Director of Information Technology (IT)

The Director of IT serves as the operational leader of the City of Cleveland's Office of Information Technology & Services in the Department of Innovation & Technology. This role reports to the Chief Innovation & Technology Officer (CITO) and is a member of Mayor Bibb’s Cabinet.

The Bibb Administration has made the modernization of City government and service delivery a priority, with a particular focus on transforming the City's technology environment. The ideal candidate will bring both the vision to advance an enterprise technology strategy and the operational leadership to translate that vision into meaningful, sustainable improvements for Cleveland residents and the employees who serve them. The Director of IT is responsible for the delivery, reliability, security, and continuous improvement of the City's technology services and infrastructure.

The Director of IT executes the City's technology strategy by leading day-to-day IT operations, managing technical staff, and ensuring enterprise technology services are delivered efficiently, securely, and consistently. The position oversees enterprise infrastructure, networking, telecommunications, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, Microsoft technologies, end-user support, and data center operations.

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Department's executive leadership team.
• Implement the City's technology strategy and annual operational priorities.
• Provide strategic and operational recommendations to the CITO.
• Build collaborative relationships with City departments, executive leadership, vendors, and external partners.
• Lead special projects and initiatives, as assigned.

Department Leadership

Lead, supervise, mentor, and develop IT managers and staff, including:

• Manage workforce planning, performance management, and employee development.
• Establish service level agreements (SLAs), customer service standards, and IT service management (ITSM) processes.
• Standardize technology support, device management, and end-user experience across the organization.
• Foster a culture of customer service, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

IT Operations

Lead the daily operations of the Office of Information Technology & Services, including:

• Develop annual operating plans, performance measures, and service standards.
• Ensure reliable, secure, and high-performing technology services.
• Establish operational policies, procedures, and technology standards.
• Oversee disaster recovery and business continuity planning.

Enterprise Technology

Provide leadership for the City's enterprise technology environment, including:

• Enterprise infrastructure, networking, telecommunications, cloud services, Microsoft technologies, and data centers.
• Enterprise applications supporting General Fund and Public Safety operations.
• Cybersecurity program, including security monitoring, vulnerability management, identity management, endpoint protection, and incident response.
• Help Desk, Desktop Support, and Field Services teams.
• Technology modernization, lifecycle replacement, and operational improvements.
• Technology projects, implementations, and system upgrades.

Financial & Vendor Management

• Manage the operating and capital budgets, as appropriate.
• Support department budget planning and long-term technology investment planning.
• Oversee operational relationships with technology vendors and service providers.
• Support technology procurement, contract negotiations, and vendor performance management.

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field. (Substitution: Two years any equivalent combination of education, training and experience may substitute for each year of college education lacking)
• Seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible IT experience, including at least five (5) years in a management or senior leadership role.
• Experience leading enterprise IT operations, technical teams, technology projects, budgets, and vendor relationships.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Relevant professional certifications (ITIL, PMP, Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, Azure, CISSP, CISM, or equivalent).
• Experience in government or another large, complex organization.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Enterprise IT operations and service delivery.
• Infrastructure, networking, cybersecurity, Microsoft technologies, enterprise applications, and cloud services.
• Leadership, organizational development, and project management.
• Budgeting, vendor management, and contract administration.
• Strong communication, analytical, and decision-making skills.

Working Conditions

Work is performed primarily in an office environment with occasional visits to City facilities and data centers. Evening, weekend, or emergency work may be required to support technology operations and critical incidents.