Innovation & Infrastructure Manager

About the role

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) is seeking a seasoned technical leader to serve as the Innovation & Infrastructure Manager, supporting the Department of Early Childhood (IDEC).

Responsibilities

• Serves as the Innovation & Infrastructure Manager for Innovation and Infrastructure for the Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) supporting the Department of Early Childhood (IDEC)
• Manages the architectural landscape and innovation roadmap in collaboration with DoIT Enterprise Architecture and oversees the design of cloud-native architectures
• Provides technical oversight of DoIT/IDEC applications and infrastructure, ensuring secure, scalable, and high performing environments align with DoIT/IDEC’s technology strategy and architectural standards
• Collaborates with DoIT Enterprise Architecture and IDEC product management to guide the selection of applications, platforms, and digital services
• Provides strategic leadership for cloud and innovation management, ensuring cost-effective scalability, optimal performance, and alignment with IDEC’s technology strategy and budget priorities
• Supervises Contractual Staff
• Keeps abreast of new developments in digital services, cloud infrastructure, and artificial intelligence through online training platforms, meetings, training sessions, seminars, vendor demos, and conferences to increase familiarity with and remain current on products, vendors, techniques, and procedures

Requirements

Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with coursework in software engineering, cloud computing, network engineering, computer science, or directly related fields.

Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the management of services designed with modern data and cloud infrastructures.

Qualifications

• Three (3) years of professional experience leading the design and implementation of cloud-native infrastructure and data-driven solutions, with measurable outcomes in performance, reliability, and cost optimization
• Three (3) years of professional experience setting up a Microsoft Azure cloud environment for capacity planning, configuration, and FinOps aligned cost management
• Three (3) years of professional experience establishing and chairing Architectural Review Boards (ARB), conducting design reviews, approving vendor deliverables, and ensuring coherence with long term digital roadmaps
• Three (3) years of professional experience supervising technical teams or vendor contractors—assigning work, coaching, conducting evaluations—and building a culture of creativity, simplicity, and coherence
• Four (4) years of professional experience defining and enforcing rigorous standards for security, scalability, performance, and architectural adherence across product lifecycles
• Extensive knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF or equivalent) with demonstrated experience defining standards, roadmaps, and governance mechanisms in a matrixed environment with Enterprise Architecture and Cloud Operations
• Ability to translate complex technical strategies into clear business value for executive stakeholders and to own a business-aligned innovation agenda that advances agency objectives
• Ability to concurrently manage multiple initiatives, conduct feasibility studies, and deliver scope, schedule, and budget commitments in a high stakes public sector environment
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning through ongoing coursework, certifications, conferences, and vendor demos to stay current on digital services, cloud infrastructure, and AI

Skills

Requires the ability to verify identity.

Requires employment authorization to accept permanent full-time position with the State of Illinois.

Requires the ability to pass a position specific, agency required background check and requires self-disclosure of criminal history.

Requires the ability to lift and carry objects or equipment weighing up to 10 pounds. This is considered sedentary work as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor (20 CFR 404.1567(a)). Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and requires occasional lifting, carrying, walking, and standing.

Requires the ability to travel in performance of duties with occasional overnight stays.

Requires the ability to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, short notice, evening, weekends, and holidays.

Requires the ability to serve in an on-call capacity and work outside of normal hours to meet deadlines.

Requires adherence to the revolving door restrictions outlined in 5 ILCS 430/5-45. Consequently, employees should be aware that in the event of receiving a non-State employment offer during state employment or within one year immediately following the termination of State employment, they are required to inform the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies (OEIG) of the Illinois Governor before accepting such non-State employment. Failure to notify the OEIG may result in the imposition of a fine.

Pursuant to the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.), specific state officials and employees are required to annually submit Statements of Economic Interest to the Office of the Secretary of State, which will be accessible to the public for examination and copying. Employees subject to this requirement must also file a Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission, as specified in Executive Order 15-09. Failure to submit these statements in a timely manner may result in fines and penalties.

The conditions of employment listed are incorporated and/or related to any duties included in the position description.

Work Hours: 8:30 - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday (work hours may vary)

Headquarter Location: 555 W Monroe St, Chicago, Illinois, 60661