Director of IT

LOCATION

Los Angeles, CA (Note: Hybrid and Remote opportunities are available upon request and approval. Must reside in CA prior to start of employment.)

DEPARTMENT

Information Technology (IT)

DEADLINE DATE

Open until filled

ABOUT ACLU SoCal

Founded in 1923, the ACLU SoCal has been at the forefront of many major efforts to protect civil liberties, civil rights, and equal justice in California. Principled and nonpartisan, the ACLU SoCal has offices in Los Angeles, Orange County (Orange), the Inland Empire (San Bernardino), and Kern County (Bakersfield). The ACLU SoCal tackles a vast array of issues, including police practices, criminal justice, First Amendment rights, voting rights, gender equity, reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, immigrants’ rights, education equity, and economic justice.

OVERVIEW

The Director of IT (DIT) reports directly to the Chief Information Officer, is a member of the IT team, and is responsible for the design, management and implementation of information and telecommunication systems at the ACLU of Southern California. The DIT will also assist in administering and collaborating with other California ACLU entities related to shared Microsoft 365 environment.

Under guidance and direction from the CIO, the DIT provides professional, technical, and administrative leadership in establishing the direction and effectiveness of information technologies and in meeting short and long term demands of all affiliate departments and locations.

The DIT works with the CIO to develop strategic planning and provide oversight of all technology needs for the affiliate, including telecommunications (POTS and cell lines), premises security systems, office equipment, external services (web hosting, cloud-based, and on-line services), building systems that are electronically controlled and management of our Managed Services Provider (MSP) (computer networks, internet and on-line services, servers, software and disaster recovery/business continuity, etc.).

A willingness to work beyond a standard 7.5 hour workday, including evening and weekend meetings and events. Work weeks exceeding 40 hours are anticipated to be common.

Model professional workplace behavior and standards, and clearly and enthusiastically demonstrate guiding principles of integrity, respect, accountability, compassion, and leadership.

CLASSIFICATION:

Full-Time, Exempt

Unrepresented- not a union represented position.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide leadership, vision, and management for the affiliate in all matters related to information systems and telecommunication systems and their respective technologies
• Analyze information and technology needs from a strategic and operational perspective
• Work with our programmer to analyze business requirements, leverage existing and necessary software and services, and develop forms, processes, workflows and automations to meet the needs of staff
• Determine priorities of information systems projects and tasks, and track their progress
• Develop and manage annual technology operational and capital budgets in collaboration with the CIO and department directors
• Coordinate the evaluation of specialized software applications – arrange demos, facilitate evaluations, and negotiate pricing, terms, and contracts, including security review and requirements
• Engage with outside vendors/consultants in the generation of RFPs, bids, contracts, agreements, and other major vendor interactions related to information systems
• MSP Oversight/Management:
• Ensure the integrity, security, continual operation, and optimization of IS services, including proper configuration and management of all servers, switches, routers, firewalls, VPNs, UPSs, telecommunications hardware and software, security systems, anti-virus/malware; systems, internet connectivity, cloud-based services, and network storage devices by engaging directly with MSP and reviewing provided reporting
• Ensure proper software licensing, registrations, and renewals
• Ensure development (when required), review, certification and maintenance of backup and business continuity/disaster recovery procedures
• Monitor helpdesk tickets to ensure timely responses and adequate solutions
• Work with MSP, Human Resources and Operations to ensure timely on-boarding and off-boarding staff and interns
• Work with MSP and Operations to configure and deploy laptops and computer peripherals in our offices and to home offices in our hybrid work environment
• Manage domain name registrations and renewals, and DNS management as required
• Maintain electronic inventory system
• Participate in departmental and IT Committee meetings to review strategic goals and initiatives
• Develop technology-related policies and procedures, including data security policies, standards, and procedures, and ensure policies are in place and adhered to
• Manage all on-line services and subscriptions not managed by MSP
• Manage IS-related matters involving the affiliate’s public websites (accounts, DNS, hosting, etc.) and serve as back-up for Social Media Associate position
• Manage building systems that are electronically controlled (HVAC, security, etc.), working with Operations
• Answer staff questions in person, via remote desktop and via phone on all company supported software applications
• Keep staff informed about important technology issues and developments, including security, malware, and potentially harmful services
• General systems administration tasks

 ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Keep current with the latest technologies and determine what new technology solutions and implementations will meet business and system requirements
• Manage internal systems, including coordinated systems with individual departments; employee hire/exit processes with HR; case management systems with Legal, database technologies and specialized applications and reporting with Development; printer and copier reporting with Operations and Finance; infrastructure and tenant technology systems with Operations, etc.
• Document & update installation, configuration, deployment & maintenance procedures
• Document common hardware and software tasks to continue to build a knowledgebase for staff and interns on the intranet
• Provide on-the-job training and orientations for new staff members and interns
• Arrange for proper, environmentally sound, and secure disposal of all retired hardware and equipment (in coordination with MSP and Operations)
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, information systems, computer science or related field (graduate degree a plus), or demonstrated comparable experience
• Minimum five years’ experience working in IT operations
• Minimum two years’ experience overseeing IT teams and projects
• Certifications and continuing education preferred but not required
• Sound understanding of computer systems, networking, security, telecommunications, databases, and storage systems
• Expertise in Microsoft 365 technologies preferred
• Expertise in SharePoint design preferred but not required
• Expertise in SQL Server preferred but not required
• Experience with Business Analysis or programming design preferred but not required
• Strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills
• Ability to manage and prioritize tasks and projects
• Solid working knowledge of all relevant technologies and security protocols
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Team oriented

RACIAL EQUITY COMPETENCIES

Understanding and Applying Racial Equity

• Demonstrate commitment to building or deepening understanding of racial equity.
• Core terms and concepts such as structural racism, white privilege, and anti-Blackness.
• The role that racial inequity has played and continues to play in our society.
• How race impacts supervisory relationships, team dynamics, and organizational culture.
• Personal/implicit/unconscious bias.

Working for Racial Equity

• Consistently assess structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions within the context of their job responsibilities; race/ethnicity, intersection of race/ethnicity, gender, identity, and/or sexual orientation.
• Consistently adhere to organization’s racial equity policies and procedures, including those that relate to hiring, retention, and promotion.
• Consistently identify and disrupt ways in which bias plays out in work and/or team.

Leading on Racial Equity

• Effectively encourage people to have honest conversations about racial equity, and accept feedback openly, non-defensively, and from a posture of learning.
• Consistently address structural implications and racially disproportionate impacts of policies, activities, and decisions by identifying and implementing changes that can produce more equitable outcomes. This applies not only in terms of race/ethnicity, but also at the intersection of race/ethnicity, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation.
• Consistently set racial equity outcomes, goals, and performance measures for team, department, or organization, and develop and successfully implement plans to achieve them.

BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $95,600- $159,400. Benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance for staff members and their eligible dependents; life and long-term, short-term disability insurance; 401(k) plan with employer match; ample vacation and sick leave and twenty-two paid holidays.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume, cover letter, and three references to your application through our applicant tracking system: https://secure.onehcm.com/ta/ACLUSC.careers?ShowJob=503497927

COVID Vaccination and proof of being fully Vaccinated (includes booster) is a condition of employment.

The ACLU of Southern California is committed to developing a culture of diversity, equity, respect, and inclusion and to strive to maintain a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve. The ACLU SoCal is an equal opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable law. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply and value people of all races, genders (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientations, disabilities, citizenships, ages, religions, and national origins and who have different marital statuses, family caregiving responsibilities, lived experiences with the criminal justice systems, and genetic information. The ACLU SoCal does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of any of these characteristics.

The ACLU SoCal is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail hrsupport@aclusocal.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.