Director, IS Operations

HANYS is seeking a Director of IS Operations to join our Information Services (IS) team. This hybrid position is based in Rensselaer, NY; applicants must live within a commutable distance from our office.

About the role

Reporting to the SVP of Information Services, this role directs and manages the implementation, maintenance, and administration of all computer networks and telecommunications infrastructure for all HANYS locations, as well as co-located, hosted, and cloud infrastructure services. The Director establishes the strategic direction for the Operations division in alignment with the IS strategy, manages vendor relationships, and leads the IS Operations team to support HANYS’ success.

Responsibilities

• Staff Management
  • Determines Operations staffing required to implement and maintain planned strategic initiatives.
  • Develops and implements short- and long-range staffing plans (including employees, contractors, and managed services).
  • Manages a team of technology professionals, providing work direction, feedback, coaching, technical training, and performance management.
  • Coordinates work schedules to ensure coverage meets business needs and expectations.
  • Plays a key role in hiring new IS Operations staff members.
• Operations Management
  • Plans, implements, operates, and maintains HANYS infrastructure systems and services to ensure reliability, availability, recovery, and performance.
  • Plans and implements infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) solutions including co-location, hosting, and cloud services.
  • Serves as the primary contact for service providers and their support staff.
  • Establishes effective controls, measurements, and feedback systems to evaluate service performance and drive continuous improvement.
  • Encourages staff participation in identifying and delivering process improvement opportunities.
  • Establishes service levels and availability for key services such as email, Internet, and telephone.
  • Leads and directs the investigation, analysis, remediation, and permanent resolution of complex technical issues.
  • Participates as a member of the Incident Response Team and other work groups to support HANYS operations during incidents or events.
  • Supports the Human Resources Department on building management efforts at HANYS Headquarters.
  • Supports the Corporate Finance Department on Information Services budgets, technical assets, and related expenses.
  • Attends and actively participates in IS meetings, including Information Security Committee (ISC), Data Governance Committee, Information Technology Governance Committee (ITGC), and DataGen/IS Collaboration Meetings.
• Project & Strategic Planning
  • Develops and documents short- and long-term strategic plans for Information Service Operations and HANYS computing infrastructure.
  • Provides input on Information Services and HANYS strategic initiatives, projects, budgets, and annual work plans.
  • Leads multiple, complex, and high-impact projects, ensuring project management principles are utilized for effective execution.
  • Works collaboratively with IS leadership, HANYS association and business leaders, Corporate Finance, Corporate Legal, and project teams to implement projects on time and within budget.
  • Establishes and maintains Operations and IS department policies, procedures, and practices supporting effective service delivery and regulatory compliance.
• Vendor Management
  • Evaluates vendor performance and proposals, makes recommendations for purchases, and manages outsourcing contracts.
  • Provides work direction and oversight for consultants and managed services providers.
  • Establishes and manages processes for evaluation, purchase, and acquisition of recurring or replacement products within Corporate Finance guidelines.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher and ten years’ experience in progressive Technical Operations roles required. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
• Demonstrated competencies in project management, staff management, and vendor management.
• Demonstrated proficiency in project management, network design, security, management, and administration.
• Strong background and experience in current technologies such as Microsoft M/O 365, Azure Active Directory, virtualization, server OS, and software distribution technologies.
• In-depth understanding of network and telecommunication hardware, software, and firmware.
• Strong desire and ability to acquire new skills and knowledge of technology products and best practices.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze industry trends and products, evaluate them against organizational needs, and deliver supported recommendations.
• Prior Information technology supervisory experience required.
• Experience leading a technical team navigating complex technical projects.
• Certification in network technologies (MCIPT, MCS, CCNA, etc.). Additional experience and/or demonstrated abilities may be substituted for certification.

Pay

The expected salary for this position is between $127,000 and $133,000 annually. Pay rate offered will be based on the successful candidate’s relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, and in consideration of internal equity.