Reports To: Deputy Superintendent of Operations
Summary
The General Director of Information Technology is responsible for:
Overall planning, organizing, and execution of all Information Technology functions at Topeka Public Schools.
Providing leadership in identifying, assessing and managing technology needs for the school system to the Superintendent and other stakeholders.
Directing, coordinating, supervising, facilitating or performing all tasks and elements needed to effect comprehensive integration of appropriate technology into every facet of operations.
Maintaining ample knowledge of current technological trends.
Demonstrating an active and practical approach to the achievement of objectives, and effectively manage & motivate the Information Technology staff.
Education and Experience Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology or an associated business field. A Master’s degree is preferred.
Minimum of 10 years’ experience in Information Technology, with proven Information Technology management experience in a position of similar scope is preferred.
Distinguishing Career Features Work performed is exclusively managerial in nature with responsibility for planning and integration of information technology programs containing multiple complex information technology areas of focus in multiple locations. Strategic thinking and strong business acumen are essential in this role.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide vision, strategy and plans aligned with the district’s mission.
- Work with school and department leaders to determine best practices for the implementation and usage of technology from the classroom to the warehouse.
- Hire, evaluate and manage a high quality staff to provide direct and indirect technology services, including network services, information services, telecommunications, technology security, disaster recovery and hardware and software aspects.
- Manage acquisition of hardware and software using the district purchasing process.
- Oversee the life cycle and replacement of aged software and hardware.
- Manage and oversee the collection, storage, security and reporting of all data necessary for local, state and federal reporting requirements.
- Recommend policy, standards and acceptable use guidelines for technology use.
- Work with vendors and service providers to ascertain emerging technologies and ensure best practice and value for all district technology needs.
- Oversee technical documentation, training materials, equipment inventories, license agreements and technology related contracts Provide leadership in all aspects of technology for the school system.
- Coordinate development, refinement and execution of the district strategic plan, involving all stakeholders and governance committees.
- Collaborate with the Superintendent and Cabinet to make informed decisions.
- Collaborate with principals and school staff to make informed decisions.
- Lead district initiatives, collaborating across departments and functional areas that support adoption and implementation of technology in all aspects of school business, including those that improve teaching and learning and promote 21st century skills.
- Create and support cross-functional teams for needs assessment, decision-making, technology support, professional development and other aspects of the district technology program.
- Manage and direct staff in support of all technology applications to help the district meet goals of the strategic plan.
- Supervise or coordinate the skills development of all employees in the operation of technology. Build awareness among employees of available resources and the role of technology in the instructional process.
- Develop and coordinate a broad range of technology-based resources, maximizing the availability and use of these resources.
- Direct the effective delivery of network infrastructure resulting in a high rate of availability and optimum performance
- Work with information engineers to find solutions to manage business activities
- Direct daily operations of a department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines
- Prepare financial budgets and present purchase proposals for capital projects to the leadership team
- Control the operational budget and expenditures
Knowledge/Ability/Skill
- Demonstrated professional experience in a technology leadership role
- Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, as well as speaking and presentation skills
- Knowledge of instructional technology classroom and school needs, working in concert with Teaching and Learning staff to train, lead and promote digital learning at all levels.
- Knowledge of network infrastructure, information management, digital safety and security, and various communications platforms.
- Experience with multi-million dollar budgets, fiscal planning and financial expertise. Knowledge of the purchasing process for school districts in the state of Kansas is a plus.
- Experience with large scale acquisitions of applications and/or equipment through the RFP and bid process.
- Leadership skills in the area of human capital management. Ability to motivate staff and promote a collaborative, team environment.
- Excellent organization and time management skills.
- Ability to work with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders. Strong interpersonal skills.
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