Director of Information Technology

Job Type

Full-time

Description

St. Croix Health is seeking an experienced Information Technology Director to lead our IT department. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in IT management, excellent leadership skills, a passion for technology and a commitment to our shared values.

The Director of Information Technology is responsible for planning, directing and managing the information technology (IT) systems in order to ensure the development and implementation of secure and cost-effective systems and efficient computer operations to meet current and future decision-making requirements. The Director of IT ensures the department provides efficient and effective technical support service.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning

• Monitors and identifies the evolving factors that affect current/future needs of information technology and systems applicability in healthcare, and recommends strategies/initiatives/programs/projects to prepare for future growth of service lines and program areas in alignment with overall organizational strategy (provision of new services, standardization of policies/practices across the organization, increasing market share, maximizing revenues, improving efficacy/cost-effectiveness of overall operations through application of technology support, enhancing patient outcomes/satisfaction and others of similar complexity and consequence).
• Develops formal strategic/tactical plans, to include both short- and long-term business planning, with full accountability for achievement of plan objectives.
• Work collaboratively and build relationships with constituencies across the organization, addressing and meeting their needs in support of the mission and goals of St. Croix Health.

Operational Accountability

• Plans, directs, and evaluates the programs, systems, operations, and resources of access and care coordination service lines, to assure the safe and appropriate delivery of best-practice procedures and patient care, achievement of strategic objectives within scope of responsibility, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Develops an appropriate governance structure and management processes for prioritization and resolving resource conflicts related to competing IT related projects.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures in accordance with industry standards; assesses and assures staff compliance and competence.
• Collaborates with other leadership to standardize and integrate practices, technology platforms, and systems; participates and contributes to organization-wide evaluation of effectiveness of implemented programs and procedures.
• Manage workflows with special attention to the employee experience and full patient care continuum with goal to make patient experience coordinated and seamless.

Staff Management and Development

• Plans, directs, and evaluates work of direct reports and facilitates planning, direction, and evaluation of direct report subordinate staff.
• Ensures adequate staffing levels and coverage based on acuity and need with budgetary and operational objectives.
• Ensures staff are appropriately trained and competent in performance of assigned duties; assesses competencies of staff on regular basis.
• Mentor, develop, recruit, and retain a proactive, service-oriented team. Foster an environment that promotes professional growth and staff development through effective leadership and education.
• Collaborates with appropriate stakeholders to ensure organizational-wide program training requirements are met as well as training specific to technology use and system application.
• Strengthen physician and clinician relationships with the information technology team, establish ongoing dialogue with key operational staff to build trust, and gain operational engagement and adoption of information systems
• Facilitate ancillary services team development, team function and problem solving.
• Coaches, mentors, and develops staff to promote skill development and leadership capacity.

Performance and Quality Improvement

• Continuously monitors and assesses technology capacity, systems and programs to ensure appropriate support and achieve quality and performance objectives.
• Serve as a key member of the management team and contributes broadly at the leadership level. Educate and work collaboratively with all members of the management team in order to facilitate informed IT decisions.
• Establishes appropriate performance measures for programs and staff; analyzes appropriate data to assess progress and recommends/implements adjustments as appropriate to maintain progress towards established strategic objectives.
• Evaluates existing systems/program/priorities, analyzes future potential to make recommendations for growth, expansion, new services and solvency of existing services based on market demographics and volume projection; develops and presents comprehensive recommendations regarding the viability of specific systems/projects.
• In coordination with Quality program stakeholders, plans and directs quality process improvement initiatives/projects to ensure achievement of business objectives.

