IT Director

IT DirectorWe are looking for an IT Director who is hands-on, curious, ambitious, and ready to make an impact. This is not a traditional IT leadership role where you simply manage a team and delegate the work. We need someone who understands technology, can roll up their sleeves, solve problems, lead projects, and help the business quickly adapt to the changing technology landscape.The IT Director will oversee the company's technology environment with a particular focus on AI, automation, website and digital experience, business applications, POS technology, cybersecurity, and technology-driven business improvement.The ideal candidate may currently be a strong IT Manager, Senior IT Manager, or Director who has the skills and ambition to take the next step in their career. This role offers the opportunity to broaden your impact, work directly with senior leadership, and grow toward a future VP-level technology leadership position.You do not need to be the technical expert in every area. You do need to understand technology well enough to ask the right questions, make good decisions, lead internal and external resources, and ensure the work gets done.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES1. AI, Automation & Emerging Technology — Primary Focus• Identify practical opportunities to use AI, automation, and emerging technologies to improve the business.• Partner with leadership across the organization to identify manual, inefficient, or outdated processes that can be improved through technology.• Evaluate and implement AI tools and solutions that improve productivity, customer experience, decision-making, and revenue opportunities.• Stay current on rapidly changing AI and technology capabilities and determine what is genuinely useful for the business versus simply being a trend.• Help establish responsible and practical approaches to using AI across the organization.• Lead technology projects from concept through implementation, ensuring solutions are adopted and deliver measurable results.• Bring a mindset of "How can we do this better?" and continuously look for opportunities to simplify, automate, and improve.2. Website & Digital Experience• Oversee the company's website, digital platforms, landing pages, and eCommerce experience.• Partner with marketing, sales, and other business leaders to ensure the digital experience supports business and revenue objectives.• Lead internal and external technology partners responsible for website development, maintenance, integrations, performance, security, and optimization.• Ensure the website provides a fast, intuitive, secure, and friction-free customer experience.• Monitor website performance, traffic, customer behavior, conversion, SEO, AEO, uptime, and other key metrics.• Use data and analytics to identify opportunities to improve the customer journey and drive revenue.• Ensure the company's web technology continues to evolve with changing customer expectations and technology.3. Business Applications, POS & Technology Partnerships• Oversee key business applications, POS technology, software platforms, and third-party technology partners.• Manage relationships with technology vendors and ensure the company is receiving value from its technology investments.• Partner with the Retail team and other business leaders to improve POS and technology solutions that support the customer experience and drive revenue.• Ensure appropriate integration between the website, POS, business applications, and other critical platforms.• Evaluate technology needs and make recommendations based on business priorities, usability, cost, scalability, and long-term value.• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to implement improvements and resolve technology issues.4. Cybersecurity, Risk & Technology Infrastructure• Oversee the company's cybersecurity, technology infrastructure, data protection, and disaster recovery efforts.• Partner with internal and external technology experts to maintain appropriate security protocols and safeguards.• Ensure critical systems are secure, reliable, and available to support the business.• Help identify technology risks and develop practical plans to address them.• Ensure technology practices and systems meet applicable business, regulatory, and security requirements.• Oversee disaster recovery and business continuity planning for critical technology systems.5. Lead, Develop & Influence• Set the direction and priorities for the IT function while remaining close enough to the work to understand what is happening.• Lead, develop, and support internal and external IT resources.• Establish clear expectations, accountability, priorities, and timelines.• Build strong relationships with senior leadership and business partners across the organization.• Work collaboratively with Marketing, Retail, Operations, Finance, and other departments to identify and solve business challenges through technology.• Communicate complex technology issues in a clear, practical way that business leaders can understand.• Build a culture of accountability, responsiveness, continuous improvement, and service.• Lead without micromanaging—give people ownership, remove obstacles, and make sure things get done.WORK EXPERIENCE AND REQUIREMENTS• 5+ years of progressive technology experience, with increasing responsibility and leadership.• Experience leading technology initiatives, projects, vendors, or teams.• Strong understanding of website and digital technologies, eCommerce, business applications, and technology integrations.• Demonstrated interest or experience in AI, automation, and emerging technology.• Experience working with or overseeing POS systems and technology in a consumer-facing, retail, hospitality, entertainment, or similar environment is highly valued.• Experience overseeing cybersecurity, infrastructure, or technology risk management.• Ability to manage technology partners and vendors effectively.• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect technology decisions to revenue, customer experience, efficiency, and business results.• Comfortable working across departments and partnering with senior leadership.• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field preferred, but relevant experience and demonstrated ability will be considered.THE PERSON WE'RE LOOKING FORThis role is about potential as much as experience.We are looking for someone who is hungry for the next step in their career and wants the opportunity to build something rather than simply maintain what already exists.You may be a strong IT Manager or Senior Manager who has been waiting for an opportunity to take on broader responsibility. You may already be a Director who knows you are capable of more. Either way, you should be someone who wants to grow into a VP-level technology leader.• Hands-on — willing to jump in and figure things out.• Hungry — motivated by growth, responsibility, and results.• Adaptable — comfortable with how quickly AI and technology are changing.• Practical — focused on solutions that actually help the business.• Curious — constantly learning and looking for better ways to do things.• A problem solver — you don't wait for someone else to tell you how to fix it.• A leader — able to build trust, develop people, and hold teams and partners accountable.• Not a micromanager — you lead people without needing to control every detail.• A doer — you can develop the strategy, but you are equally comfortable rolling up your sleeves to make it happen.If you are looking for a role where you can have a meaningful impact...