IT Director (Austin)

IT Director (Austin)

Texas Workforce Commission connects people with careers across the state. While we are based in Austin on the north lawn of the Texas State Capitol, we have offices statewide. We're a Family Friendly Certified Workplace with great work-life balance, competitive salaries, extensive opportunities for training and development, and fantastic benefits. This position is based at 1411 Brazos Street, Austin in the Information Technology Division. TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.

We are searching for an innovative and results-oriented leader to direct our IT Enterprise Project Office & Emerging Technologies (EPOET) Department. In this critical role, you will provide strategic guidance and leadership, collaborating closely with IT teams and business stakeholders to drive excellence in project planning, oversee portfolio execution, and ensure seamless management, planning, and control of application releases for our Applications Solutions. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in enterprise-level project and program management, technical release and change management, cultivating high-performing collaborative teams, accurate project estimation, proactive risk mitigation, and the ability to communicate with executive presence and a strong customer-centric focus.

The IT EPOET Director is selected by and accountable to the Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) of Applications Solutions with the approval of the CIO. Performs advanced (senior-level) managerial work providing direction and guidance in strategic operations to plan, organize, manage, control, and evaluate the functions and performance of the department. Implements throughput and quality standards aimed at demonstrating value to customers; evaluates individual employee and team performance, coaches, and counsels staff to optimize performance; and supports the DCIO's succession planning to ensure uninterrupted business continuity. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

You will be trusted to:

• Develop operating guidelines, policies, procedures, standards, and instructions for managers, staff, contractors, and customers of assigned IT department.
• Organize assigned IT department to align with workload demands, fill vacancies, and guide managers to fill vacancies to sustain operations and operate within IT department budget.
• Implement TWC Performance Planning & Review (PPR) program to help managers and staff know management's expectations and to provide staff with regular feedback on performance.
• Coach, counsel, and mentor managers/direct reports and hold them accountable for managing their workload and team.
• Prioritize and set workload expectations for daily operations, work on projects, and IT roadmap initiatives in alignment with IT department's human resource capacity.
• Gather information on throughput, quality, unit performance, and report metrics for inclusion on the IT Dashboard.
• Collaborate with IT directors to plan, organize, and prioritize the Technology Roadmap and guide IT as a member of the IT Steering Committee.
• Actively participate in maintaining and providing input to departmental dashboards.
• Ensure compliance with all Federal, State, and agency laws, rules, policies, and procedures including IT Handbook and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that govern TWC IT.
• Collaborate with CIO and IT directors to create and maintain IT's values and operating principles, work to establish a culture of accountability, teamwork, excellence, ingenuity, and innovation to promote an image of IT excellence.
• Maintains a reliable, predictable work schedule.
• May be called upon to work outside of normal business hours to sustain operations or complete urgent assignments.
• Perform other duties as assigned to maintain IT operations.

You are a great fit with:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, MIS or related field and 8 years IT leadership experience (at least 5 years' experience with release management processes and best practices and, 3 years' experience in progressive growth, management, and leadership responsible position).
• Experience overseeing a software engineering team and skill developing the technical expertise to meet long-term business goals.
• Experience in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership, management, and the coordination of people and resources to achieve solutions through information technology.
• Experience developing policies, reviewing guidelines, procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Experience establishing priorities, standards, and measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals.
• Ability to support a cooperative and collaborative work environment.
• Excellent interpersonal/communication and presentation skills with the ability to articulate technical issues and solutions to all levels of the agency.
• Demonstrated knowledge of industry trends, standards and tools.
• Strong consultative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated logical approach to problem determination; detect and determine root causes for recurring and complex issues.
• Strong competencies in planning, project management, leadership and organization.
• Ability to produce and present clear, concise and professional communications and presentations.
• Experience with Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
• Project Management Certification: Project Management Professional (PMP) or formal project management training and/or certification.
• Knowledge of Texas Workforce Commission programs.

You qualify with:

• Five years of full-time experience in the oversight and direction of an agency program; or in strategic planning and policy development and implementation, three years of which must have been in an administrative management or supervisory capacity.
• Relevant academic credits may be applied toward experience qualifications for this position.

You gain:

• A Family Friendly Certified Workplace
• Work on impactful projects that improve services for Texans
• Competitive starting salary: $8,500.00 - $11,500.00/ month
• Defined Retirement Benefit Plan
• Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts
• Medical Insurance
• Paid time off, including time for vacation, sick and family care leave
• Additional benefits for active employees can be found at

VETERANS: Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications, and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser:

HOW TO APPLY: To be considered, please complete a State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at or on Taleo (Job Search). TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.

Primary Location: United States-Texas-Austin

Work Locations: Austin:1411 Brazos 1411 Brazos St Austin 78701

Job: Chief Executives

Organization: TWC Business Unit

Schedule: Full-time

Employee Status: Regular

Job Type: Standard

Job Level: Director

Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time

Work From Home: No