Information Technology Director

Information Technology Director

St. Johns River Water Management District is seeking an Information Technology Director. The St. Johns River Water Management District is an environmental agency whose work is focused on ensuring a long-term supply of drinking water, and to protect and restore the health of water bodies in the District’s 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida. Enjoy work-life balance in a professional culture with competitive pay and benefits.

The Information Technology (IT) Director serves the Chief Information Officer and manages an annual budget of approximately $9 million and a team of 40 employees.

This is a senior management position responsible for establishing and executing an IT strategy that encompasses knowledge of existing conditions, as well as, leveraging information technology to best support the agency’s mission and executive priorities for today as well as into the future.

The IT Director ensures appropriate, practical and cost-effective IT tools, systems, products and services are developed or acquired and are in place to successfully implement the IT strategy, agency mission and executive priorities and to avoid obsolescence.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement an IT strategic vision that includes an enterprise data initiative, AI strategy and cyber security plan and enables the agency to meet its mission and executive priorities while also managing the IT program budget. Evaluate the needs and requests of program area stakeholders from an enterprise viewpoint. Provide strategic advice to executive leadership and the Governing Board on IT issues. Ensure IT workplan aligns with the IT strategic vision and executive priorities.
• Oversee the cybersecurity program, implementing threat detection and mitigation strategies while driving systems modernization and lifecycle management to maintain operational resilience.
• Ensure that a comprehensive disaster recovery and business continuity plan is in place to support organizational resilience and uninterrupted operations during critical incidents. Participate in emergency operations during such incidents.
• Oversee IT configuration and change management processes, ensuring seamless integration of new technologies while maintaining system stability and operational efficiency across the enterprise structure.
• Oversee the design, development, operation and support of IT systems including architecture management, application management, security and risk management and infrastructure and operations support management.
• Ensure technologies and platforms remain current and that new tools and technologies are evaluated for practical integration in accordance with the IT strategic vision, stakeholder needs and executive leadership priorities. Develop and implement plans for identifying, evaluating and implementing innovation to better prepare the agency for upcoming challenges.
• Create a positive culture by encouraging, supporting and training staff; identifying and encouraging professional growth opportunities; ensuring communication within the IT program as well as up and down the organization. Provide excellent customer service through a help desk as well as always seeking to improve operational efficiency and customer/user experiences.

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and seven years of progressively responsible experience in Information Technology, two of which must have management and leadership responsibility.

An advanced degree may substitute for a portion of the required experience.

Professional experience as described above can substitute on a year- for-year basis for the required college education.

Knowledge Of / Skilled In:

• Advanced information technology systems, including cloud-based infrastructure, geographic information systems, enterprise software solutions, and modern networking technologies.
• Cybersecurity principles, data governance and compliance standards.
• Developing, implementing, and managing comprehensive disaster recovery and business continuity strategies to ensure organizational resilience and uninterrupted operations during critical incidents.
• IT configuration and change management.
• Strategic planning and budget development and management.
• Evaluating and using artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics.
• Developing staff, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
• Developing, executing and adjusting long-term IT strategies aligned with executive priorities.
• Advising executive leadership on technological innovations and its impact on existing systems and developing and implementing recommendations to avoid system or equipment obsolescence.
• Geographic Information Systems.
• Negotiating, managing and monitoring contracts with external vendors and service providers including a virtual CISO.
• Leading organizational initiatives utilizing digital opportunities to innovate business processes and products.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills including the ability to clearly communicate IT needs to leadership and business needs to IT staff.

Physical Requirements/Working Environment:

General office environment with travel to all District locations including some overnight travel.

License:

Valid Driver license

Location:

The office location may be in Palatka, Jacksonville or Apopka, however the IT Director will be expected to be in the Palatka office two days per week. The IT Director is eligible for limited telework and the senior management benefits package.

Salary:

Negotiable based on successful candidate’s background and experience.

Benefits include Hybrid work schedule, Florida Retirement System, health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, paid leave and holidays, professional development, and wellness program.

Your application will receive careful consideration and, if selected for an interview, you will be contacted to schedule an appointment. St. Johns River Water Management District participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the Unites States.

Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans will receive preference in employment and are encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity/Veterans’ Preference/Drug-Free and Tobacco-Free Workplace

Closing Date: Open until filled