Innovation & Infrastructure Manager (Public Service Administrator, Option 3)

State of Illinois•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) is seeking a seasoned technical leader to serve as the Innovation & Infrastructure Manager, supporting the Department of Early Childhood (IDEC). Serving as a key member of the DoIT/IDEC IT leadership team, you will be the primary owner of the agency’s technical blueprint, responsible for designing a cloud-native architecture that is simple, sustainable, and performant. This role requires a unique balance of high-level architectural vision and disciplined oversight. You will lead the DoIT/IDEC Architectural Review Board, ensuring that every solution—whether built in-house or delivered by a vendor—aligns with the agency’s long-term innovation roadmap and DoIT enterprise standards. We are looking for a professional who can bridge the gap between business product strategy and technical feasibility. This role will be instrumental in leading DoIT/IDEC towards innovative solutions that improve access to high quality early childhood services for families across the state of Illinois.

Requirements

Requires knowledge, skill and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college with coursework in software engineering, cloud computing, network engineering, computer science, or directly related fields.
Requires prior experience equivalent to three (3) years of progressively responsible administrative experience in the management of services designed with modern data and cloud infrastructures.
Requires three (3) years of professional experience leading the design and implementation of cloud-native infrastructure and data-driven solutions, with measurable outcomes in performance, reliability, and cost optimization.
Requires three (3) years of professional experience in setting up a Microsoft Azure cloud environment for capacity planning, configuration, and FinOpsaligned cost management.
Requires three (3) years of professional experience establishing and chairing Architectural Review Boards (ARB), conducting design reviews, approving vendor deliverables, and ensuring coherence with long term digital roadmaps.
Requires three (3) years of professional experience supervising technical teams or vendor contractors—assigning work, coaching, conducting evaluations—and building a culture of creativity, simplicity, and coherence.
Requires the ability to verify identity.
Requires employment authorization to accept permanent full-time position with the State of Illinois.
Requires the ability to pass a position specific, agency required background check and requires self-disclosure of criminal history.
Requires the ability to lift and carry objects or equipment weighing up to 10 pounds.
Requires the ability to travel in performance of duties with occasional overnight stays.
Requires the ability to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, short notice, evening, weekends, and holidays.
Requires the ability to serve in an on-call capacity and work outside of normal hours to meet deadlines.
Requires adherence to the revolving door restrictions outlined in 5 ILCS 430/5-45.
Requires compliance with the provisions outlined in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, necessitating the occupant of this position to file of a Statement of Economic Interest.

Nice To Haves

Three (3) years of professional experience leading the design and implementation of cloud-native infrastructure and data-driven solutions, with measurable outcomes in performance, reliability, and cost optimization.
Three (3) years of professional experience setting up a Microsoft Azure cloud environment for capacity planning, configuration, and FinOpsaligned cost management.
Three (3) years of professional experience establishing and chairing Architectural Review Boards (ARB), conducting design reviews, approving vendor deliverables, and ensuring coherence with long term digital roadmaps.
Three (3) years of professional experience supervising technical teams or vendor contractors—assigning work, coaching, conducting evaluations—and building a culture of creativity, simplicity, and coherence.
Four (4) years of professional experience defining and enforcing rigorous standards for security, scalability, performance, and architectural adherence across product lifecycles.
Extensive knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF or equivalent) with demonstrated experience defining standards, roadmaps, and governance mechanisms in a matrixed environment with Enterprise Architecture and Cloud Operations.
Ability to translate complex technical strategies into clear business value for executive stakeholders and to own a business-aligned innovation agenda that advances agency objectives.
Ability to concurrently manage multiple initiatives, conduct feasibility studies, and deliver scope, schedule, and budget commitments in a high stakes public sector environment.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning through ongoing coursework, certifications, conferences, and vendor demos to stay current on digital services, cloud infrastructure, and AI.
Certification(s) in one or more of the following: TOGAF or equivalent, DevOps, or Cloud Solution Architecture

Responsibilities

Serves as the Innovation & Infrastructure Manager for Innovation and Infrastructure for the Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) supporting the Department of Early Childhood (IDEC) managing the architectural landscape and innovation roadmap in collaboration with DoIT Enterprise Architecture and overseeing the design of cloud-native architectures.
Provides technical oversight of DoIT/IDEC applications and infrastructure, ensuring secure, scalable, and high performing environments align with DoIT/IDEC’s technology strategy and architectural standards.
Collaborates with DoIT Enterprise Architecture and IDEC product management to guide the selection of applications, platforms, and digital services.
Provides strategic leadership for cloud and innovation management, ensuring cost-effective scalability, optimal performance, and alignment with IDEC’s technology strategy and budget priorities.
Supervises Contractual Staff.
Keeps abreast of new developments in digital services, cloud infrastructure, and artificial intelligence through online training platforms, meetings, training sessions, seminars, vendor demos, and conferences to increase familiarity with and remain current on products, vendors, techniques, and procedures.
Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Benefits

Competitive Group Insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision plans
Flexible work schedules (when available and dependent upon position)
10 -25 days of paid vacation time annually (10 days for first year of state employment)
12 days of paid sick time annually which carry over year to year
3 paid personal business days per year
13-14 paid holidays per year dependent on election years
12 weeks of paid parental leave
Pension plan through the State Employees Retirement System
Deferred Compensation Program – voluntary supplemental retirement plan
Optional pre-tax programs -Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP) & Dependent Care Assistant Plan (DCAP)
Tuition Reimbursement Program and Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility