Director of Information Systems

Job Description 

Title:  Director, Information Systems

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Who we are:

C4 was founded in 1972 to help people released from psychiatric hospitals into the Uptown and Edgewater communities stabilize in the community. Since that time, C4’s service area has expanded to rekindle hope for individuals and families on Chicago’s north and west sides, remaining committed to community-level, system-focused interventions; C4 always seeks to avoid restrictive levels of care and maximize families’ agency to lead their recovery, allowing them to heal in their homes and community.   C4 is the leader in building hope and breaking down barriers – from the personal to the systemic - for Chicago’s systematically disadvantaged communities through the delivery of effective, empirically supported, and trauma-informed mental health services. C4 seeks to equip 7,000 individuals annually to help them move from trauma to living, to working and thriving within their community.

Our Mission - Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4), a behavioral health advocate and social service provider, offers quality, comprehensive customer-oriented services tailored to the diversity of its consumers.

Our Vision - Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4) will be, and will be recognized as, essential to the wellbeing of the communities we serve.

Philosophy - C4 believes that people recovering from mental illness and emotional trauma are able to live, work and thrive in the community.

Purpose:

The Director, Information Systems Directs establishment and maintenance of the agency's management information systems, practices and procedures for electronic records and information reports; provides leadership and direction to systems design, programming, computer operations, billing and IS support services; and ensures that resources are utilized in a manner that maximizes the cost-effectiveness of services provided. In a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner, ensures coordination and representation of these services within the agency as a whole.  Articulates C4’s mission and vision.

Minimum Qualifications:  

Bachelor’s degree in computer science required

5-7 years of relevant work experience

3-5 years of leadership experience

Competencies (Minimum Skills, Knowledge and Experience):

1.  Excellent written and verbal communication
2. Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
3. Ability to lead and teach others 
4. Up-to-date knowledge of latest IT developments
5. Ability to explain highly technical concepts in simple terms
6. Knowledge of best computer security practices
7. Research and analysis skills

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Leads and participates at an expert-level with the feasibility of the most complex enhancements, automations and implementations review, analysis, and evaluation of current and future business processes.  
2. Develops solutions that solve the most complex technical and/or business issues.  Proactively identifies opportunities and enhancements. Independently leads or participates in all phases of the software development life cycle, with focus on defining the underlying business needs, documenting those needs, validating conceptual systems designs, and assuring delivery quality through comprehensive testing and training. 
3. Analyzes, defines, and interprets business needs and issues by gathering, analyzing, documenting and validating the Business area(s) and user(s) technical (functional/non-functional) requirements. Creates requirements documents for most complex enhancements, automations and implementations including defining Business, User and functional requirements needed for approval by Business and for use by Design, Development and Testing phases.  
4. Creates project plans to define, organize and schedule development activities. 
5. Leads requirements sessions. 
6. Tracks and manages open issues and plan for resolution. 
7. Troubleshoots systems problems, identify cause of problems; works with appropriate group to correct problem. 

Testing:

1. Leads testing efforts by defining, developing and implementing practices and procedures for complete end user test plans. Ensures all tests are conducted and documented according to standards. 
2. Identifies and documents system deficiencies and recommends solutions. Responsible for overall success of testing, including results verification and release. 
3. Coordinates groups of end users who test, evaluate and validate new functionality and identify issues in software or services. 
4. Ensures continuing operational quality by documenting fixes and enhancements. 
5. Provides guidance and training to application end users.  

1. Reviews, edits, analyze and create detailed documentation of business systems and user needs. Responsible for writing all documentation in clear and well organized manner including SOPs and training manuals. 

Project Management:

1. Uses project management techniques to establish roles and responsibilities; monitors project and requests status and workload, and ensure deliverables of high quality, effectiveness and timeliness. 
2. Manages assigned enhancements, automations and implementations from concept through implementation. 
3. Creates, develops and maintains project schedules for key deliverables by developing project plan, monitoring milestone completion and coordinating project progress. Develops key project deliverables including requirements specifications, use cases, system test cases, training and documentation and user manuals for the most complex enhancements, automations and implementations.  Manages the sequencing of releases to meet business needs

Data Analysis and Reporting:

1. Consults with funding entities and disseminates information to the professional community with regard to IS system capabilities and required changes

1. Ensures compliance with technology in conjunction with established privacy and confidentiality policies and procedures.

Other duties as assigned by supervisor