Information Technology Manager 2

The Office of Early Childhood is a unique state agency in Connecticut that helps families with young children achieve better life outcomes. 

 We touch the lives of over 200,000 young children, parents, and caregivers annually through our integrated focus on early care and education programs and safety supports, our home visiting programs, and other critical early childhood services. 

 CT is a leader in the nation- only a handful of states have created agencies dedicated to integrating the supports families with young children require.  New parenthood and early childhood are extremely important moments in a person’s life and nurturing or harmful experiences during this time can have significant and long lasting impacts.  Your work here will have an impact on the economic security, health, safety, and resilience of families with young children. You will help make childcare safer, more accessible and of higher quality; you will provide families with the support they need to help prevent child abuse, neglect, and SIDS and to gain better economic stability; you will support families with young children who have developmental delays.  This position will play a critical role in the development of this new agency. 

 We are looking to significantly expand our ability to deliver digital services, and this position will oversee a new suite of positions focused on bringing the best technical talent to bear on pressing social issues.  As the head of the IT team, this position will be responsible for overseeing the development of the infrastructure needed to help the agency transform into a data-driven agency- making smart decisions about how to best support families and programs. 

This is an exceptional opportunity for candidates who have technical expertise that they want to use to make meaningful social change and help state government be more effective at serving families with young children.  This position is located at 450 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT.  The hours are 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Please upload your resume highlighting your experience and knowledge of IT platforms, systems and programs.

Within the Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Enterprise Systems and Technology and Centers of Information Technology Excellence, these classes are accountable for the management and direction of information systems, applications development, management and implementation of complex information technology projects implementing business and technical requirements into architectural blueprints, maintenance, computer operations and similar information technology functions including technical and support staff.

Within a state agency information technology division, these classes are accountable for the management and direction of information systems, applications development, systems maintenance, and similar information technology functions as well as technical and support staff.

Plans, organizes and manages all operations and activities of an information technology services unit, division, function or location; responsible for meeting all data processing or information technology needs of the respective unit, division, function or location; establishes priorities for systems development and information technology projects in accordance with agency requirements; coordinates, plans and manages solution architecture projects; directs the planning, design and implementation of complex storage solution configuration; develops plans for future utilization information technology services in the overall agency program; within the financial resources of the agency ensuring the development of high quality, low-cost technology solutions aligned with the needs of the State and its agencies; aligns information technology planning with the business strategy; leads and influences the development of standards and decisions regarding changes to systems/applications; manages information systems activities within areas such as IT infrastructure and architecture, applications development, networks, computer operations and support; oversees information technology projects from conception to completion; works with leadership team to maximize cross-team contributions; leads information technology operations to ensure exceptional quality and timely response to all customer service issues; interfaces regularly with clients/customers; stays abreast of local, regional and national industry trends; understands the major economic, political, technological and competitive trends affecting technology; to capture competitive advantages, searches out challenging opportunities to change, grow, innovate and improve; compares information technology with those of significant competitors and makes appropriate adjustments; coordinates the use of key people, resources, technologies, process, and capabilities to reach strategic goals; sets an example by acting in ways that are consistent with shared department values; fosters collaboration by promoting cooperative goals, building trust and enlisting others in a common vision; strengthens staff by providing choice, developing competence and offering visible support; focuses on continuous learning for self and staff; actively acknowledges individual and team accomplishments; leverages technological solutions to meet business needs; performs related duties as required.

· Plan and Deploy for Business Results, which includes the ability to develop and implement business plans, IT plans, budget plans, and human resource plans in order to maximize budget allocations, technology, personnel and other resources to achieve agency and program goals.

· Lead Change, which includes innovation, the ability to be a creative problem solver and a strategic thinker, and the ability to recognize and develop opportunities to grow and develop information technology services in response to customers and a changing work environment

· Focus on Results and Quality, including exercising and promoting accountability, and the ability to analyze surveys, financial and other data, and use strategic planning and performance measurement techniques to continuously improve performance and maintain competitiveness

· Understand Customers and Markets, which includes the ability to establish customer satisfaction and loyalty, forecast and conduct market analyses, keep ahead of industry trends and incorporate “best practices” into information technology operations.

· Lead People, including the ability to resolve conflict, communicate effectively, coach and train employees, recognize performance, and foster diversity and teamwork.

· Build Coalitions, including the ability to explain and advocate facts and ideas in a convincing manner, to negotiate with individuals and groups internally and externally, to gain cooperation from others, and to identify the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization.

· Business Knowledge, including knowledge of the technical, professional, procedural and legal requirements of the specific information technology area.

Ten (10) years of experience in computer or network administration, architecture, operations, production control, systems development, information technology analysis and planning.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity or one (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity.

Note: For State Employees, this is interpreted to be two (2) years at the level of an Information Technology Supervisor or one (1) year at the level of an Information Technology Manager 1 or Agency Information Technology Manager.

1. College training in computer science, management information systems or a closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor’s Degree.

2. A Master’s Degree in computer science, management information systems or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

Significant experience communicating a wide range of complex IT issues to technical and non-technical audiences; Extensive experience incorporating user research into a development process; Experience leading or participating in a retrospective session; Demonstrable experience supporting other teams to be more effective in the work they do; Experience incorporating changes into an IT system based on user feedback; Experience building and maintaining a culture of openness and continuous improvement; Experience establishing business and IT performance metrics and reporting on progress against those metrics; Experience managing or working as part of a user-centered design, product, or technology team; Experience working with legal and/or procurement teams to understand and maximize a project’s success within their procedural requirements; Experience leading or participating in a project that involved the application of emerging technology trends; Experience shaping the strategic vision and priorities for a group, department, or organization; Experience encouraging regular, honest, and constructive feedback for all members of a team, including yourself; Experience building or otherwise working with APIs (Application Programming Interfaces); Demonstrable experience working in an agile delivery environment, particularly where contractors are involved; Experience recruiting and retaining talented team members who specialized in either design or engineering.

1. The Information Technology Project Manager is limited to the Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Enterprise Systems and Technology and Centers of Information Technology Excellence as identified by the statewide Chief Information Officer. Managers functioning in this capacity oversee a portfolio of large, long range or multiple on-going projects. The complexity of the assignment is determined by project scope, risk exposure, span of control, diversity of skill-sets and capabilities as well as the size of project budget and number of team members. They oversee all phases of projects from conception to completion utilizing PMI standards.

2. Incumbents assigned to positions designated to perform Information Technology Project Management may be required to possess Certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).

3. The Solutions Architect is limited to the Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Enterprise Systems and Technology and Centers of Information Technology Excellence as identified by the statewide Chief Information Officer. Managers functioning in this capacity oversee all aspects of solution architect projects which includes the development of technology solutions and mapping business requirements to systems and technical requirements ensuring alignment with the enterprise architectural plan.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.