Director of Technology

The City of Danbury is announcing an Open Competitive Exam for the position of

Director of Technology

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The Director of Technology serves as the City's chief information technology executive and Chief Information Security Officer. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director is responsible for providing strategic direction, operational oversight, security, and fiscal management for all IT functions supporting approximately 550 users across every City department, including a fully integrated web-based enterprise system.

This position was established to offer expert, independent assessment of both the Technology Services Department and the City’s overall technology needs. The Director is expected to evaluate current systems, staffing, service levels, and expenditures; identify gaps and opportunities; and develop and implement a multi-year plan to modernize the City’s use of technology while ensuring uninterrupted service delivery.

The Director leads this transformation by building consensus among department heads, earning the confidence of City staff, and developing a cohesive, motivated, and high-performing IT team. The Director exercises broad independent judgment, sets policy within assigned responsibilities, advises the Mayor and department heads on technology investments and risks, and is accountable for enterprise-wide results rather than a single functional area.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Needs Assessment and Strategic Planning
• Conducts a comprehensive assessment of the Technology Services Department, including staffing, skills, workload, service levels, vendor relationships, infrastructure, security, capital projects, and budget.
• Conducts an enterprise-wide assessment of technology needs, both hardware and software, across all City departments, meeting directly with department heads to understand operational requirements, pain points, and priorities.
• Develops, maintains, and executes a multi-year Information Technology strategic plan and technology roadmap aligned with the City's operational goals, capital plan, and financial capacity.
• Establishes measurable service standards, performance metrics, and reporting to objectively evaluate progress, service quality, and return on technology investment.
• Evaluates emerging technologies and programs to determine which solutions meaningfully advance City business requirements, distinguishing genuine operational value from vendor-driven trends.
• Advises the Mayor, City Council, and department heads on technology policy, investment decisions, risk, and the long-range implications of proposed initiatives.

LEADING AND MANAGING CHANGE

• Leads the planning, communication, and execution of organizational and technological changes, including system replacements, process redesigns, service consolidations, and the adoption of new standards.
• Builds cross-departmental support for change by engaging stakeholders early, clearly explaining the rationale, anticipating resistance, and adjusting approaches to address legitimate concerns.
• Develops comprehensive change management, training, and user adoption plans to ensure efficient onboarding and effective use of new systems across the organization.
• Manages competing priorities and limited resources by sequencing initiatives to maintain the stability of critical services during transitions.
• Establishes governance structures—such as a technology steering committee, project intake and prioritization processes, and standards reviews—to ensure decision-making is transparent and consistent.
• Monitors security vulnerabilities and leads routine security reviews and seminars throughout the organization.

LEADERSHIP, MORALE, AND TEAM BUILDING

• Leads, supervises, mentors, and develops the professional Technology Services staff by setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and holding team members accountable to defined standards.
• Actively fosters morale and teamwork by recognizing achievements, promptly and fairly resolving conflicts, removing obstacles, and promoting a collaborative culture where staff is invested in the department’s success.
• Assesses current staff skills relative to organizational needs and creates individual development plans, training opportunities, and cross-training initiatives to build depth and minimize single points of failure.
• Recruits, interviews, selects, and onboards new staff; makes recommendations on hiring, promotion, classification, discipline, and separation in accordance with City personnel policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
• Conducts performance evaluations, addresses complaints and grievances at the departmental level, and collaborates constructively with Human Resources and bargaining unit representatives.
• Repositions the Technology Services Department as a proactive service partner to other departments, enhancing responsiveness, communication, and the department’s reputation across the City.

OPERATIONS, SECURITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY

• Directs all day-to-day IT operations, including network and telecommunications infrastructure, servers and cloud services, enterprise applications, data management, end-user support, and help desk functionsfor all City departments, including Police, Fire, and 911 Dispatch Center.
• Ensures the continuity and security of systems supporting public safety (including Police, Fire, Dispatch, and Emergency Management), public utilities, and other mission-critical operations.
• Establishes and maintains effective systems management disciplines such as problem and incident management, change control, backup and restoration, software version control, documentation, and work prioritization.
• Develops, implements, and maintains the City's cybersecurity program, including risk assessment, access control, security awareness training, incident response, and compliance with applicable state and federal regulations to ensure the protection of sensitive data and adherence to industry standards.
• Develops, tests, and maintains disaster recovery and business continuity plans for all critical City systems.
• Establishes policies governing acceptable use, data governance, electronic records retention, public records access, and data privacy, in coordination with the Corporation Counsel.
• Ensures the continuity and security of systems supporting public safety, public utilities, and other mission-critical operations.

FISCAL, PROCUREMENT, AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Prepares, justifies, and administers the Technology Services operating and capital budgets; monitors expenditures and reports variances.
• Manages hardware life cycles and cloud consumption costs.
• Identifies cost‑saving measures, consolidation opportunities, and potential grant funding sources; prepares grant applications and oversees the administration of awarded funds.
• Develops specifications and scopes of work; manages RFP and bid processes; evaluates proposals; and negotiates and administers contracts, licenses, and service level agreements in coordination with Purchasing and Corporation Counsel.
• Manages vendor and consultant performance, ensuring external partners meet contracted commitments.
• Directs project planning and execution for large and complex implementations, overseeing scope, timelines, budgets, resources, and both internal and contracted personnel through to completion.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Public Administration, or a closely related field, plus eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in information technology, including at least five (5) years in a senior management or executive capacity with direct supervisory responsibility for professional staff.
• Demonstrated experience in leading enterprise-wide technology assessment, strategic planning, and large‑scale system implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in leading organizational change and building effective, cohesive teams.
• Experience in municipal or other public sector government, or a demonstrated ability to operate successfully in a public sector environment, is strongly preferred.
• A master’s degree in a related field may substitute for two (2) years of the required general experience. Fourteen (14) years of qualifying experience may substitute for the bachelor’s degree.
• Relevant professional certifications will be considered.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Proven ability to assess organizations objectively, diagnose root causes, and deliver candid, actionable recommendations to executive leadership.
• Demonstrated success in leading change, setting strategic direction, and sustaining momentum through resistance and setbacks.
• Strong ability to build morale, develop staff, and foster teamwork within the department and across organizational lines.
• In-depth technical knowledge of enterprise networks, servers, cloud, telecommunications, and operating system environments, including current hardware, protocols, and standards. Ideal candidates understand how platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure scale, cost, and secure data, and possess expertise in local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), and uptime metrics.
• Strong working knowledge of cybersecurity principles, the current threat landscape, and risk management best practices.
• Extensive experience in enterprise application support and implementation, including ERP, financial, permitting, public safety, or similar systems; preference given to candidates with direct experience in Enterprise ERP (MUNIS).
• Familiarity with public sector budgeting, procurement, and contract administration.
• Ability to clearly translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences, including elected officials and the public.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Sound judgment, integrity, and the ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion on sensitive matters.
• Resilience and effectiveness under pressure, including the ability to respond to after‑hours emergencies and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general direction of the Mayor or their designee, who reviews work through conferences, reports, and evaluation of the effectiveness of City information technology services and the achievement of established goals. The Director exercises wide latitude for independent judgment and initiative within the framework of City policy, ordinance, and applicable law.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Exercises direct and indirect supervision over all Technology Services Department staff, as well as contracted technical personnel and consultants assigned to City projects.

The City of Danbury will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of sex, race, color, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, or disability, except where it is a bona fide occupational qualification.

We encourage African Americans, women, Hispanics, and other minorities who meet the minimum qualifications to apply. EEO/M/F/D/V