IT Director I

The Ideal Candidate

The State Bar of California seeks a confident leader who encourages an environment of creativity and introduces fresh approaches using cutting-edge software engineering practices. The State Bar desires an innovative and forward-thinking professional. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership capabilities, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and a solution-oriented focus. Candidates should be global thinkers with the ability to resolve conflicts, analyze complex problems, evaluate alternatives, and take challenges head-on while recommending creative solutions in a clear and concise fashion.

The IT Application Engineering Director

• Is a hands-on leader and team player who is willing to roll up their sleeves and work collaboratively to accomplish goals.
• Has a strong track record of delivering and supporting IT applications on time, within budget, and achieving high levels of user satisfaction
• Has worked with executive stakeholders in developing IT strategy, roadmaps and budgets
• Has a deep understanding of and experience implementing modern software architectures
• Has experience with cloud-native software development, implementation, maintenance and optimization
• Has experience migrating and modernizing on-prem applications to the cloud
• Has experience leading engineering teams in developing custom software using Microsoft technology stack, implementing third-party enterprise software packages, and integrating with SaaS applications
• Has knowledge of advanced methods of build and release management, such as continuous integration and continuous delivery
• Has implemented Agile Scrum methodology in software development and led Agile teams
• Has experience engaging and managing vendor partnerships for resources and project implementations, including RFP/RFO processes and procurement processes
• Has experience in software application/product evaluation and acquistion
• Has a deep understanding and experience developing and enforcing of application development, security and compliance standards and best practices as part of software implementations
• Has strong time management skills and the ability to multi-task who can organize and direct staff to meet the needs of a large organization
• Has a strong focus on quality and operational excellence

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Under the direction of the IT Director, the IT Application Engineering Director, plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the applications engineering team in support of the State Bar Strategic Plans and Information Technology Roadmap. This position is responsible for overseeing the budget, personnel, facilities, and related support activities for all State Bar IT Applications area. The IT Application Engineering Director serves as a member of the IT Management Team and is the State Bar’s authority on software application matters, including custom and third-party applications. When requested, and as appropriate, the IT Application Engineering Director represents the State Bar IT organization on information technology matters before the State Bar’s Leadership Team and other constituencies. The State Bar’s IT team and over 600 employees are divided between its offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The IT Application Engineering Director can be based in either location.

Additional essential duties of the position include, but are not limited to: oversight of the preparation and administration of the IT applications engineering budget; managerial oversight of the application engineering resources and personnel of the State Bar within institutional parameters; participation in IT strategic planning, development, and administration of information technology systems, functional work areas, and units; development and maintenance of the State Bar’s current and future application architecture documentation and standards; ensure compliance with application, security, and compliance standards; and collaboration with other IT functions and teams such as Infrastructure Engineering, Product Management, Portfolio Management, and Program Management to develop, plan and execute IT roadmap.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of:

• Federal, state, and local rules and regulations pertaining to department and the State Bar.
• Advanced principles of administration in a governmental, legal, judicial or related environment.
• Advanced principles of strategic planning, operations, policy development and implementation.
• Best practices implemented by the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), SANS Institute for IT security, Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK), Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC), Agile Principles, Scrum and SAFe Methodologies and Change and Release Management process (CM/RM).
• Advanced principles of office management, budgeting, administration, and supervision.
• Advanced principles of problem identification, analysis and resolution.
• Advanced principles of institutional management.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Effectively present and speak publicly to large groups of people.
• Principles of media communication and public relations.
• Principles of organizational behavior and effective conflict resolution.
• Principles of technology systems and business solutions research and analysis.
• Principles of effective customer relationship management and internal consulting concepts and practices.
• Principles of effective personnel management in a union environment.Principles of strategic planning, project development and management, policy development and implementation.
• Advanced principles of information systems and business solutions assessment, development, acquisition, and implementation, including programming languages and database design.
• Advanced principles of Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC); IT architecture, concepts and terminology; and operation of centralized, multi-user and personal computer systems.
• Advanced principles of centralized information and databased record-keeping, website design and development.
• Principles of line-of-business system integration, including operating systems, applications, networks, databases, distributed system, and client/server architecture.

Ability to:

• Provide leadership direction, and develop staff and programs to meet evolving strategic and technology initiatives.
• Assist in developing departmental plans aligned with the organization’s vision, mission, and goals.
• Remain agile and adaptable to constantly changing priorities.
• Keep abreast of rapidly changing IT practices, security challenges and best practices, and compliance with applicable laws.
• Communicate the value of innovation.
• Understand organizational needs and handle cultural changes.
• Analyze enterprise business, operational and technology needs and formulate conceptual frameworks and work plans to achieve integrated, efficient and cost- effective technology solutions.
• Analyze and make sound recommendations on complex information technology solutions to business and operation needs and issues.
• Serve as an effective facilitator and consensus builder with multiple stakeholders of diverse views and needs.
• Provide leadership in evaluating complex technology strategies and developing strategic approaches that maximize return on investment.
• Work collaboratively with other directors and managers, provide expert advice, and counsel to develop solutions to complex issues.
• Organize, set priorities and exercise expert independent judgment within areas of responsibility.
• Present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically and persuasively.
• Use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people.
• Effectively address conflict.
• Speak publicly to large groups of people.
• Perform under stress and adopt effective courses of action.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels as well as with the public.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality in departmental administration and interactions with contractors, consultants, experts, and others.
• Act with integrity in all related State Bar business. 
• Quickly adapt to changing environments and critical needs and adopt and effectively implement courses of action.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree in a field that would have developed skills related to essential duties of the position or equivalent academic achievement. A Master’s degree is preferred, but not required.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively increasing responsibility in Information Technology is required. A minimum of four (4) years of this experience should be in senior management/supervision administering personnel and budget requirements.
• Experience in the private, or public sector or related industry is welcome.

Applicants who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be required to successfully complete the State Bar’s selection process for this classification.

License, Certificate, Registration Requirements:

• None required.

Physical Requirements:

• Sit for extended periods.
• Make fine visual distinctions upon proofreading written document and viewing information on a computer screen.
• Travel by air and automobile.
• Possess visual capability and digital dexterity to operate a computer and other standard office equipment.
• Retrieve, lift and carry files and documents weighing up to ten pounds with reasonable accommodation.
• Frequent and ongoing use of a telephone and computer terminal.

Condition of Employment

Employment with the State Bar of California requires full vaccination and proof of full vaccination for COVID-19 before starting work. Exemptions to the mandatory vaccination policy may be available for a medical condition, disability, or sincerely held religious belief and must be approved before starting work.

Salary : $145,172 - $193,564