsible for ensuring the seamless operation, security, and advancement of SANDAG’s IT infrastructure and business information systems. The IT department is dedicated to fostering a secure, reliable, and innovative IT environment that empowers SANDAG to achieve its objectives and better serve the community. Through strategic planning, robust cybersecurity, and a commitment to excellence, IT ensures that SANDAG remains at the forefront of technology and information management.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and overarching technical strategy to accomplish the mission and strategies of the organization. Ability to effectively communicate the strategies to the IT team, executive leadership, SANDAG staff, and the Board of Directors. Ability to remain calm under pressure and to handle personnel-related issues timely and to the benefit of the IT Team and Agency.

Serve as a trusted advisor by building and maintaining relationships with leadership to determine business needs and identify cost‑effective and innovative IT solutions. Research and create strategies, develop and implement plans, policies, and processes to support the Agency. Continually evaluate the enterprise and adjust focus as necessary. Leverage enterprise‑wide information to re‑engineer IT infrastructure and team strategy into efficient alignment with business priorities. Bring clarity and direction to strategic business decisions enabling immediate savings and assuring sustainable growth.

Direct, plan, manage, and coordinate the development and Information and Technology Services Department activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations; respond to, negotiate, and resolve sensitive and/or significant issues.

Represent the Information Technology department to other SANDAG departments, the Board of Directors, Policy Advisory Committees, elected officials, outside agencies and organizations, and/or community groups; simplify and explain and interpret programs, policies, and activities.

Participate in the development of agendas for Board of Directors, Policy Advisory Committee, and working group meetings; oversee and coordinate the preparation of agenda reports and staff presentations.

Prepare and present written, oral, and visual reports to the Board of Directors, Policy Advisory and stakeholder committees, outside agencies and organizations, and/or community groups.

Contribute as an active member of the SANDAG Executive Team to formulate appropriate policies and strategies.

Provide complex staff assistance to executives including the Senior Director of Data Science and Information Technology, the Chief Executive Officer, and other members of the Senior Leadership or Executive Team.

Oversee multi‑phase, multi‑dimensional, multi‑resource projects from inception to conclusion while maintaining high customer satisfaction. Ensure all Client Satisfaction goals, Service Level Agreements, and Contractual Commitments are met. Monitor and adjust estimates to integrate new constraints. Map and link business objectives to existing business process flows and design future‑proof processes using best practices and domain expertise.

Develop and refine strategic IT governance, data governance, and change management processes.

Effectively manage the operations of the IT Department, including directing IT staff in the execution of administrative, network, telecommunications, development, maintenance,and other IT functions.

Conduct and participate in a variety of organizational and operational studies, assessments, investigations, audits, and reviews; recommend modifications to the Information Technology Department programs, policies, and procedures, as appropriate.

Deliver competitive advantage by shaping innovation, engaging customers,and digitizing the enterprise.

Overseethepreparation and administration of the department'sbudget.

Ability to delegate and empower teams while retaining an eye for detail; to be a catalyst for cross‑fertilization of ideas/practices across teams and divisions/departments; and to focus on using employee satisfaction as an engine to drive customer satisfaction.

Select Information Technology department personnel; assign and review the work of management, supervisory, professional, technical, and administrative support staff; establish employee performance expectations and evaluate performance; provide or coordinate employee training; work with employees to improve job‑related skills and competencies; provide guidance to managers with the implementation of discipline and performance improvement plans if necessary.

Anticipate and align with business needs by fusing business and technology strategy, developing talent, and designing the IT operating model. Deliver competitive advantage by shaping innovation, engaging customers, and digitizing the enterprise.

Ensure IT system operations conform to applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

Effectively manage recruitment, development, retention and organization of all IT staff consistent with budgetary objectives and personnel policies.

Meet with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods, procedures, and necessary resources.

Direct the development and maintenance activities for all IT systems, including hardware, software, and networks to ensure reliability, availability, security, and recoverability.

Foster a positive corporate culture by empowering staff to make, and be accountable for, decisions. Recognize staff by trusting and valuing their input, innovation, and effort. Be actively involved in the recruiting and retention of key team members. Encourage and facilitate cooperative and collaborative working relationships across all levels whilst realigning work groups and roles to foster and develop teamwork.

Perform related duties and responsibilities, as assigned.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, with major course work in information technology, business administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree is desirable.

Eight years of increasingly responsible, professional information technology experience, including four years of supervisory and management experience.

Knowledge and guidance of strategic, operational, and technical governance processes of SANDAG.

Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning software implementation, specifically with Tyler Technologies is preferred.

Strong knowledge of systems and applications development life cycle, adherence to detailed systems requirements, while also assessing risks of new technologies and software is desired and should be demonstrated.

Strategic and operational planning to achieve SANDAG goals by fostering innovation, prioritizing IT initiatives,and coordinating the evaluation, deployment,and management of current and future IT systems across the organization.

Knowledge of strategic relationships between internal IT resources, stakeholders,and external entities.

Ability to identify trends and issues in the IT industry, including innovative technologies and associated costs, andadvisesall layers of management of any competitive impacts and risks.

Experience with managing technology goals, best practices,and standardized operating procedures.

Ability to identify cost‑effective opportunities for technology investment including sourcing,purchasing, staffing,and in‑house development.

Experience with implementation of the technology investment plan.

Ability to make business case justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IT spending and initiatives; analyze the costs,valueand risks of information technology to guide agency management; and make recommendations.

Experience with enterprise‑wide Incident Response Plan, conducting an annual Assessment,and reporting findings to agency leadership.

Ability to identify new technologyimplementations to exchange information and define business and systems requirements.

Experience in managing projects and the project portfolio as they relate to theselection, acquisition, development,and installation of major information systems.

Experience with hardware and software acquisition and maintenancecontracts,andpursuit of master agreements toleverageeconomies of scale.

Ability to manage Agency plans, policies,and standards foracquiring, implementing,andoperatingtechnology systems.

Experience with IT annual operating and capital budgets, overseeing daily operations of an IT Department, and directing thedevelopment and maintenance activities for all hardware, software,and network systems.

Knowledge of Network infrastructure for local and area‑wide connectivity and remote access.

Ability to deliver IT services through oversight of service level agreements (SLAs) with end users and monitoring of IT system performance.

Experience with IT specific RFIs, RFQs,and RFPs for acquisition of technology, services,and prepare/present Board agenda items.

Ability to oversee the development and implementation of strategic problem resolution.

Ability to oversee the cybersecurity activities in the facilitation of achieving a secure technological security posture.

Additional Requirements

The candidate selected for this position must successfully pass a pre‑employment criminal background investigation; periodic re‑checking of criminal background will be a condition of employment.

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