IT Applications Director

Location: McLean, Virginia (on-site)The IT Applications Director - Construction Operations will lead the strategic and operational management of Clark Construction Group's critical suite of applications supporting construction operations. This role is pivotal in ensuring the availability, reliability, and continuous improvement of our "sacred applications" – those essential to driving business operations and maximizing the value of our technology investments. The Director will lead a team of Application Managers and Analysts, proactively identifying and addressing business requirements and fostering strong collaboration with business stakeholders.Key Responsibilities:1. Strategic Application Management:Develop and implement comprehensive application roadmaps aligned with Clark’s strategic business objectives.Lead the Operations application support organization in a proactive, value-driven model.Oversee the management of "sacred applications," ensuring they are optimized for performance, functionality, and user experience.Drive the development and maintenance of business continuity plans.Establish and maintain effective vendor relationships to ensure optimal support and service delivery.Ensure all application-related processes and systems align with current and evolving Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standards.2. Team Leadership and Development:Recruit, mentor, and manage a team of Application Managers and Analysts.Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the team.Ensure team members have the necessary skills and knowledge to support application initiatives.3. Application Lifecycle Management:Oversee the implementation of new features and functionalities, ensuring thorough testing, training, and communication.Manage application license agreements and track usage to optimize costs and compliance.Ensure application availability and performance through proactive monitoring and reporting.Develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge base to support users and facilitate knowledge sharing.Manage audit and compliance tracking related to applications.4. Stakeholder Engagement:Establish regular engagement with business stakeholders to understand their needs and priorities.Act as a liaison between IT and business units, ensuring effective communication and collaboration.Gather and analyze business requirements to inform application roadmap and development initiatives.Ensure that application-related processes and procedures are clearly communicated.5. Performance Measurement and Improvement:Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure application performance and team effectiveness.Analyze data and metrics to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions.Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance application support and service delivery.Basic Qualifications:Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field. Master's degree preferred.Minimumof 10 years of experience in IT operations, with a focus on application management.Proven experience in leading and managing application support teams.Experience with construction industry-specific applications such as Procore, Kahua, Autodesk, Bluebeam, Primavera P6, and Textura. Demonstrated knowledge of construction project lifecycle, including pre-construction, construction, and closeout phases.Experience in developing and implementing application roadmaps and business continuity plans.Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders and vendors.Experience with audit and compliance tracking.Experience with application license management.Proven ability to move an organization from a reactive to a proactive support model.Proven ability to ensure adherence to cybersecurity policies and best practices, including experience with application security testing and compliance with industry-standard frameworks (e.g., NIST, ISO 27001).Preferred Qualifications:Experience with project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).Knowledge of cloud-based application management.Experience with ITIL framework.