Senior Director, Information Technology

Overview

The Senior Director, IT leads Quarterhill’s corporate IT strategy and operations, ensuring secure, reliable, and scalable technology services that support business needs and growth. This player coach role owns IT priorities, budgets, and service performance while remaining hands on with critical initiatives, acquisition integration, and complex operational issues.

The role builds an accountable IT team, partners with business and cybersecurity leaders to manage technology risks, and drives continuous improvement in service delivery and the employee experience.

Responsibilities

IT Leadership, Strategy & Business Partnership

• Own the corporate IT strategy, roadmap, and operating model, aligning technology capabilities and investments with business priorities and growth.
• Partner with business leaders to translate technology needs into practical solutions that improve processes, operational efficiency, and the employee experience.
• Prioritize IT initiatives and projects, balancing business requirements, risk, resources, and cost.
• Establish IT policies and standards, communicate performance and risks to leadership, and serve as the senior escalation point for significant corporate IT matters.

Service Delivery & Operations

• Be accountable for daily IT operations and end-user support, ensuring reliable services and effective incident and service request resolution.
• Establish service levels and performance measures, with clear processes for ticket prioritization, escalation, and resource allocation.
• Drive continuous improvement in service quality, responsiveness, and operational efficiency, ensuring timely communication about significant issues and resolution timelines.
• Oversee corporate IT resilience, business continuity, and disaster recovery readiness, coordinating security controls and incident response with the designated cybersecurity owner.

Identity & Access Management

• Oversee user provisioning, deprovisioning, and role-based access, ensuring permissions reflect employee responsibilities and business needs.
• Direct the administration of identity platforms, including Active Directory, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft Entra ID, with appropriate authentication and access controls.
• Ensure periodic reviews of user access and administrative privileges to support security and compliance requirements.

Acquisition Integration & Technology Change

• Lead corporate IT integration for acquisitions, coordinating systems, infrastructure, access, vendors, and support while maintaining business continuity.
• Assess acquired IT environments, identify risks and gaps, and establish integration priorities, resource requirements, and timelines.
• Coordinate implementation and adoption of technology changes with business leaders and functional teams.

Asset, Vendor & Financial Management

• Lead IT budgeting, forecasting, and investment planning, recommending priorities and managing spending within approved budgets.
• Oversee the IT asset lifecycle, including hardware, software, licensing, replacement planning, and accurate asset and configuration records.
• Manage technology vendor relationships.

Team Leadership & Development

• Build and lead the IT function, defining roles, capabilities, resource needs, and performance expectations.
• Recruit, develop, and retain IT talent, supporting professional development, knowledge sharing, and succession planning.
• Establish a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and collaboration within IT and across the business.
• Remain directly involved in critical projects and complex operational issues, providing practical guidance and hands-on support where needed.

Responsibilities may evolve with business needs, and other related duties may be assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

• Significant progressive IT experience, including leadership of corporate IT operations, strategy, budgets, vendors, and teams across multiple locations.
• Proven ability to develop IT roadmaps, prioritize investments, and deliver technology initiatives aligned with business needs.
• Strong technical judgment and a player coach approach, with the ability to guide the team and directly resolve complex issues.
• Experience supporting mixed Windows and Apple environments, including MacBooks, macOS, and executive technology needs.
• Demonstrated ability to build and develop accountable teams, manage competing priorities, and make sound decisions independently.
• Strong communication and business partnership skills, with the ability to explain technical issues, risks, and recommendations clearly.
• Experience leading corporate IT integration or significant technology transformation across multiple locations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field preferred, or equivalent practical experience.

Technical Knowledge & Capabilities

• Enterprise administration of Windows, macOS, Windows Server, Active Directory, Microsoft 365, Exchange Online, and Azure / Microsoft Entra ID.
• Endpoint deployment, configuration, patching, security, and lifecycle management across Windows and Apple devices, using Microsoft Intune and appropriate Apple management tools.
• Identity and access management, including role-based access, multifactor authentication, and user onboarding and offboarding.
• IT service management platforms such as ServiceNow, with experience establishing service levels and improving support processes.
• Networking, remote access, and endpoint protection technologies, including Cisco, Palo Alto GlobalProtect, and Microsoft Defender or comparable solutions.
• Scripting and automation, including PowerShell, to improve efficiency and reduce manual administration.
• Working knowledge of cybersecurity, incident response, business continuity, disaster recovery, and relevant compliance requirements, including PCI DSS and SOC 2.

Additional Requirements

• Availability for occasional after-hours support and incident response.
• Ability to travel to company locations as required.
• Ability to lift and transport IT equipment weighing up to 40 lbs., with appropriate assistance or accommodation.