IT Director

Director IT – North America

Applus is a leading global provider of testing, inspection, and certification services. We work across a wide range of industries to ensure the safety, quality, and performance of our clients' products and operations.

Job Summary

The IT Director is responsible for overseeing the overall operation of company-wide information systems across multiple sites and states, supporting both onsite and remote environments. This position provides leadership for IT strategy, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and support services across all Applus groups. The IT Director ensures compliance with ITAR and other applicable regulations while maintaining a secure and efficient IT environment.

This position will be working closely with Applus Global IT to align strategy and IT policies.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee IT operations across multiple locations, including network infrastructure, hardware, software, and cybersecurity.
• Ensure IT alignment and integration between the Labs and Energy divisions to support business goals and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate user needs, system functionality, and overall IT performance for both onsite and remote operations.
• Develop and implement strategic IT plans that enhance business capabilities while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure compliance with ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) and other applicable security standards.
• Coordinate ITAR and related compliance initiatives with Applus IT Corporate to ensure alignment across all Applus companies globally.
• Safeguard assets through disaster recovery planning, backup procedures, and information security controls.
• Oversee Cloud Services, system backups, and Microsoft platform infrastructure, ensuring reliability and data integrity.
• Lead and manage a geographically distributed IT team; oversee helpdesk operations to ensure timely response and issue resolution.
• Plan and execute upgrades for security, software, and hardware systems.
• Manage IT budgets, control expenditures, and ensure cost-effective technology investments.
• Develop policies, procedures, and standards governing system use, access, and data protection, aligned with global IT Policies.
• Oversee infrastructure and application migrations to modern platforms, ensuring minimal downtime and seamless user transition.
• Collaborate with division leadership and corporate IT to align technology initiatives and standards.
• Maintain strong vendor relationships and oversee technology contracts, leveraging current global IT contracts.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, trends, and security threats relevant to multi-site and regulated environments.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead IT staff across multiple sites, ensuring alignment, training, and professional development.
• Maintain a safe, secure, and compliant work environment.
• Coach, counsel, and appraise team performance in partnership with HR.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Proven experience managing multi-site and multi-state IT operations.
• Strong understanding of ITAR compliance, information security, and coordination with corporate IT for global alignment.
• Proven experience guiding organizations through transitions to meet DoD compliance standards, with CMMC certification or hands-on CMMC readiness experience preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft technologies, including Azure, Active Directory (AD), Microsoft Fabric, and other Microsoft-based platforms.
• Strong background in Cloud Services, virtualization, and data backup solutions.
• Experience supporting both onsite and remote users in operational and lab environments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to make strategic decisions and drive implementation across distributed teams.
• Skilled in budget management, system audits, and vendor negotiations.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing IT strategies in fast-paced technical industries.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive IT leadership experience, including multi-site responsibility.
• Experience in a regulated environment (ITAR or defense-related) strongly required.