IT Director

Are you an experienced IT leader looking to make a meaningful impact on our community? The City of Katy is seeking a dynamic IT Director to lead our technology initiatives and enhance the digital infrastructure that supports our residents and services.

SUMMARY: The IT Director is responsible for leading the organization's technology strategy and overseeing the overall technology operations. This role involves strategic planning, managing IT staff, overseeing enterprise systems, data centers, networks, security, disaster recovery, internet services, and providing high-level technical support. The IT Director ensures that all technology systems and applications align with the organization's goals and comply with regulatory requirements.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES: -- Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic Leadership:

• Develops and implements the organization's IT strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and goals.
• Provides vision and leadership for developing and implementing IT initiatives.
• Leads the IT department in the planning and execution of IT projects, including the design and deployment of new IT systems and services.
• Works with the fractional CIO and CISO to implement the organization's IT strategy.

Technology Oversight:

• Oversees the design, installation, configuration, and maintenance of the organization's technology infrastructure, including virtual and physical servers, cloud-based services, and network systems.
• Assumes operational responsibility for backup, storage, compute, network connectivity, cloud-based systems, incident management lifecycles, change management, and client experience with systems.
• Ensures the implementation and monitoring of cybersecurity measures to protect against internal and external threats.
• Oversees disaster recovery planning and execution, ensuring business continuity.

IT Operations Management:

• Supervises and manages IT staff, including recruitment, training, performance evaluation, and disciplinary actions.
• Develops and manages the IT budget, monitors expenditures, and seeks cost-effective solutions.
• Negotiates contracts and manages relationships with hardware, software, telecommunications, support, and training vendors.
• Acts as a key player in incident response and disaster recovery execution.

Policy Implementation:

• Create procedural documentation that aligns with implemented policies and standards.
• Implements IT policies and procedures that assist with system and data lifecycle management and access.

Project Management:

• Leads and manages IT projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget.
• Coordinates with internal staff, vendors, and consultants to achieve project objectives.

Technical Support:

• Acts as the expert point of escalation for IT issues, providing expert technical support and guidance.
• Ensures the reliability and confidentiality of data, proprietary information, and intellectual property.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serves as the primary IT liaison with senior management, providing updates on IT initiatives and challenges.
• Represents the IT department in meetings with external stakeholders, including city council and other governmental bodies.

Emergency Management:

• Participates as a member of the Emergency Management Team, providing IT support during emergencies and disasters.
• Provides after-hours and holiday emergency support as needed.

• This position is considered Critical Personnel during a natural or manmade disaster and/or a catastrophic event. This position may be required to provide services or perform duties for the benefit of the public and the continuity of City operations. These may include services or duties different from those performed in the usual course and scope of this position.
• For purposes of business continuity, employees in this position are considered Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers, as defined by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Other Duties:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines:

Master's degree preferred. Minimum: Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field; AND five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in IT management, including strategic planning, system design, and technical support; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Knowledge and Experience with:

• Hands-on experience with the following:
  • Microsoft365 Applications, Active Directory, and Entra ID including domain and user administration, group policies, application configuration, access controls, email management.
  • Servers & Storage: server hardware, SANs, cloud-based storage, desktops
  • Endpoint Protection: Malware solutions, EDR solutions, Spam filtering
  • Authentication: SSO, MFA deployments
  • Virtualization technologies: VMware, Hyper-V, or Nutanix
  • Wireless technologies
  • Infrastructure: MDF/IDF spaces, data racks, copper/fiber cabling, WAN/LAN
  • IP networking: IP schemes, vLANs, ACLs, troubleshooting
  • Telephony: VoIP, POTS, DID planning, SIP trunks, circuits
  • Security Technologies: Camera systems, door access controls
• IT project management methodologies
• Regulatory compliance standards (PCI, CJIS, HIPAA)
• Vendor management and contract negotiation
• Incident response management
• Change management practices
• Municipal Management System Solutions
• Reading schematic drawings

Skill in:

• Hands-on management of information systems is crucial.
• Prior experience with incident response activities is crucial.
• Must display strong background in technical support and project operations/management and written communications in terms understandable to the public as well as IT staff.
• Possess skill in setting priorities; analytical skill, organizational and problem-solving skills that supports and enables sound decision making
• Formal presentations to City Council and other governing parties.
• Work under pressure of time and conflicting demands

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• CISSP or CISM or the ability to acquire within 6 months of hire date
• A valid State driver's license may be required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is performed in a standard office environment
• Ability to lift or carry up to 50 pounds.

The City of Katy is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities and Amendments Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.