Director Telecom & Data Networks

At Houston Methodist, the Director Telecommunications and Data Networks position is responsible for Information Technology (IT) Division's Data, Voice telecommunications, Security operations and Cloud Computing environments, software and data network and wiring infrastructure. Responsible for the installation, maintenance, operation, administration and backup and disaster recovery of the telephone, data networks, telephone equipment, cloud computing infrastructures (AWS, AZURE, Google, etc), paging and related equipment. Translates IT leadership strategies into comprehensive technical execution plans for the acquisition and maintenance of data, voice, wireless, cloud computing networking equipment with consideration of evolving architecture needs and hardware solutions. Oversees the design and equipment placement for new and expanding facilities across the systems and ensures that all critical technology needs are considered.

The Director position responsibilities include overseeing the activities of the department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency to accomplish strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position is accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching and counseling employees on work related performance, and developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also ensures training, monitoring and operations initiatives are implemented which secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

FLSA STATUS
Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree preferred

EXPERIENCE

• 10 years IT experience to include five years people management experience, five years experience in telecommunicatons and/or information technology with a focus on voice connectivity and data networking and three years experience with the management and support of Cloud Computing or private hybrid cloud infrastructure and networking
• Experience overseeing and managing cloud infrastructure services implementations including overseeing and managing the design and implement availability, scalability and performance plans for cloud platforms
• For internal candidates, three years people management experience with Houston Methodist performance that demonstrates leadership responsibility in addition to the aforementioned experience requirements

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Preferred

• PMP - Certified Project Management Professional (PMI) and
• Technical certifications

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially about activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changes
• Demonstrates highly effective communication skills—strong written communications and platform presentation abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
• Capable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadership
• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action oriented
• Proficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software
• Maintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor
• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information
• Expert knowledge of telecommunications systems, services and operations and related database concepts
• Ability to manage and accomplish business and workflow analysis, system definition, design, acquisition and implementation of telecommunications systems and services
• Demonstrates an insatiable hunger for solving complex problems in simple and intuitive ways.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Directs, develops and implements strategic and operational/high level projects and processes either through independent/highly autonomous work or through the facilitation of work teams to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives.
• Oversees management of and ensures development for staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Directs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees.
• Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.
• Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes.
• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals. Drives the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.
• Fosters collaboration, strategic alignment, integrated planning and execution across different functions in a matrix organization.
• Inspires enterprise wide support of telecom and data network initiatives and drives cross functional teamwork to achieve results on time and within budget.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees department operations, designated projects, schedules and activities as needed to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
• Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.
• Assesses vendor product and service capacity and advises executive leadership regarding appropriate contracts to support cost efficient operations and maintenance.
• Provides space and equipment placement recommendations for new and expanding facilities across the system. Collaborates with construction management to ensure that critical technology needs are considered. Identifies solutions as needed.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines. Responsible for staff maintenance of credentials and competencies, per accrediting/ licensing agency and/or department guidelines as applicable.
• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring and improving the department workflow and enhancing operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and identifying solutions via collaboration. Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.
• Responsible for employee compliance to policies and procedures and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).
• Proactively identifies issues concerning technical limitations and key product requirements and drives solutions
• Ensure disaster recovery planning and processes are up to date.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance of the department(s), ensuring operation in a cost-effective manner. Proactively identifies and plans for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects. Ensures staffing plans and schedules meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.
• Creates department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.
• Creates progress reports and project timelines, including spending accruals and design modifications of architecture implementation initiatives with a focus on efficiency and effectiveness.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department, entity or system operations by leading unit projects and/or other department/ system-directed activities. Proactively leads task forces and committees. May represent HM at assigned community or professional organization meetings.
• Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Partners effectively with stakeholders as appropriate.
• Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development Plan (MDP) on an on-going basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development and MDP.
• Applies broad knowledge of our product/service capabilities to identify new product areas, new technology, and emerging product/service opportunities

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform: No
• Scrubs: No
• Business professional: Yes
• Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree preferred

EXPERIENCE

• 10 years IT experience to include five years people management experience, five years experience in telecommunicatons and/or information technology with a focus on voice connectivity and data networking and three years experience with the management and support of Cloud Computing or private hybrid cloud infrastructure and networking
• Experience overseeing and managing cloud infrastructure services implementations including overseeing and managing the design and implement availability, scalability and performance plans for cloud platforms
• For internal candidates, three years people management experience with Houston Methodist performance that demonstrates leadership responsibility in addition to the aforementioned experience requirements

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Preferred

• PMP - Certified Project Management Professional (PMI) and
• Technical certifications