Assistant Director of NERIC (Cooperative Technology Services)

Capital Region BOCES provides both educational programs and educational support services, including an extensive IT division (NERIC) that serves over 150 school districts locally and statewide. We are preparing students & educators for success and employ hundreds of individuals who support that mission. Our team ensures that educational programs are administered, and schools run efficiently and effectively so our kids receive a world-class education. They are guided by 5 commitments that support their mission and purpose: Service, Value, Excellence, Improvement and Leadership.

About the Role

NERIC is currently in search of their next Assistant Director to oversee the Cooperative Technology Service. This leadership position will report directly to the Deputy Director of NERIC’s Information Technology Services. As the Assistant Director, you will provide strategic direction and operational oversight to ensure service excellence across the critical service area of cooperative technology services. This includes stakeholder management with Superintendents and district leadership staff, managing multiple district-facing service delivery teams, and overseeing projects focused on providing customer-focused IT support to subscribing school districts.

NERIC’s CTS offering includes strategic planning and technology consultation, procurement services, technology project consultation and coordination, user account management, and broad-based end-user support. Each subscriber to CTS is provided with a technical team, including a technical account manager and (on-site and remote) technicians, and is supported by a breadth of supporting services from across NERIC’s technology teams.

Responsibilities

• Directly interface with school district leadership teams, leading district service update meetings and monitoring service delivery metrics. Identify opportunities for process refinement, staff development, and technology upgrades, and support expansion of potential technology solutions, including expanding on CTS activities as well as consulting on other available services from across the NERIC portfolio.
• Oversee the deployment and evaluation of multiple on-site technical teams, including technical account managers, help desk technicians, and network and systems technicians who provide high-quality technology planning and various IT services for our customers.
• Collaborate with the Deputy Director of IT Services and a team of other NERIC leaders to support organization-wide planning, decision-making, and operations through the execution of strategies that support our subscribers' goals while aligning NERIC’s operational priorities and service standards.
• Direct coordination and implementation of technology projects and provide long-term strategic planning to school districts and key stakeholders to ensure customer needs are understood and met effectively, promoting a customer-first mindset across all service teams.
• Manage utilization of the enterprise service management (ServiceNow) platform for support needs initiation and tracking to resolution, as well as remote access management tools.
• Assist with the oversight of budgets and resource allocations for the teams under your leadership, including monitoring CoSers, business models, and services billing.
• Supervise technical account managers and team leaders both on-site and remotely, offering mentoring, support, and professional development opportunities to build a culture of collaboration, accountability, and service excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a closely related field with at least 3 years of experience managing or directing an IT operation. At least one year of qualifying experience must involve the direct supervision of technology staff. Associates degree candidates require 5 years of experience as outlined. (Candidates without these degrees but with 7 years of applicable experience are encouraged to apply, and your background will be reviewed for equivalency.)
• Ability to effectively lead multiple teams, manage high-level, multi-faceted projects, and supervise the schedules and work of others.
• Enthusiasm for advancing technology in education.
• Passion for helping others, strong leadership and communication skills, and a personal drive for continuous learning and a desire to develop your skills and the skills of your team members.
• Experience working in school district IT-related operations is ideal but not required.

Benefits

• Platinum-level, co-pay-based health insurance program; individual or family options available, with BOCES paying 76% of the annual premium.
• Professional development opportunities to stay on top of industry trends and best practices.
• Generous paid time off, including 15 paid holidays, four weeks of vacation, and a separate bank of sick/personal time.
• Membership in a public, pension-based retirement system.

There are two ways to qualify for this position. If you hold a valid School District Administration (SDA) or School District Leader (SDL) certification through NYSED, apply under "Leadership Positions" with the title: Assistant Director-NERIC (Certified); Vacancy Number: 2027-63A. If you do not hold an administrative certificate, apply under "Leadership Positions" with the title Assistant Director-NERIC (Civil Service); Vacancy Number 2027-63B.

For more details, contact Debi Colwell, Personnel Administrator, at 518-862-4908 or by email at crbrecruitment@neric.org.