Director Of Data Services / It Director

About Houston-Galveston Area Council

The Houston-Galveston Area Council is one of the largest regional planning commissions in the country with a diverse service area of 13 counties and more than 7 million people. We are the pulse of our region addressing issues that cross city limits and county lines every single day.

We make decisions that affect our transportation system, ensure the safety and well-being or our seniors, connect people to jobs, help families recover from natural disasters, preserve water quality for our children, and so much more. We work to make the region a great place to live, work, and thrive.

About the Director of Data Services

We are currently seeking a highly skilled and experienced Data Services Director/IT Director to join H-GAC. The successful candidate will play a vital role in developing and implementing our IT strategies, overseeing the organization's technology operations, and ensuring the efficient and effective use of technology systems across all departments.

As the Data Services Director/ IT Director, you will be responsible for leading a team of IT and Data Services professionals and collaborating with key stakeholders to align technology initiatives with H-GAC’s overall goals and objectives. You will be instrumental in identifying emerging technologies and trends, evaluating their potential benefits and risks, and making recommendations for their adoption. Additionally, you will successfully manage the Data Services/IT budget, prioritize projects, and ensure the highest level of security and data confidentiality.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in IT leadership roles, demonstrating excellent strategic thinking, problem-solving, and project management skills. Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities are also essential, as you will be working closely with executives, department heads, and external partners. A deep understanding of industry best practices, emerging technologies, and regulatory requirements is critical for success in this role.

What will I be doing?

• Develop and implement the company's IT strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives

• Lead and mentor a team of IT professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and professional growth

• Evaluate, recommend, and implement technology solutions that drive operational efficiency, productivity, and cost savings

• Collaborate with key stakeholders to identify and prioritize technology projects based on business needs and resource availability

• Monitor IT performance, identify potential risks or issues, and implement proactive measures to ensure system uptime and availability

• Develop and maintain robust IT policies, procedures, and controls to ensure compliance with industry regulations and best practices

• Responsible for leading the agency’s information technology (IT) department, overseeing support for more than 350 employees, and managing various facets of technology, including infrastructure (network, data center, Wide Area Network), operation (helpdesk, telephone, servers), GIS software and databases, website development, information security, SharePoint administration, and Gulfcoast Regional Emergency Communication (GRECD) 911 District.

• Collaborate with the IT team to evaluate the impact of current and emerging technologies on strategic business needs.

• Directing the overall operation of the GRECD 911 District

• Directing strategic efforts for both business and technology, establishing a future vision aligned with the agency’s goals.

• Working closely with department directors and senior leaders to influence strategic business decisions related to technology usage.

• Responsible for enterprise-wide IT activities encompassing infrastructure and architecture, application development, business process, networks, strategic vendor and partner relationships, cloud sources, and computer operations and support.

• Overseeing the development of enterprise standards, technology architecture, and IT governance processes.

• Holding overall responsibility for the operations of the agency’s enterprise technology to ensure adherence to systems performance, availability and service level requirement.

Key Qualifications

• Broad discipline in computer science topics and strong knowledge in computing technology.

• Strong knowledge and experience in IT infrastructure, systems, and applications

• Proven track record in implementing and managing enterprise-wide technology projects

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex technical challenges

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Strong leadership and team management abilities, with a track record of building and developing high-performing teams

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to thoroughly analyze a situation, identify key points, and quickly develop a course of action in response.

• Strong and effective communication skills to engage a broad range of audiences ranging from non-technical team members to management and executive team members.

• Detail-oriented

• Experience overseeing information security and cybersecurity with strong knowledge in frameworks and controls that is foundational to the information security function.

• Having knowledge on how to innovate legacy application to optimize agency operations and systems functionality Having knowledge on how to innovate legacy application to optimize agency operations and systems functionality.

Do you have…

• Strong technical background, with a deep understanding of software development, systems architecture, cybersecurity and cloud computing.

• Strong business acumen, with the ability to align technology initiatives with business goals.

• Proven experience in driving digital transformation and innovation.

• Proven experience working with Executive leadership on critical technological infrastructure matters.

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field; Master's degree preferred

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT executive leadership roles, with a focus on strategic planning, business continuity management, compliance and execution