Information Technology Director

The Information Technology Director serves as Polk County’s senior technology leader, and is responsible for shaping and executing the County’s IT, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and enterprise systems strategy. This role provides executive oversight of countywide technology operations to ensure secure, reliable, and cost-effective services.

This position works closely with County leadership, departments, and external partners to align technology investments with organizational priorities and service needs. The Director successfully manages a team of IT professionals and a department budget of more than $2.5M.

IT Strategy

• Provides County-wide organizational leadership related to Information Technology.
• Identifies, analyzes, and evaluates trends in the IT industry.
• Consults with leadership to determine technology requirements of County departments.
• Develops strategic plans to meet overall County and department IT needs.
• Evaluates and recommends technology solutions.
• Prepares, submits for approval, and administers the County’s IT budget.

IT Governance

• Develops IT policies, governance, and procedures.
• Regularly assesses cybersecurity posture and adjusts approach for emerging threats.
• Ensures the County is compliant with all licensing and authorization requirements.  
• Regularly audits technology services and systems for security and compliance. 
• Co- leads disaster recovery planning; maintains IT continuity of operations plan. 
• Serves as HIPAA security officer.
• Acts as CIO for CJIS; coordinates responses to CIB Audits.

Project Management

• Serves as subject matter expert on IT-related projects to ensure technology compatibility, compliance, and integration standards are met.
• Reviews project feasibility and process and determines appropriate technical resources.
• Develops specifications, assesses risks, and determines budgeting/lifecycle for projects
• Purchases hardware, software, and services in accordance with County’s purchasing policies.
• Creates reports to inform management of project status and deviation from goals.
• Contracts with technical personnel and vendors to meet organizational objectives.
• Manages project budgets.

IT Operations

• Hires, develops, directs, and evaluates staff to meet organizational needs.
• Directs or supports the management of the following:
  • Network 
  • Servers
  • Cloud-based applications especially enterprise systems
  • Desktop/notebook systems
  • Mobile devices
  • Phone/VoIP systems
  • Legacy systems
  • Tech support for 24-hour departments.
• Reviews reports on service level, malfunction, and maintenance.

 To perform this job successfully, individuals should be able to meet all essential requirements:
Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree (B.A., or B.S.) from a regionally accredited four-year college or university 
• Eight (8) or more years of IT experience.
• Five (5) or more years of budget/departmental management, including supervisory responsibilities.

Certificates/Licenses

• Preferred certifications include MCSE, MCP, CCNA, or Security-focused credentials. 

Skills
Candidates should be able to demonstrate:

• Ability to interpret technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Strong written and verbal communication.
• Proficiency in preparing professional written materials.
• Analytic skills, including probability and statistics.
• Ability to interpret complex technical instructions and diagrams.

Work Environment
Essential functions of this job are typically carried out in work environments with the following characteristics:

• Takes place in standard office setting with a moderate noise level
• Utilizes office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers.
• Position may require occasional travel to other County facilities, training sites, or community locations.
• Duties may require occasional evening or weekend hours to meet business needs. 

Physical Requirements
Must be able to perform the physical demands of the position, including frequent sitting, walking, standing, and manual tasks; occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds; and maintaining required vision abilities.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EEO Statement 
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. 

ADA Statement (Reasonable Accommodations) 
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodations during the application process, please contact humanresources@polkcountywi.gov 

Salary : $110,843 - $127,462