What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Technology position at State of Maine OIT?
The Director of Technology provides strategic leadership, management, and vision for the district's comprehensive technology ecosystem. This role ensures that our infrastructure, data systems, and instructional technologies seamlessly support the educational mission across our distinct campuses (PreK-1 Elementary, Grades 2-4 Elementary, Grades 5-8 Middle School, and Grades 9-12 High School) and the Central Administration Office. Connected via a private Wide Area Network (WAN), the district supports a robust 1:1 device environment (iPads for PreK-1; Chromebooks for Grades 2-12) along with diverse staff hardware and specialized high school media labs. The Director manages the IT budget, ensures rigorous cybersecurity and student data privacy compliance, and leads a dedicated four-person technology team. Team Leadership & Scope of Infrastructure Direct Reports: Database Manager, Network Administrator, and two (2) IT Support Technicians. District Footprint: 4 schools and 1 central office building connected via a private WAN. Device Environment: * Student 1:1: iPads (K-1) and Chromebooks (Grades 2-12). Staff: Chromebook Plus (primary), with select macOS and Windows deployment for specialized roles. Specialized Labs: Two High School computer labs dedicated to Digital Arts and Music. Essential Duties & Responsibilities 1. Leadership & Team Management Supervise, evaluate, and mentor the IT department staff (Network Administrator, Database Manager, and Technicians) to ensure high-quality technical support and system reliability. Establish workflows, helpdesk ticket protocols, and project timelines for hardware deployments, software updates, and infrastructure maintenance. 2. Budgetary & Vendor Management Develop, propose, and manage the annual district technology budget, aligning expenditures with the district's strategic educational goals. Oversee contracts, licensing, and renewals for all internet subscriptions, cloud services, and software platforms. Maximize funding opportunities through E-Rate application processes and technology grants. 3. Data Privacy, Security, and Compliance Serve as the district's officer for Student Data Privacy Agreements (SDPA), ensuring all digital tools and vendors comply with state and federal laws (FERPA, COPPA, CIPA). Design, implement, and audit district-wide cybersecurity measures, including firewalls, endpoint protection, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and disaster recovery plans. Manage network access policies across the private WAN to ensure secure data transmission between the central office and school buildings. 4. Professional Development & Tech Integration Collaborate with curriculum directors and building principals to design and deliver professional development on technology integration in the classroom. Develop and facilitate mandatory cyber safety and phishing awareness training for all district staff and administrators. Qualifications & Skills Education & Experience Required: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Educational Technology, or a closely related field. Preferred: Master's degree or CETL (Certified Educational Technology Leader) certification. Google Certified Admin Certificate Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressive IT experience, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or management role, preferably within a K-12 public school system. Technical Knowledge Strong understanding of network and WAN architectures, routing, switching, and firewall management. (Aruba Switches, Infoblox System, Fortinet Firewall, Ruckus APs) Experience managing large-scale 1:1 device deployments via MDM (Google Workspace for Education, Jamf, etc.). Familiarity with cross-platform environments supporting ChromeOS, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Knowledge of specialized lab environments (e.g., Apple/Windows workflows for digital audio and graphic design software). Leadership Core Competencies Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders (school board, parents, staff). Strong collaborative spirit to bridge the gap between technical operations and instructional needs.