At the American Public Power Association (APPA), we serve as the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. We represent public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 54 million people that public power utilities serve, and the 96,000 people they employ. We advocate and advise on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations. Help us continue to achieve our mission for our members and the communities they serve!

At APPA, we strive to hire the very best and are committed to creating exceptional employee experiences where everyone is respected and feels valued.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Director, Information Technology to lead the association’s overall IT strategy to implement secure systems that scale for future growth and technology needs. The Senior Director will direct all aspects of the association’s day-to-day IT operational activities to ensure systems, policies, procedures, and support organizational priorities and overall IT strategy. The Senior Director, Information Technology supervises in-house IT Manager and APPA’s information technology managed service provider.

This is a hybrid position which requires the incumbent to reside in the Washington, DC metropolitan area and come into the office a minimum of two to three days each week (with Tuesdays being a mandatory day).

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with senior leadership in developing the association’s overall IT strategy to align with its business objectives.
• Develop, implement, communicate, and continuously assess the effectiveness of enterprise-level governance, policies, procedures, standards, guidelines, and best practices within the framework of an IT governance structure (e.g., NIST, COBIT). 
• Responsible for developing and managing IT operational and capital budgets.
• Oversee association’s technical projects, including business requirements gathering, project planning, implementation. 
• Responsible for enterprise identify management to include provisioning and deactivating user accounts, authentication protocols, and system and access authorization. 
• Provide guidance for all IT operational and project-related activities as needed to fulfill departmental and organizational objectives. 
• Consult with stakeholders on project management for internal technology projects, including requirements analysis, level of effort, and budget estimates.
• Manage vendor relationships and oversee administration of vendor and consultant contracts and service agreements.
• Provide high-touch customer service to employees at all levels and external vendors and consultants. 
• Manage outsourced helpdesk and managed service provider (MSP). 
• Ensures the integrity, availability, and security of hardware, software, and data through establishing and enforcing association policies and procedures.
• Works with the Database and Data Analysis teams to ensure the integrity and security of a Salesforce-based association management system (AMS), other data systems, and cross-system integration. 
• Carries out other duties as assigned in support of APPA and its mission.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, computer science, or similar field.
• 15 or more years of IT leadership experience with increasing responsibility.
• 5 or more years of network and/or telecom experience with a variety of technologies such as in a Windows Server environment.
• Experience with IT Frameworks such as ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies), ISO/IEC 27000, CMMI (Capability Maturity Model Integration) for IT, etc.
• Excellent leadership, analytical, and critical thinking skills. 
• Experience working with senior level executives.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity issues and experience with developing and implementing an information security program.
• Strong customer service acumen, including the ability to effectively communicate, work with, and resolve IT issues for all levels of staff.
• Strong project management skills and ability to work cooperatively with staff and vendors.
• Experience with the MS Azure cloud computing platform.
• Ability to undertake complex management tasks within the functional area with minimal supervision.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 suite.
• Experience with deploying and troubleshooting Apple computers in a Windows network.
• Knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning a plus.
• Experience deploying remote access systems in cloud based, remote desktop and VPN settings.
• Experience deploying and managing mobile devices on an enterprise level.
• Certification such as PMI – Project Management Professional (PMP); Certified Information Security Manager (CISM); Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC); Global Information Assurance Certifications (GIACs) is preferred.
• IT technical certification such as Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert; Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals; Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals; Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA); Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP); CompTIA A+, etc. is preferred.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer required.
• Must be able to lift up to 10 lbs.  
• Must be able to travel out of town up to10% of the year to support APPA’s conferences and events.

In addition to a highly competitive salary and bonus program, APPA offers a robust benefits package to include a comprehensive health and wellness package, 20 days of PTO accrued in the first year, 401(k) match and additional contributions, and more!

APPA is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, equity and inclusion. This commitment pertains to our internal policies and staff expectations, but also extends out to the wider public power community. As part of our strategic plan, we aim to assist members in meeting workforce challenges—including attracting and retaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture—through offering educational programs, developing resources, and serving as a platform for the public power community to exchange ideas and best practices.

About American Public Power Association

The American Public Power Association is the voice of not-for-profit, community-owned utilities that power 2,000 towns and cities nationwide. We represent public power before the federal government to protect the interests of the more than 49 million people that public power utilities serve, and the 96,000 people they employ. We advocate and advise on electricity policy, technology, trends, training, and operations.

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