Technologies Director

Under the general supervision of the County Administrator, this position supports the Nicollet County Technologies Department by assisting with providing technology consulting, systems implementation, and technology support services to County departments. The Technologies Director is tasked with establishing goals, objectives and strategies for the department to ensure compliance with county policy directives as well as local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to departmental operations. This role also involves overseeing the development and implementation of the departmental budget, guiding the work of staff, and makes recommendations to improve the general operations of the Technologies Department.

This position requires a skilled technology leader with the capability to formulate long-term and viable solutions and deploy technological advancements that have an enterprise-wide positive impact. This role is accountable for developing technological solutions that support the advancement of organizational priorities, including new and emerging technologies as well as maximizing the utilization and application of all current technology.

• Advises County Staff on Strategic Information Technology Issues. Functions as primary information technology resource for County management and County Board. Provides internal consulting to departments. Provides recommendations regarding departmental technology requests. Communicates technical subject matter in non-technical terminology

• Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours, as necessary. Works the days and hours necessary to perform all assigned responsibilities and tasks. Must be available (especially during regular business hours) to communicate with subordinates, supervisors, customers, vendors, and any other person or organization with whom interaction is required to accomplish work and employer goals

• Develops long- and short-range plans to ensure that the department's activities support County goals and objectives, including the development and implementation of innovative technologies. Monitors progress of plan in achieving expected outcomes. Collaborates with other staff to develop goals and objectives. Communicates short- and long-term goals and objectives with staff, Administration, and the County Board. Forecasts Technology resources needed to accomplish goals and objectives

• Develops standard operating procedures and network access policies; establishes network standards and ensures new projects and/or acquisitions adhere to them; analyzes industry trends and selects appropriate standards; creates standard operating procedures and implements policy; and approves requests for new hardware/software acquisitions

• Develops and recommends performance standards and evaluates the performance of subordinates. Recommends and issues disciplinary actions, and performance improvement measures. Coaches, mentors, trains, leads, and advises department staff. Approves timecards and plans and coordinates time off and schedules to ensure quality customer service. Interprets personnel rules, and ensures staff accountability to policies and procedures

• Directs the development and implementation of County-wide Technology Policies, Procedures, and Standards. Develops and implements hardware and software purchasing policies. Develops and implements security, disaster recovery, data privacy, imaging, and other policies and programs. Provides clarification of County policies and standards for County staff and outside parties. Handles or coordinates handling high-level or sensitive policy compliance issues. Ensures that legal mandates are met

• Ensures organizational programs and projects are integrated into the department and effectively maintained through organizational development, employee programs, and/or other related programs

• Ensures physical and logical security of all county computing assets, including data

• Ensures that data and continuous improvement drive the department's work and strategies. Recommends changes to systems and policies to improve service, security, and reliability. Monitor industry trend information to improve investment longevity

• Exercises the full range of administrative and technical supervision for department staff. Participates in and makes recommendations for hiring, transferring, and/or reassignments and assigns and directs work

• Implements and interprets applicable laws and regulations. Establishes departmental procedures necessary to assure compliance with changes in local, state, and federal laws and regulations

• Manages teams and projects that include a variety of modem IT environment components and technologies, including on-premises and cloud-based systems and servers, integration methodologies, enterprise software applications, and identity and access management practices

• Prepares, monitors and administers the Technologies Department budget. Supervises purchasing and advises the County Administrator of the financial condition

• Works with county administration and department heads to determine county-wide technology needs. Researches modern technologies and evaluates usefulness. Identifies and communicates the best long-term technology direction and Strategic Plan to meet County technology needs. Plans and implements the overall information technology strategy and infrastructure. Educates staff and management on innovative technology

• Valid MN Driver’s License, and

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, and

• Five (5) years of experience in a technologies department setting and experience supervising professional staff, OR

• Any equivalent combination of education and experience to successfully perform the essential duties of the job

• Ability to listen, comprehend, and effectively communicate information both written and orally to all individuals

• Ability to make program decisions based on financial considerations

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions

• Ability to prepare records and reports

• Ability to apply discretion, judgment, and organizational skills to a variety of projects, assignments, and situations

• Ability to perform complex technical duties to maintain computing and networking systems

• Ability to gather data, conduct research and present the results in a public meeting, to committees, or in a written document

• Ability to develop and communicate policies, guidelines, regulations, and laws to staff

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County Administration, staff, third party agencies and the public

• Knowledge of applicable State, Federal, and local laws, rules, and regulations

• Knowledge of and ability to use computer software sufficient for departmental operations

• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices

• Knowledge of record retention schedule principles

• Knowledge of developing and implementing goals, objectives, policies, and procedures

• Knowledge of governmental budgeting, accounting, information management, and personnel administration

• Knowledge of County and departmental policies and procedures

• Knowledge of and ability to use computer software sufficient for departmental operations

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public and business administration

• Knowledge of advanced project management techniques related to information systems planning and implementation

• Knowledge of data gathering and analysis practices and procedures

• Knowledge of installation, repair and maintenance of hardware and software equipment, materials, and systems used in telecommunications, computing, and network systems

• Knowledge of programming methods to design and program systems for data retrieval and analysis

• Knowledge of information technology and information security policies

• Knowledge of local government operations to facilitate work and interactions

• Skill in organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines, and following up assignments with minimum direction

• Skill in exercising initiative and judgment and to think logically to analyze, interpret, and accurately resolve malfunctions and apply solutions to automated systems