Director - IT Security and Infrastructure

Neighborhood Healthcare•Escondido, CA

About The Position

ABOUT US: Community health is about more than just vaccines and checkups. It’s about giving people the resources they need to live their best lives. At Neighborhood, this is our vision. A community where everyone is healthy and happy. We’re with you every step of the way, with the care you need for each of life’s chapters. At Neighborhood, we are Better Together. As a private, non-profit 501(C) (3) community health organization, we serve over 500,000 medical, dental, and behavioral health visits from more than 100,000 people annually. We do this in pursuit of our mission to improve the health and happiness of the communities we serve by providing quality care to all, regardless of situation or circumstance. We have been doing this since 1969 and it is our employees that make this mission a reality. Regardless of the role, our team focuses on being compassionate, having integrity, being professional, always collaborating, and consistently going above and beyond. If that sounds like an organization you want to be a part of, we would love to have you. ROLE OVERVIEW and PURPOSE: The Director, IT Security & Infrastructure oversees the organization’s technical infrastructure and IT operations, ensuring the reliability, security, and efficiency of systems and services across all sites. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for the IT Help Desk, ensuring responsive, customer-focused service delivery that supports clinical and administrative operations. The Director is responsible for aligning IT capabilities with HIPAA Security Rules, organizational goals, and regulatory requirements while fostering a culture of continuous improvement, compliance, and cybersecurity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field required (Master’s preferred)
7+ years of progressive IT experience required , including at least 3 years of leadership responsibility over IT help desk or service delivery functions
Demonstrated experience with HIPAA Security Rule compliance and healthcare cybersecurity
Strong knowledge of IT infrastructure, network architecture, desktop support, and cloud technologies
Experience leading hybrid and multi-site support operations in healthcare or similar environments (FQHC preferred)
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced healthcare environment
Excellent communication and customer service orientation
Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills
Thorough understanding of HIPAA compliance and risk management in healthcare IT
Ability to work onsite and remotely, as needed
Ability to travel to different sites within the organization
Ability to lift/carry 10lbs/weight
Ability to stand for long periods of time

Nice To Haves

Certifications (preferred): Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Healthcare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP)
ITIL Certification (Foundation or higher)
CompTIA Security+, Network+, or equivalent
CCNP, Microsoft, AWS, or similar technical certifications

Responsibilities

IT Operations & Help Desk Leadership Provide leadership and oversight to IT support services, including help desk operations and desktop support.
Establish IT service delivery standards, SLAs, and escalation paths to ensure timely resolution of technical issues.
Implement IT Service Management (ITSM) frameworks, such as ITIL, to improve support workflows and user satisfaction.
Monitor and report on service performance metrics, identifying improvement opportunities.
Mentor and develop help desk personnel to ensure high-quality customer service and technical proficiency.
Infrastructure Management Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, cloud platforms, and data centers.
Manage a primarily hosted and cloud-based infrastructure environment, including third-party managed services, vendor-hosted EHR environments, and integrated SaaS platforms.
Ensure the performance and availability of critical healthcare systems (EHR, telehealth platforms, email, VPN, etc.).
Lead IT modernization and infrastructure scalability efforts across multiple facilities.
Cybersecurity & Compliance Develop and enforce cybersecurity policies, standards, and procedures in accordance with HIPAA Security Rules and NIST frameworks.
Oversee AI security practices, including securing AI/ML models, managing data used in AI workflows, validating outputs, monitoring for model drift, and ensuring compliance with CMS, DHCS, and AI governance frameworks.
Conduct regular audits, risk assessments, and vulnerability scans to identify and mitigate threats.
Lead incident response and maintain security event reporting and remediation plans.
Oversee business continuity/disaster recovery preparedness and ensure readiness.
Leadership & Collaboration Manage and mentor IT teams including help desk technicians, security analysts, systems engineers, and network administrators.
Foster a security-aware culture throughout the organization through education and role-based training.
Collaborate with clinical, administrative, and operational leaders to align IT services with organizational priorities.
Strategic Planning & Project Management Develop long-term IT plans in alignment with organizational goals and healthcare industry trends.
Lead cross-functional technology projects including cloud migrations, infrastructure upgrades, and EHR integrations.
Stay current on technological advances and recommend innovative solutions to improve care delivery and operational efficiency.