Director of Information Technology

Director of Information Technology (Auto Finance) Department: Information Technology Reports To: CTO and COO Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt SUMMARY: we are looking for an Information Technology Director for its loan servicing group. This role is centered on vendor relationship management, operational application management, and operational reliability across a portfolio of third-party, cloud-based SaaS platforms and outsourced infrastructure services. The Director is accountable for the performance, availability, and continuous improvement of the core operational applications the business depends on every day, for the relationship with our Managed Service Provider (MSP), and for the connectivity and IT operations of our DFW offices. Success in this role means the business’s systems are dependable, well-governed, cost-effective, and secure, and that internal teams have the tools and support they need to serve borrowers. RESPONSIBILITIES Core Operational Application Ownership Serve as the technology owner and primary point of accountability for the company’s core operational SaaS applications, including the loan servicing platform, GPS/collateral tracking system, secure email, text/SMS messaging applications, and the Microsoft 365 / Office suite. Own the vendor relationships for each application: manage contracts, renewals, service level agreements (SLAs), roadmaps, and escalations, and hold vendors accountable to performance and support commitments. Oversee day-to-day operations of these platforms, ensuring uptime, data integrity, and that configurations align with business and regulatory requirements. Coordinate application updates, new feature rollouts, integrations, and configuration changes, managing testing and communication to minimize disruption to servicing operations. Partner with operations, collections, compliance, and other business units to translate their needs into system capabilities, and to resolve application issues quickly. Monitor application usage, licensing, and spend, identifying opportunities to reduce cost, consolidate tools, or improve return on the technology investment. Maintain documentation, administrative controls, and access governance for each platform. Managed Service Provider (MSP) Relationship & Governance Own the relationship with the company’s MSP, which is responsible for hardware provisioning, account/license/permissions provisioning, and end-user help desk support. Manage the MSP contract, scope, SLAs, and performance, holding the provider accountable through regular reviews of ticket metrics, response and resolution times, and user satisfaction. Serve as the primary escalation point between internal staff and the MSP, ensuring issues are resolved promptly and root causes are addressed. Oversee the provisioning and deprovisioning lifecycle (onboarding, role changes, offboarding) to ensure timely, accurate, and secure account, license, and permissions management. Establish and enforce standards for access controls and least-privilege permissions in coordination with the MSP, supporting the company’s security and compliance posture. Review and approve hardware and licensing purchases managed through the MSP, controlling cost and standardizing the environment. Office Connectivity & IT Operations Own internet connectivity for the DFW offices, including relationships with internet service providers (ISPs) and any circuit, failover, or redundancy arrangements. Ensure reliable, secure network connectivity for staff, coordinating with the MSP and carriers to resolve outages and maintain business continuity. Manage connectivity-related vendors, contracts, and costs, and plan for capacity and redundancy as the business grows. Security, Compliance & Governance Support the company’s information security and regulatory compliance obligations as they relate to the applications, vendors, and infrastructure under this role’s ownership. Ensure third-party vendors meet contractual, security, and data-protection requirements, and participate in vendor risk reviews and audits. Ensure and provision IT compliance training for the organization through third-party training providers, tracking completion and maintaining records to support audits and examinations. Contribute to business continuity and disaster recovery planning for core systems and connectivity. Maintain documentation of systems, vendors, contracts, and controls to support audits and examinations. Lead, coach, and develop a small internal IT team, fostering a culture of accountability, customer service, continuous improvement, and operational excellence. Establish clear goals, priorities, and performance expectations for team members, providing regular feedback, professional development, and performance management. Ensure effective allocation of team resources across application support, vendor management, technology initiatives, security responsibilities, and business support needs. Build and maintain a high-performing team capable of supporting the company’s operational systems, business growth, and evolving technology requirements. Partner with Human Resources and executive leadership on hiring, onboarding, succession planning, and employee development activities. Promote collaboration between IT and business stakeholders, ensuring team members understand operational priorities and deliver responsive, business-focused support. Create an environment that encourages process improvement, knowledge sharing, documentation, and cross-training to reduce key-person dependencies and strengthen operational resilience. Serve as a mentor and escalation point for team members, helping resolve complex issues, remove obstacles, and drive successful outcomes. Leadership & Planning Develop and manage the IT budget for applications, MSP services, and connectivity, and report on spend and performance to leadership. Advise executive leadership on technology strategy, risks, and opportunities that support the company’s servicing operations and growth. Set priorities, manage competing demands, and drive continuous improvement across the technology environment. QUALIFICATIONS Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. 7+ years of progressive IT experience, including 3+ years in a leadership or director-level role. 3+ years of direct people management experience, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and the development of technical professionals. Demonstrated experience managing third-party SaaS applications and holding vendors accountable to SLAs and contracts. Proven success managing an MSP or outsourced IT services provider, including help desk and provisioning functions. Strong understanding of account, license, and permissions administration and access governance, including Microsoft 365 administration. Experience managing office network and internet connectivity, ISP relationships, and related vendors. Excellent vendor management, contract negotiation, and budgeting skills. Strong communication skills, with the ability to work across business units and translate operational needs into technology solutions. Preferred Qualifications Experience in loan servicing, consumer lending, financial services, or another regulated industry. Familiarity with loan servicing platforms and GPS/collateral tracking systems. Knowledge of information security frameworks and regulatory/compliance requirements applicable to financial services (e.g., GLBA, SOC 2, state lending regulations). WORK ENVIRONMENT On-site role based at the DFW offices. Occasional availability outside standard business hours to support system changes, outages, or vendor escalations. #J-18808-Ljbffr