Information Technology Director

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Henrico, Virginia, VA

3d•$150,872 - $165,960•Onsite

About The Position

The VA Cannabis Control Authority is seeking an Information Technology Director to develop and execute a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with business goals. This role involves overseeing IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise applications, and IT governance. The Director will also lead and mentor IT staff, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability. This position requires progressive experience in IT management, leadership, and a proven track record in managing large-scale technology projects and compliance frameworks. A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience is required.

Requirements

Strong understanding of enterprise IT architecture, infrastructure design, and systems operations.
Deep familiarity with cybersecurity principles, threat mitigation, and data protection frameworks such as NIST.
Ability to evaluate emerging technologies and determine their strategic value to the organization.
Proficiency in developing IT strategies that align technology investments with business goals.
Experience navigating IT governance standards, including ITIL, COBIT, and related best practices.
Expertise in managing cloud environments, virtualized systems, and hybrid infrastructures.
Capable of leading complex technology projects from planning through implementation.
Skilled in analyzing technical problems, troubleshooting issues, and implementing long term solutions.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain technical concepts to nontechnical audiences.
Demonstrated ability to build effective partnerships across departments and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
Adept at building and leading high performing teams, promoting innovation, accountability, and professional development.
Ability to create and enforce IT policies, standards, and procedures to ensure secure and reliable operations.
Comfortable managing multiple priorities and making informed decisions in a dynamic and regulated environment.
Strong organizational, planning, and budgeting capabilities, including oversight of contracts and vendors.
Ability to assess risk, develop mitigation strategies, and maintain comprehensive disaster recovery and continuity plans.
Progressive experience in IT management, typically 7–10 years, overseeing infrastructure, cybersecurity, or enterprise systems.
Leadership experience supervising IT staff and building team capabilities.
Proven track record managing large-scale technology projects, system implementations, or integrations.
Experience developing and maintaining IT policies, security standards, and compliance frameworks.
Background working with cloud services, networks, servers, and enterprise application environments.
Experience negotiating and managing contracts, procurement processes, and third party vendors.
Hands-on involvement in disaster recovery planning and execution of business continuity strategies.
Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Prior work experience in state government, a regulatory agency, or another highly regulated industry.
Experience leading digital transformation or modernization initiatives.
Background implementing or managing ERP systems or comparable enterprise applications.
Experience integrating systems in environments with significant data privacy or compliance requirements.
Experience presenting technical strategies, project updates, or performance metrics to executive leadership.
Master’s degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
Relevant professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM, PMP, ITIL, or cloud platform credentials (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with business goals.
Identify emerging technologies and assess their potential impact on operations.
Lead digital transformation initiatives to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
Oversee the design, implementation, and maintenance of IT infrastructure (networks, servers, cloud services).
Ensure high availability, performance, and scalability of systems.
Manage disaster recovery planning and business continuity protocols.
Establish and enforce cybersecurity policies and procedures.
Monitor threats and vulnerabilities and implement proactive security measures.
Ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
Manage the selection, deployment, and integration of enterprise software.
Oversee application lifecycle management, including upgrades and support.
Ensure systems meet user needs and support business processes.
Develop IT policies, standards, and best practices.
Ensure compliance with internal controls, licensing agreements, and regulatory requirements.
Monitor IT performance metrics and report to executive leadership.
Lead and mentor IT staff, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability.
Build team capabilities through training, coaching, and performance management.
Promote collaboration across departments to align technology with organizational needs.