Probation Chief Technology Innovation Officer

About the role

The Probation Chief Technology Innovation Officer leads a dynamic team driving technology, innovation, and operational excellence for the Probation Department. This role oversees information technology operations, system development, cybersecurity, and strategic initiatives that support critical public safety functions.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, directs, and oversees departmental information technology operations supporting approximately 400 devices and 350 users.
• Serves as Departmental Security Officer and ensures compliance with County, State, and Department of Justice security standards and requirements including the protection of client records and criminal offender record information.
• Administers, supports, and maintains the Probation Case Management System and more than 20 internally developed business applications.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates professional and technical staff, including Computer Systems Specialists and Systems and Programming Analysts.
• Assigns and prioritizes work, provides technical direction, and performs performance management and personnel administration functions.
• Provides advanced technical guidance and resolves complex or escalated technical and operational issues.
• Directs the administration and security of Active Directory, Group Policy, and enterprise authentication systems.
• Plans, coordinates, and manages equipment lifecycle replacement, operating system upgrades, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.
• Oversees network architecture planning to ensure system security, reliability, and scalability.
• Directs the maintenance, troubleshooting, enhancement, and lifecycle management of web-based and Windows-based applications.
• Oversees development and delivery of operational, analytical, and management reporting to support departmental functions and decision-making.
• Evaluates business and regulatory requirements and directs development of new or enhanced software solutions to improve operational efficiency.
• Develops and implements annual and long-term IT strategic plans aligned with departmental and County-wide objectives.
• Establishes, maintains, and updates IT policies, procedures, and standards to ensure regulatory compliance and adherence to best practices.
• Researches emerging technologies, industry trends, and best practices and recommends system and process improvements.
• Serves as technical consultant and departmental representative on County-wide committees, including the Santa Barbara County Data Sharing Committee.
• Provides technical expertise, analysis, and recommendations for multi-departmental and enterprise initiatives, including CalAIM and Reentry Planning projects.
• Develops, administers, and monitors departmental IT budgets.
• Oversees procurement activities, contract administration, and vendor management.
• Analyzes financial and operational data and makes recommendations regarding resource allocation and cost-effective service delivery.
• Plans, leads, and manages information technology projects from initiation through implementation and completion.
• Identifies, analyzes, and resolves operational, programmatic, and system issues and communicates findings and resolutions to executive management.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in computer science, information technology, or related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in information technology, enterprise systems, business systems management or a related field, including at least three (3) years as a direct supervisor or manager.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of principles, practices and techniques of technology services and business systems in a public agency setting, including IT operations; IT enterprise security management; GIS operations; database management; application development and support; service desk and end user support management; enterprise resource planning; system management; operating system management; network architecture planning and design; network engineering; network infrastructure and telecommunications management; cloud services management; business analysis; and system migration management.
• Principles and practices of technology areas related, but not limited, to IT operations management.
• Principles and practices of IT enterprise security management, including e-discovery, cybersecurity, and cloud security management.
• Principles and practices of GIS operations.
• Principles and practices of database management, including, relational database development and management, and techniques of developing report/data warehouse structures, testing, and issue resolution.
• Principles and practices of application development and support.
• Principles and practices of service desk and end user support management.
• Principles and practices of operations system and information, including enterprise resource planning, system management.
• Principles and practices of network architecture planning and design.
• Principles and practices of network engineering, network infrastructure, and telecommunications management.
• Principles and practices of cloud services management, including usage and implementation of cloud-based architecture.
• Management principles, practices and techniques.
• Strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation principles and practices in public administration and program management.