Municipal and School IT Manager

About the Organization

The Office of Municipal and School Technology (OMST) provides support to local IT leaders by continually expanding and refining services—developing targeted programs that address the most pressing needs of organizations. Through proactive outreach, data-informed strategies, and the power of shared resources, we provide them with the tools, expertise, and support needed to strengthen operations, bolster cybersecurity, and adapt to their evolving needs.

About the Role

OMST is seeking an innovative technology professional with a passion for local government to support cities, towns, planning commissions, and school districts across the Commonwealth. The Municipal & School IT Manager will work with local governments to understand their current state of technology, including networking, servers, security, software, end-user devices, business processes, staffing, strategies, policies, procedures and more. Further, the Municipal & School IT Manager will develop findings, recommendations, strategies, and best practice documents based on their analysis, and propose solutions to service gaps to the OMST Director.

The Municipal and School IT Manager will collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders and may act as the project manager and/or business analyst for a variety of initiatives. They will be responsible for developing metrics to ensure that state services and grants meet expectations and provide value to municipalities and school districts, as well as recommending ways to strengthen or improve services.

Further, the Municipal and School IT Manager will identify common pain points faced by communities and identify and propose solutions for remediating these issues. These may include grants and services offered by OMST and partners. They will work to support regional IT group meetings and foster communication and coordination among municipal and school IT departments and other state and federal partners. This information is used to assess areas where OMST can identify ways to share best practices, improve cross-state networking and lessons learned.

The primary work location for this role will be 1 Ashburton Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02108. The work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM EST. This position would be expected to follow a hybrid model of reporting to work that combines in-office workdays and work-from-home days as needed. Travel to EOTSS locations and customer sites across the state as assigned is required.

All offers of employment into this position are conditional and subject to passing: a Massachusetts Criminal Background Check (CORI); a security clearance (fingerprinting) consistent with IRS and/or public safety requirements; and security training.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assess the current state of technology within municipal and school environments, including networking, servers, security, software, end-user devices, business processes, staffing, strategies, policies, procedures, and cybersecurity posture.
• Become proficient with programs and offerings available throughout the Commonwealth by internal/external stakeholders and be able to clearly and concisely articulate them.
• Develop findings, recommendations, strategic plans, and policy and procedure documentation based on analysis to improve operations, strengthen cybersecurity, and support long-term success across communities.
• Collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders, including municipal and school IT leaders, state agencies, and external partners, to identify needs, align priorities, and support technology initiatives.
• Oversee the management and support of assigned projects and develop materials needed to deliver clear and concise updates to leadership.
• Collect, analyze, and manage data to support the development of metrics that evaluate the effectiveness and value of OMST programs, services, and grant offerings.
• Identify common challenges and pain points across municipalities and school districts and work collaboratively with partners to develop scalable, practical solutions.
• Support and facilitate regional IT group meetings and foster communication, coordination, and knowledge-sharing among municipal, school, state, and federal stakeholders.
• Provide sound support for best practice technical guidance to communities, including detailed and objective research, business writing, and developing a deep understanding of local context.
• Develop and maintain awareness of assigned communities or regions to identify trends, risks, and opportunities that may inform future programs and service offerings.
• Communicate complex technical and non-technical concepts clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences, including technical staff, business users, municipalities, and executive leadership.
• Prepare reports, documentation, and briefings that support decision-making and program development.
• Exercise sound judgment in interpreting policies, applying standards, and recommending improvements to processes, programs, and services.
• Manage multiple priorities simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met and work is completed with minimal supervision.
• Maintain positive working relationships with OMST staff and a broad range of stakeholders and facilitate meetings and group discussions as needed
• Travel to EOTSS locations and customer sites, including schools, as assigned by the Director of the Office of Municipal and School Technology

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Three (3) years of experience in a local or state government role
• Three (3) years of hands-on project or program management experience within an enterprise technology environment working with IT infrastructure, hardware, software, and system integration
• Two (2) years of experience with Cybersecurity standards and agencies, cybersecurity awareness training, cyber incident response planning, and tabletop exercises
• Demonstrated experience in successful customer service, including the ability to adapt communication for effective interaction with technical staff, business staff, and executives
• Experience facilitating meetings and group discussions
• Demonstrated ability to understand and differentiate the needs of disparate organizations
• Aptitude to review user requests and participate in decision-making regarding project feasibility and direction
• Competency to plan, follow through, and respect deadlines with minimal direction
• Capable of handling multiple priorities effectively, with a demonstrated ability to anticipate problems and resolve in a timely manner
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in interpreting and applying departmental policies and procedures internally and externally, using all available resources to recommend improvements.
• Well-developed ability to write, edit, and produce professional communications and documentation that effectively supports organizational objectives and stakeholder needs; both technical and non-technical
• Competency with MS Office, MS Teams, MS SharePoint and Jira Service Management
• Familiarity with Cybersecurity Tools & Technology
• Ability to work diligently and effectively across multiple agencies and on cross-functional teams
• Possess a valid Class D driver license or the ability to conduct said travel through other means, such as public transportation