Director of Technology

Symons Fire Protection•San Diego, CA

33d

About The Position

The Director of Information Technology serves as a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for all aspects of the organization's technology ecosystem. This role oversees infrastructure, systems, cybersecurity, software integration, and digital innovation across multiple locations and a distributed workforce. The ideal candidate combines technical expertise, strategic foresight, and strong leadership to modernize systems, align technology initiatives with organizational goals, and ensure reliable, secure, and efficient IT operations.

Requirements

Proven ability to plan and strategize over multi-year timelines.
Willingness to patiently learn existing systems and processes before initiating changes.
Solid understanding of the costs associated with technology, software, platforms, and related tools.
Strong team player with a collaborative working style.
Commitment to maintaining a transparent and accessible leadership approach (open-door policy).
Sense of urgency, coupled with the ability to ask thoughtful, clarifying questions.
Proactive mindset with a focus on anticipating needs rather than reacting to issues.
Effective delegation skills, with a track record of seeing tasks and projects through to completion.
Highly organized, with a methodical and systematic approach to work.
Ability to engage and inspire team members on the organization's technology journey.
Persistent and resourceful problem-solving abilities.
Consistently follows up and follows through on responsibilities and commitments.
Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to excellence.
Passionate about serving others with patience and empathy.
Strategically minded, with the ability to align technology initiatives with organizational goals.
Practical decision-making skills, grounded in real-world limitations (time, budget, staffing, and competing priorities).
Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Cultural alignment with our values: responsiveness, resourcefulness, reliability, and relational focus.
Bachelor's degree (Required) from a four-year college or university, in the following fields:
Computer Science
Information Technology / Information Systems
Software Engineering
Electrical or Computer Engineering
Business Information Systems
10+ years of progressive experience in IT or engineering, including significant leadership responsibilities
Proven management experience, including leading teams, budgets, and projects

Nice To Haves

Master's Degree (Preferred)
PMP, ITIL
CISSP (for security-focused roles)
AWS, Azure, or GCP cloud certifications

Responsibilities

Lead the implementation of technology solutions across multiple physical locations and a remote workforce.
Take full ownership of all technology-related assets and infrastructure-both in the field and office-covering anything with a plug, switch, or connection.
Direct and oversee software integrations to ensure seamless operations across departments.
Lead the implementation and long-term development of a fully functional ERP system (multi-year initiative).
Manage and build a growing IT department.
Collaborate effectively with all departments to meet diverse technology needs and support cross-functional initiatives.
Develop and manage IT budgets, including forecasting future expenditures and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
Drive modernization of legacy systems and technologies, fostering continual innovation within the IT department.
Accelerate adoption of current platforms and introduce modern technologies where needed.
Manage and coordinate with our third-party Managed Service Provider (MSP) for as long as their services are required.
Design and oversee IT training programs for staff, including developing training schedules for administrative personnel.
Create, document, and maintain policies, workflows, and checklists to ensure consistency and accountability.
Champion the use and integration of AI technologies throughout the organization.
Identify and implement improvements to current IT processes and workflows.
Direct and manage building technology systems, including access control, connectivity, and infrastructure.
Oversee and maintain the organization's Mobile Device Management (MDM) system.
Conduct periodic technology check-ins with all staff to ensure alignment and functionality.
Standardize digital file storage systems, including folder structures and drive access protocols.
Ensure data alignment and integrity across all software platforms in use.
Prepare executive-level summaries and professional recommendations for all IT-related quotes and proposals.
Maintain appropriate user permissions and enforce security protocols across all systems.
Effectively manage the organization's computer monitoring software.
Collaborate primarily with the finance department (and others as needed) to generate reports, insights, and data analysis.
Conduct periodic audits of downloaded applications on all company-issued devices.
Develop, maintain, and oversee an IT inventory management system.
Manage and maintain the company website, domain settings, and related certifications.
Take full ownership of all IT and technology operations within the organization.
Create and manage a living succession plan for key IT roles and responsibilities.
Identify and define clear backups and redundancies for all IT-related tasks.
Serve as a proactive, self-directed leader in the organization, with a strong sense of urgency and accountability.