Director, Information Technology

GENERAL DUTIES: Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, the Director, Information Technology is responsible for leading business-facing Information Technology initiatives. The Director drives enterprise strategy, governance, and innovation to optimize business outcomes, enhance digital capabilities, and collaborative partnerships across the organization. This role emphasizes business transformation, ensuring IT initiatives align with the City's strategic objectives while delivering measurable value to stakeholders and citizens. This includes developing multi-year digital transformation roadmaps, tracking implementation progress, and analyzing market trends to identify opportunities for improvement. The Director is responsible to drive resident/staff-centered digital services and a data-driven culture; convert strategy to executed roadmaps and measurable benefits. This business-facing role focuses on change and value creation, leading enterprise applications, digital/data governance, architecture, product management, and vendor relationships to align IT with the City's strategic objectives and enhance citizen service delivery. SUMMARY OF DUTIES: Leads the development and execution of enterprise strategy, governance, and portfolio management, including shaping long-term IT roadmaps and prioritizing initiatives to support the City's business goals. Oversees enterprise applications and business solutions, including integrations, to streamline operations and enable innovative practices that enhance service delivery. Directs enterprise digital and data governance, incorporating customer experience (CX), user experience (UX), and artificial intelligence (AI) to drive data-driven decision-making and citizen-centric services. Manages enterprise architecture and governance, ensuring alignment with organizational standards, risk management, and sustainable technology adoption. Champions product and business relationship management, partnering with senior executives, departments, and stakeholders to identify needs, set performance targets, and deliver successful outcomes. Handles IT vendor and contract management, negotiating agreements, building strategic partnerships, and ensuring compliance and value optimization. Collaborates with the CIO and peer directors to advance transformation programs, integrate technology and data advancements, and promote cross-functional knowledge sharing. Defines, maintains, and reports on metrics to track progress and achievements aligned with digital transformation initiatives. Analyzes market trends, feedback, and competitive landscapes to identify new opportunities and improvements for digital services. Contributes to developing digital competencies within the workforce, including digital literacy, customer-centered design, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, inclusion, and innovation. Coaches, mentors, and develops staff, providing career planning, skills training, and performance management to build a high-performing team. Develops and implements policies, processes, and engagement plans to support innovation, change management, and collaboration across the organization. Prepares business cases, resource plans, budget estimates, and reports for leadership, explaining complex topics in clear language. Monitors project constraints including scope, time, budget, quality, risk, and resources, while evolving governance practices. Stays current on technology trends, innovation, and best practices to guide strategic implementation and achieve tangible business value. Promotes and oversees strategic relationships between internal Information Technology resources and external entities, including government, vendors and partner organizations. Oversees the development and monitoring of annual operating and capital budgets. Attends public meetings to present the City's position/actions to the public, media and outside government bodies. Participates and regularly act as main spokesperson in discussions on Information Services issues. Responds to issues and queries raised by Council. Ensures compliance with Provincial and Federal statutes and regulations and municipal by-laws and policies. Ensures that employees are provided with and use the appropriate equipment, material and/or procedures required to perform the assigned duties. Ensures that all employees perform work in accordance with applicable health and safety legislation and all City of Hamilton corporate and departmental policies and procedures. Ensures that appropriate action is recommended for those employees who do not work in compliance with legislation, policies or procedures. Works in accordance with the provisions of applicable health and safety legislation and all City of Hamilton corporate and departmental policies and procedures related to occupational health and safety. Performs other duties as assigned which are directly related to the responsibilities of the position. QUALIFICATIONS Degree in computer science, business administration, information technology, or a related discipline. Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in IT strategy, business transformation, governance, and portfolio management, with a focus on digital transformation and strategic planning; municipal experience is an asset. Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience managing cross-functional teams or projects and influencing senior-level management and key stakeholders. Possession of Project Management Professional (PMP), Portfolio Management (PfM), or similar certifications; additional designations in Organizational Change Management (OCM) or Enterprise Architecture (e.g. TOGAF) would be considered assets. Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional teams to address complex business issues, drive value, and manage enterprise applications, integrations, and data governance. Thorough knowledge of enterprise architecture, digital technologies (including AI, CX/UX, and other emerging trends), and business relationship management principles. Proven track record of innovation, both in internal problem-solving and fostering innovative uses of technology in the organization. Experience fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, inclusivity, growth, and improvement. Broad knowledge of current and emerging technologies, technology directions, and strategic application to business needs, including the ability to differentiate between relevant trends and hype. Proven ability to establish credibility, influence peers and senior leadership through collaboration, and resolve conflicts in a multi-disciplinary environment. Strong communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to prepare and deliver presentations to diverse audiences. Demonstrated leadership in fostering innovation, managing vendor relationships, and aligning IT initiatives with organizational objectives. Expertise in budget planning and financial management. Excellent inter-personal skills and ability to deal with elected officials, government departments, all levels of management, staff and the general public.