CHIEF INFORMATION

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is comprised of the administrative units of the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). HRA is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. DHS is committed to preventing and addressing homelessness in New York City by employing a variety of innovative strategies to help families and individuals successfully exit shelter and return to self-sufficiency as quickly as possible.Under the executive direction of the DSS First Deputy Commissioner, with the broadest latitude for the exercise of independent action and decision-making, the Chief Information & Technology Officer (CITO) is responsible for directing and coordinating the overall administration, planning and technical strategy of the Information Technology Services (ITS) organization within DSS/HRA/DHS. The Chief Information & Technology Officer ensures the achievement of the primary objective of ITS to maintain and continuously enhance the technology, infrastructure and applications that are in place to support the present and future business requirements of all areas within DSS, HRA and DHS, and those outside entitles that do business with DSS, HRA and DHS.To this end ITS operates 24/7 supporting business operations at DHS and HRA in over 90 locations throughout the 5 boroughs. ITS supports over 39, users, applications supporting business operations for DSS/DHS/HRA, 17, PCs and 20, mobile devices, 2, servers, and 1, databases on hosted infrastructure and network devices, with around 21, incident tickets resolved per month. ITS manages over 1, active IT contracts and hundreds of vendors supporting all DSS, HRA and DHS departments, as well as other Human Services agencies in the City. This position plays a crucial role in shaping DSS/HRA/DHS's technology strategy by assessing the department's technological needs, identifying opportunities for improvement, and creating a roadmap for implementing new systems and technologies that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of DSS operations, leading to improved services for the residents of New York City. The areas reporting to the Chief Information and Technology Officer include Infrastructure and Operations, Enterprise Shared Services, and the Deputy Chief Information Officer, whose portfolio includes Enterprise Solutions Management, Strategic Engagement, IT Service Management, and Assets and Resources.The CITO is responsible for ensuring resources are available and must be used flexibly across ITS and in support of agency priorities. DSS systems and technology should be reasonably secure from cyber threats and protect the wealth of Personally Identifying Information (PII). Projects, including both those developed in-house as well as those managed by a vendor deliver what the user needs on schedule. Contracts and resources must be managed to a strict spending plan. The Chief Information and Technology Officer is also responsible for successfully managing a multimillion-dollar, multiyear plan to move and upgrade our data center, among other high value capitally funded IT projects.The Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) is recruiting for one Director of Information Services M-VII, to function as Chief Information & Technology Officer, who will:- Manage and support infrastructure and operations of agency infrastructure, desktops and mobile devices.- Evaluate new technology and manage our imaging services.- Enhance, maintain and develop new systems supporting DSS/HRA/DHS programs and staff.- Be responsible for IT project management and quality assurance.- Manage IT Service Management helpdesk and troubleshoots issues.- Be responsible for managing ITS contracts, budget and staff.- Ensure resources are available to support critical agency functions, including through new development and technology.Hours/Shift:Managerial Work ScheduleDIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVIC - Minimum Qualifications1. A baccalaureate degree and four years of responsible full-time experience in the fields of computer utilization, computer systems development, or in related fields, at least one year of which must have been in a responsible supervisory, administrative, staff or consultative capacity; or 2. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1" above. However, all candidates must have the one year of specialized experience as described in question "1" above. Graduate studies in business administration or related fields may be substituted for the required general experience on a year-for-year basis.Preferred Skills- A strong understanding of various technologies and their applications, including knowledge of enterprise systems, infrastructure, networking, cloud computing, cybersecurity, data management, and emerging technologies. - Understanding of the organization's business strategy and objectives. - Ability to align technology initiatives with the overall goals of an organization and demonstrate how technology can enable business growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage. - Strong leadership and management skills, and the ability to effectively lead and motivate a diverse IT team, manage projects, resources, contracts and vendors, and drive organizational change. - Experience in setting technology direction and executing initiatives effectively. - A solid understanding of financial management principles, and the ability to develop and manage IT budgets, evaluate return on investment (ROI) for technology investments, and make decisions that align with financial goals and constraints. - The ability to manage all levels of technical staff. - The ability to analyze highly complex information gathered for the purpose of developing recommendations for making decisions. - Strong knowledge of the management of next-generation data centers and corresponding networks. Strong knowledge in the fields of computer utilization and computer systems development. - Recognition of diversity as a core value and practice as expressed in an organization's culture, values, norms and behaviors. - Dynamic leadership skills coupled with well-developed business acumen, superior relationship building, and strong strategic and analytical skills. - Experience in determining the optimal mix of staffing for the fulfillment of IT projects. - An understanding of the major economic, political, technological, and competitive trends affecting human services and technology.Public Service Loan ForgivenessAs a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at class="jobad-residencyRequirement">Residency RequirementNew York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.