The Director of Information Technology (IT) Social Services Applications reports to the Director of IT Application Services. This position leads a diverse group of IT professionals who support the Access and Eligibility Services (AES) program area. The scope of this IT team includes the full range of software development lifecycle activities, project management and execution, contract management, and budget management, as well as contract technical oversight of large contracts such as those for software development and infrastructure operations. This position performs management activities including providing direction and guidance to Social Services Applications team members (including Manager level positions), establishing priorities, and driving the execution of strategic and tactical roadmaps established by IT and program leadership. This position also oversees the day to day operations of staff to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of IT systems and services. This position works with minimal supervision and has significant opportunity for initiative and independent judgment. This position plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others.

Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
Oversees support of critical agency software applications. Plans, creates, implements, and monitors IT operational policies, procedures and guidelines to ensure consistency and compliance with relevant software development and security standards as well as legislative mandates. Establishes service level agreements for key systems and services provided by the Social Services Applications team. Defines and implements key process indicators (KPI's) to measure the effectiveness of team processes, systems, and service levels. Benchmarks best practices for capabilities, processes, and systems both internally and with other agencies/entities. Incorporates benchmarking knowledge gained in roadmaps and continuous improvement action plans. Plans, directs, and oversees the daily tasks and activities of staff. Ensures staff have defined training and development plans. Provides employee guidance and mentoring. Communicates job requirements and manages employee performance. 25%

Ensures systems remain up. Drives the tracking of application downtime for supported applications. Defines and drives application availability improvement action plans, partnering with other teams and/or organizations including but not limited to the Department of Information Resources (DIR) and vendors. Goal is a year over year improvement in critical application availability and a reduction of Application Development team hours spent in major incident response team (MIRT) related work. 10%

Ensures compliance of team owned projects with all relevant frameworks. Provides oversight and guidance to team members to ensure successful project outcomes occur on time and on budget. Ensures projects the team executes have a clearly defined business value and deliverables. 25%

Defines and executes actions plans to address any opportunities identified by KPI's with a goal of year over year improvement in cost, quality, and/or IT service provided. Oversees relevant IT contracts and ensures contract terms are met. Drives corrective actions and continuous improvement with vendors with a goal of year over year improvement in vendor service provided, quality, and/or cost. Drives improvements in the Agile software development lifecycle used by the Social Services Applications team. Works closely with business customers and counterparts in IT to define strategic roadmaps to more efficiently manage application infrastructure currency and reduce the effort and cost required to support applications. 20%

Reviews department budget and contracts to identify and drive opportunities for cost avoidance and/or savings. 10%

Ensures team is trained on and uses structured problem solving and risk assessing/management tools and techniques such as 8-Disciplines, 5-Whys, and Failure Mode Effects Analysis. Develops a high performance workforce that can accurately and efficiently arrive at root causes and permanent corrective actions where required. 10%

Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of advanced datacenter and cloud based services infrastructure, platforms, systems, information technology management, and applications development methodologies.
Knowledge of modernized software development tools and best-in-class Agile and Lean SDLC methods, principles and practices.
Knowledge of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles and practices, distributed user interface environments, multiple Relational Data Base Management Systems, monitoring and performance management utilities; network and security protocols with related communication and security components; contemporary Web technologies, email clients, and a variety of other supported applications used for processing Fee for Service and capitated rate claims.
Advanced knowledge of multiple computer-based systems, information technology management, and systems development methodologies including programming languages, systems analysis, and system testing. Must understand the relationships between TIERS and the Medicaid Management Information Systems as related to provider enrollment, client eligibility, and claims payment, including the multiple technologies supporting these intricate systems.
Knowledge of software quality assurance and automated testing strategies, tools, technologies, processes and methods.
Ability to organize, direct and manage large, complex technology software development environments, multiple concurrent projects, multiple large groups of diverse and highly skilled technical professionals.
Experience managing or overseeing large-scale contracts with resource and technology suppliers.
Ability to establish goals and objectives in support of agency and statewide strategic plans, and to monitor and measure progress against, and deliver to defined objectives.
Ability to identify and analyze very technical complex problems/issues, evaluate alternatives, develop effective solutions and oversee planning and implementation.
Senior level management skills and abilities in an advanced information technology environment, preferably in government and public service.
Team-oriented interpersonal and communications skills.
Exemplary servant leadership skills and a proven track record of building large-scale, web-based applications using modernized tools, methods, and principles.
Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, with technical and business staff, contractors, suppliers, executive management, auditors and the State Legislature, easily adapting to the needs of each individual audience.

Registration or Licensure Requirements:
Project Management Professional (PMP) or PMI-ACP certifications are helpful but not required. Lean Six Sigma is also helpful but not required.

Initial Selection Criteria:
Ten (10) years of IT experience. Five (5) years of the required experience must be in managing large IT operations.

Additional Information:

MOS Code:
There are no direct military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position. All active duty, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at http://www.hr.sao.state.tx.us/Compensation/JobDescriptions.aspx.

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