Director of Technology

Overview

The Director of Technology provides leadership, planning and coordination for the development and maintenance of Shelton School District’s information technologies, systems, network, educational and administrative applications, and technology support.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a technology related field.
• At least three years’ experience in a leadership role.
• At least three years’ experience working for a public education organization.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive, professional relationships with staff, students, and vendors.
• Possession of a growth mindset and the willingness and desire to grow professionally and personally.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and tact in all aspects of employment.
• Ability to perform all the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Essential Functions

• Creates and implements the technology department’s vision and strategic direction.
• Sets annual goals, operational objectives, priorities, strategic approach, and budget requirements in accordance with the District’s short-term and long-term goals. 
• Establishes, maintains, and co-chairs the Shelton Technology Committee with a focus on developing short-and-long term goals, monitoring emerging trends, and evaluating and implementing education technology initiatives.
• Ensures accountability for implementation of technology strategies and priorities.
• Creates and maintains a support and maintenance plan for all technology devices, software, network components, and peripherals.
• Develops and plans for providing adequate and affordable hardware and software replacements/upgrades.
• Designs and implements business continuity planning and disaster/failure recovery procedures.
• Provides project/implementation management oversight for new projects.
• Defines, prioritizes, schedules, and monitors multiple projects, developing and maintaining comprehensive project plans/schedules.
• Directs and coordinates the management and operation of the District’s technology enterprise including the network, infrastructure, educational and administrative systems, and hardware.
• Develops, manages, and monitors the department’s annual budget for technology and large capital expenses.
• Determines technology standards, policies, and procedures including monitoring and updating as appropriate.
• Establishes contracts, licenses, maintenance agreements, and upgrades them as needed.
• Oversees the cost-effective acquisition of devices and software, and management of vendors to ensure that technology operations are within established budget constraints.
• Implements a regular replacement cycle for all technology.
• Ensures compliance with all software and hardware licenses. 
• Uses a trouble ticket system to determine each staff members’ workload, identify training needs among staff, and run reports to look for trends (e.g., hardware aging out, the same type of end-user questions, problems, or requests).
• Manages the work of vendors and contractors supplying goods and services.
• Serves as the Information Security Officer.
• Ensures that users receive consistent high-quality, reliable and friendly customer service from technology staff.
• Consults regularly with District and school leadership to identify where technology can help meet individual department/committee educational and managerial goals and needs.
• Communicates with leadership the technology support required for major program initiatives.
• Develops, implements, and assesses performance standards and service level agreements for technology services.
• Works with special services to identify appropriate assistive technology for students.
• Supports end-user training on hardware, educational and administrative application (e.g., SharePoint).
• Provides support to the Director of Data and Assessment, as needed.
• Ensures that technology for all school board meetings and as well as other events is planned and tested in advance and have the requisite technology support staff available.
• Works with administrators to determine the most effective schedule for technical support staff.
• Oversees the District’s information technology infrastructure.
• Develops strategies to simplify support requirements.
• With internal staff and/or consultants, designs, develops, and oversees implementation of planned future technology solutions, including procurement of outside products and services, development of innovative technology services, and integration of prewswent systems with new technology.
• Establishes and oversees a comprehensive security program to protect information integrity and ensure compliance with federal privacy requirements – The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), the Children Online Privacy Act (COPPA), and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Ensures that the technology staff are handling critical tasks including security of technology systems such as monitoring security advisories and logs, upgrading anti-virus, anti-spamming, anti-Trojan/worm, anti-spyware software, and applying patches, automated monitoring of network and server performance and reliability, and analysis and resolution of network and server hardware and software problems in a timely manner.
• Mentors and supervises the technology department staff.
• Assists in the development of job descriptions.
• Conducts annual performance reviews of direct reports.
• Fosters collaboration, cohesiveness, sharing of information, communication, high service levels, teamwork, and cross training among technology staff.
• Creates metrics to continuously evaluate the effectiveness of the team; identifying opportunities to elevate its performance (from internal customers’ perspective) and developing strategies, tactics, and tools to accomplish this.
• Directs technology consultants and contractors.
• Recruits and retains highly qualified staff members.
• Seeks out and engages in professional development related to personal and professional growth.
• Attends trainings and meetings as directed or appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports to: Superintendent or Designee

Schedule: 260 days per school year, M-F, 7:30-4:30 (flexibility required for emergencies or other scheduled needs).

Salary: $161,236-$177,355 annually, depending on experience

Benefits: 12 sick leave days; 2 personal days; 29 vacation days (with a ability to cash out 5 each year); 12 paid holidays; health insurance through the School Employees’ Benefit Board including medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employee and dependents, State retirement through the Department of Retirement Systems.