IT Director

# IT Directorapg 5250 - Minneapolis, MN 55421## Description**Purpose**The IT Director is a strategic business leader responsible for establishing and executing the information technology vision for a growing mid-market organization. This role encompasses technology infrastructure, business systems optimization, continuous process improvement, and enterprise-wide digital transformation. The IT Director provides strong strategic and tactical leadership across executive, management, and operational levels, with particular emphasis on business systems selection, optimization, and enhancement. This position requires expertise in information security, data privacy, and regulatory compliance appropriate to the company's operational and jurisdictional requirements. The IT Director partners closely with all business units to align technology investments with company objectives while maintaining a culture of continuous improvement. The role balances hands-on technical leadership with strategic oversight, scaling IT operations to support significant growth.**Responsibilities:****Strategic Business Systems & Continuous Improvement:*** Develop and own the enterprise business systems roadmap aligned with company strategic objectives and growth plans* Lead evaluation, selection, and implementation of new business systems (ERP, WMS, CRM, eCommerce, analytics platforms)* Establish governance frameworks for system selection that balance business needs, scalability, cost, and risk* Drive continuous optimization of existing systems through process improvement, configuration enhancements, and best-practice implementation* Establish metrics and KPIs to measure system performance, user adoption, and ROI for all major business applications* Lead cross-functional initiatives to identify and eliminate operational inefficiencies through technology* Analyze business processes and recommend technology-enabled solutions that reduce cost, improve quality, and enhance customer experience**Information Security, Compliance, and Data Governance:*** Develop and implement comprehensive information security strategy and policies aligned with industry best practices and applicable regulatory requirements* Establish and maintain security governance frameworks and control documentation appropriate to the company's risk profile and regulatory obligations* Oversee identification, assessment, and mitigation of security risks across all IT systems and infrastructure* Implement technical and organizational security measures including encryption, access controls, network segmentation, and monitoring* Lead security incident response and establish breach notification procedures in accordance with applicable regulations* Ensure data protection policies and practices address minimization, purpose limitation, retention, secure deletion, and user rights* Establish vendor and third-party data handling agreements aligned with data protection and security requirements* Maintain audit readiness and work with internal and external auditors on compliance assessments* Oversee compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards relevant to the company's operations and jurisdictions**Infrastructure and Technology Operations:*** Manage and optimize IT infrastructure including hardware, software, data, networks, servers, cloud services, and endpoints* Ensure high availability and performance of critical business systems with defined SLAs and uptime targets* Implement disaster recovery and business continuity plans with regular testing and documentation* Oversee network architecture, security, and performance across all locations* Manage cloud infrastructure and licensing, optimizing for cost and performance* Lead technology refresh cycles and hardware/software lifecycle management* Establish vendor selection and management processes aligned with business needs and risk assessment* Develop and manage contracts with IT vendors, MSPs, cloud providers, and consultants**Organizational Leadership and Culture:*** Lead, develop, and mentor the IT team; establish clear goals, performance expectations, and career development opportunities* Promote a culture of technical excellence, innovation, accountability, and customer service within IT and across the organization* Partner with Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and departmental leaders to understand business needs and align technology investments* Communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences at all organizational levels* Build strong working relationships across the organization from C-suite through front-line employees* Lead technology change management processes including impact assessment, stakeholder communication, and training* Develop comprehensive training programs to drive user adoption of new systems and tools**Financial Stewardship and Strategic Planning**:* Develop, justify, and manage annual IT budgets including capital, operational, and personnel costs* Conduct cost-benefit analysis for major technology initiatives and present business cases to executive leadership* Track and report on IT spending and variance management* Identify cost optimization opportunities while maintaining system performance and security* Lead large-scale technology projects and programs from initiation through completion* Establish project governance, risk management, and resource allocation frameworks**Emerging Technologies and Innovation:*** Evaluate emerging technologies for potential business applications and competitive advantage* Develop business cases for technology investments and recommend implementation approach* Lead proof-of-concept and pilot programs for new technologies* Provide thought leadership on technology trends and implications for the business**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:*** Deep knowledge of modern ERP systems, WMS platforms, eCommerce systems, Business intelligence/analytics platforms* Strong experience with cloud services (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and hybrid infrastructure* Strong project management skills with ability to lead and influence a cross-functional team during key systems design and implementations* Advanced knowledge of network architecture, virtualization, disaster recovery, and high-availability systems* Understanding of data architecture, business intelligence platforms, and analytics tools* Expertise in cybersecurity tools, identity and access management (IAM), encryption, and security monitoring* Strategic thinking with ability to develop long-term technology vision aligned with business strategy* Expertise in managing complex, multi-year initiatives with cross-functional teams* Experience negotiating contracts and managing vendor relationships* Strong change management and organizational communication capabilities* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with comfort in emerging technologies* Demonstrated expertise implementing and maintaining information security management systems and controls* Comprehensive knowledge of data protection and privacy requirements relevant to organizational operations* Understanding of regulatory compliance frameworks applicable to the company's industry and jurisdictions* Capability to identify, assess, and prioritize information security and data privacy risks* Knowledge of security design patterns, encryption standards, and access control models* Understanding of incident response procedures and breach notification requirements* Excellent verbal and written communication skills* Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines* Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment* Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel* Ability to adapt to the needs of the organization and employees* Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate**Requirements:*** Bachelor's #J-18808-Ljbffr