Project Leader, Information Technology

City of New Haven•New Haven, CT

About The Position

The City of New Haven is seeking a highly skilled and motivated technology professional to serve as IT Project Leader. This position plays a critical role in overseeing major areas of Information Technology, including systems development, infrastructure, application deployment, and modernization initiatives. The IT Project Leader directs projects from concept through implementation and ongoing support, ensuring that technology solutions are secure, efficient, and aligned with operational goals. Working under the general supervision of a department or division manager, this role leads technical teams, coordinates project resources, and serves as a key liaison between IT and City departments or Board of Education stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a strong project manager and collaborative leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, promotes innovation and cybersecurity best practices, and is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality technology services that support City operations and the community. This position currently exists in the City's Office of Information Technology (OIT) and in the Board of Education (BOE). Depending on the location of the position, the nature of work, actual responsibilities and requirements may differ. This position is responsible for overseeing major areas of Information Technology, including systems development, network infrastructure, application deployment, and technology modernization. The role requires strong leadership in planning, organizing, and managing teams of technical professionals. The incumbent directs projects from concept through implementation and ongoing support, while promoting innovation, security, and efficiency in a rapidly changing technology environment. Work is performed under the general supervision of the department or division manager and is evaluated by meetings/conferences on results obtained.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited college or university with major course work in computer science or related area.
Requires 3 to 5 years of progressively responsible experience in managing IT projects, systems administration, server management, enterprise-level IT operations, and/or LAN/WAN networks.
In lieu of college degree, 4 years of closely related experience may be substituted.
Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of data system technology and IT project management.
Considerable knowledge of management of personal computers, servers, and network hardware.
Expertise in data center operations, cloud platforms, ERP systems, and cybersecurity.
Considerable knowledge of database and data warehouse technology, modern, and legacy reporting tools.
Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g. AWS, Azure).
Familiarity with software development methodologies, DevOps practices, and testing frameworks.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
Proficiency in project management tools and software.
Considerable ability to prepare instruction manuals, project management tools, and project status reports and presentations for diverse audiences.
Ability to effectively write and implement standard operating procedures that improve operational efficiency.
Experience in the supervision of data center employees and related projects.
Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to delegate responsibilities and evaluate the performance of office personnel.
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to work collaboratively with staff, other City departments, external partners, and the general public.
Demonstrated interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively in a diverse community, recognizing and respecting cultural differences, and fostering an inclusive environment.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with attention to detail.
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines while managing competing priorities.
Demonstrated experience handling sensitive/confidential records.
Willingness to engage in regular technical training and the ability to remain current with emerging technologies.
Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license.
May be required to visit various City offices and locations.
Must have availability for occasional on-call support, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as required for critical issues.
Assignment may require fingerprinting and an extensive background check to assess suitability for the role, in accordance with the US DOJ and the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Security Policy.

Nice To Haves

Preferred certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional.

Responsibilities

Oversees data center and system operations, including but not limited to Microsoft Windows Server and Office products, Google Workspace products, virtualization platforms (VMware), cloud services (AWS, Azure), and cybersecurity safeguards.
Leads and manages end-to-end IT projects, including system design, requirements analysis, cost/time estimation, implementation, and evaluation.
Serves as key contact with the user, department’s management, or end-user and Information Technology upper management for projects.
Coordinates project resources to ensure that staffing, tools, and technology are effectively aligned with project goals.
Responsible within a specific project for the organization of staff, preparing time and cost estimates, conducting technical reviews of application analysis and design of both software and hardware systems.
Ensures compliance with data governance, security standards, and regulatory requirements.
Manages vendor relationships, which may include contract administration, performance monitoring, and system integration.
Responsible for mentoring and evaluating the performance of personnel; designs requirements of highly skilled professional staff.
Employee is responsible for the quality and results obtained in functions which include systems analysis and design, economic evaluations, programming, data conversion, and implementation.
Responsible for coordination and implementation of end-user application training.
Specific to the position of Project Leader in the BOE: Responsible for student information system administration and support.
Performs related work required.