Budget and Fiscal Administration

• Determines financial resources necessary to achieve establish strategic performance objectives; develops recommendations in accordance with internal policies and procedures.
• Identifies, aligns, and optimizes resources to maintain financial stability of programs and service lines.
• Exercise effective cost control measures, adjusts resources as needed to maintain budget.
• Identifies negative variances and develops and implements action plans/recommendations to address issues in a timely manner; keeps Executive leader apprised of all issues with potential for budgetary impact.
• Oversees the preparation of complete and accurate financial, budget, activity and productivity information, including variance reports, financial projections and other statistical reports for programs and service lines.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensures IT related functions are in full compliance with internal and external legal and regulatory standards; regularly assesses and monitors to ensure effective controls are in place and desired outcomes are achieved.
• Ensures compliance with all record management and retention policies, provisions, and practices.
• Maintains up to date knowledge of current and changing regulatory compliance standards and industry best practices through collaboration with peers and review of pertinent research; monitors and implements program and service modifications as appropriate.

Information Technology

• Leads development and implementation processes for the organizations IT systems and department.
• Develops and implements business continuity protocols to minimize disruption to business operations in the event of emergency situations or data loss.
• Establishes efficiency and efficacy standards, providing recommendations for improvement of IT infrastructure.
• Maximize the effectiveness of installed systems and lead the assessment, evaluation, and implementation of new systems as appropriate.
• Engages, supports, and manages IT staff, processes and technology as appropriate during planned and unplanned downtime events including but not limited to system migrations, upgrades, outages, security threat events, etc. to ensure the support and protection of the organizations' operations and assets.
• Analyzes IT infrastructure and systems performance to assess operating costs, productivity levels, upgrade requirements, and other metrics and needs.
• Oversees security of systems, networks and enterprise information.
• Facilitates IT security audits or investigations.
• Develops and maintains relationships with external IT vendors and services providers.

* While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the job requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties from particular jobs and to assign other duties as necessary.

Requirements

Education & Licensure:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or Computer Engineering;
• Completion of specialty advanced certification, credits in post-secondary education
• Master's degree or equivalent experience strongly preferred

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years' experience in Information Technology
• Experience with systems design and networking
• Experience with IT governance and project management office best practices.
• Previous experience working in a healthcare environment desired

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated experience with systems lifecycle methodologies, project management and IT risk management
• Excellent written, listening, and verbal communication skills
• Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills
• Ability to lead and teach others
• Ability to explain highly technical concepts in simple terms
• Good research and analysis skills
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of latest IT developments and emerging technologies
• Knowledge of computer and network security best practices and risk management
• Strong working knowledge of networking, systems design, problem analysis and hardware
• Advanced aptitude in Microsoft Office products: Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook
• Strong knowledge in Network security, remote access, Internet and voicemail systems and cloud computing
• Excellent communication and listening skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with little direction and manage multiple demands and priorities
• Exhibit an independent drive and forward thinking, change oriented
• Strong, collaborative and effective working relationships with stakeholders, leadership and staff

Role-specific Competencies:

• Learning Agility, Leadership Credibility, Driving for Results, Integrity and Trust, Self-Awareness, Communication, Managing Conflict, Managing Diversity, Developing Employees, Collaboration, Financial Acumen, Change Facilitator, Systems Thinking, Vision and Strategy*

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Directly supervises IT team.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Prolonged periods of standing, bending, and reaching
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times

St. Health has been a healing force in the St. Croix Valley for over 103 years. We are a purpose-driven organization with a dedicated team committed to serving our patients and communities throughout the St. Croix Valley. This commitment is rooted in our mission, vision and values.
Mission: We help people live healthier, happier, and longer lives. Vision: To transform from quality sick care to quality well care that is sustainable and affordable. Values: People Centered, Trust, Innovation, and Growth.
Here at St. Croix Health we offer our employees with a robust benefits package that includes:

• Health, vision and dental insurance
• 403b retirement program with employer match
• Paid time off
• Short-term disability, long-term disability and life insurance options
• Education reimbursement
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Wellbeing incentive program
• Free parking
• Employee prescription discount program

St. Croix Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system located in St. Croix Falls, WI dedicated to helping people live healthier, happier, and longer lives. St. Croix Health offers the services of 80+ providers and 20 specialties with five community clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin all supported by a critical access hospital on the main campus in St. Croix Falls, just an hour northeast of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Nestled in the bluffs of the St. Croix River Valley, St. Croix Falls is the ideal place to work, live and play.

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