What Does An Information Technology Director Do?

WHAT DOES AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR DO?

Published: Sep 19, 2025 - The Information Technology Director oversees IT strategy, project execution, and enterprise technology initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals while managing budgets, risks, and vendor relationships. This role involves leading consulting engagements, driving projects to completion, and implementing best practices in project management, system improvements, and IT governance. Additionally, the Director also mentors and develops teams, fosters collaboration across business units, and ensures the delivery of high-quality solutions that enhance enterprise value.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Information Technology Director

1. Information Technology Director Key Accountabilities

Operations Management: Ensure efficient and successful operation of the IT Department in alignment with organizational business objectives.
Project Coordination: Plan, coordinate, direct, and design IT-related activities for the organization.
Administrative Support: Provide administrative direction and support for daily operational activities within the department.
ERP Oversight: Oversee the ERP system that delivers critical resources to employees.
Cross-Department Collaboration: Collaborate closely with decision-makers in other departments.
Technology Solutions: Identify, recommend, develop, implement, and support cost-effective technology solutions across the organization.
Policy Implementation: Define and implement IT policies, procedures, and best practices.
Strategic Planning: Lead operational and strategic planning for the IT Department.
Resource Management: Foster innovation, plan projects, and organize and negotiate resource allocation.

2. Director of IT General Responsibilities

Systems Management: Analyze, select, and modify enterprise systems and application software.
Network Configuration: Install and configure network hardware and software.
Database Administration: Manage and maintain company databases.
Data Security: Protect company data and ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
Infrastructure Optimization: Optimize infrastructure for efficiency and platform compatibility.
Service Delivery: Coordinate IT service delivery to user groups and minimize service disruptions.
Technology Strategy: Recommend strategies and technology enhancements to improve productivity.
Team Supervision: Supervise employees supporting specialized software applications.
IT Infrastructure Management: Manage IT infrastructure and requirements across multiple locations, including remote and mobile staff.
Leadership Contribution: Contribute to company strategy and decision-making as part of the Leadership Team.
Vendor Management: Build and maintain vendor relationships and oversee third-party service providers.

3. Director of Information Technology Role Purpose

Vision Planning: Establish the future vision for enterprise IT services and operations in alignment with business goals.
IT Strategy: Define IT strategies and roadmaps to achieve the vision.
Operations Leadership: Lead IT operations involving 15–20 IT staff, contractors, and vendors in a highly distributed environment, including offshore teams and commercial cloud service providers.
Project Management: Develop, implement, and evaluate IT projects aligned with business objectives.
Business Collaboration: Collaborate across the business to determine IT needs for products, operations, and corporate functions.
Solution Development: Propose strategic solutions and recommend new systems and software.
Process Improvement: Refine support processes to ensure system performance meets growing business needs.
Financial Management: Establish budgets and financial models.
Relationship Building: Build and maintain relationships with business leaders, external advisors, and vendors.
Risk Management: Identify and mitigate security risks.

4. Information Technology Director Essential Functions

Systems Oversight: Oversee technological systems, including planning, implementation, and maintenance of IT systems and processes.
Compliance Management: Ensure technology systems and controls comply with corporate policy and PCI standards.
Continuity Planning: Develop and implement business continuity protocols to minimize disruption during emergencies or data loss.
Infrastructure Improvement: Establish efficiency and efficacy standards and provide recommendations for IT infrastructure improvements.
Performance Analysis: Analyze IT infrastructure and system performance to assess operating costs, productivity levels, upgrade requirements, and other metrics.
Budget Management: Develop, manage, and track the IT department’s annual budget.
Security Oversight: Oversee the security of systems, networks, and enterprise information.
Security Auditing: Facilitate IT security audits and investigations.
Vendor Relations: Develop and maintain relationships with external IT vendors and service providers.
ERP Coordination: Coordinate multisite IT systems through enterprise resource planning (ERP).

5. Information Technology Director Additional Details

Solution Presentation: Present solutions to management with confidence and effectiveness.
Personnel Management: Train, supervise, mentor, and evaluate personnel.
Work Oversight: Oversee, review, and critique the work of others.
Software Development: Build and maintain software technology.
Test Automation: Develop automated test sets to ensure the correct functioning of technology over time and through subsequent changes.
Team Leadership: Foster a team-oriented, collaborative, and positive work environment.
Policy Application: Interpret, apply, and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Technical Operation: Operate computers and related office equipment.
Relationship Building: Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
Analytical Skills: Analyze situations accurately, exercise sound judgment, work independently, and adopt effective courses of action.
Communication Skills: Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with applicable District policies, procedures, and governmental regulations.

6. Information Technology Director Roles

Infrastructure Strategy: Define and lead company-wide IT infrastructure strategy, architecture, implementation, and maintenance.
Process Optimization: Drive cross-organizational IT and security processes to streamline operations and support company growth.
Risk Management: Build and manage information and cybersecurity risk controls, including designing effective safeguards and systematically monitoring risks.
Security Governance: Own and communicate security policies, standards, procedures, and controls, and design and implement security awareness programs.
Application Oversight: Oversee company business applications, including the ERP system (Priority), CRM (Salesforce), and BI platform (Tableau).
Audit Management: Lead audit efforts aligned with ISO27001 and other regulatory requirements.
Team Development: Build, train, and manage a world-class IT team composed of both in-house staff and external service providers.
After-Hours Support: Provide after-hours coverage, including late nights and weekends.
Team Oversight: Oversee the entire Information Technology team.
Staff Guidance: Provide direction, guidance, and training to IT staff.

7. Information Technology Director Tasks

IT Operations Oversight: Oversee all enterprise information technology operations.
Strategic Direction: Provide strategic direction and oversight for the design, development, implementation, operation, and support of IT systems and programs that meet Alto’s needs and objectives.
Onboarding Solutions: Administer efficient solutions for employee onboarding and offboarding.
Endpoint Security: Maintain endpoint security by ensuring workforce devices remain safe and up to date.
Goal Alignment: Support growth objectives and align IT goals with the company’s mission, vision, and core values.
Network Strategy: Create and implement strategies to strengthen network capability, transmission, storage, data security, business continuity, disaster recovery, and resource availability.
Leadership Development: Provide leadership, foster a productive work environment, and ensure staff have the skills and tools necessary to succeed.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Engage and collaborate with leaders across all functional areas to drive integrated IT planning.
Technical Analysis: Analyze complex business needs and recommend effective technical solutions.
Cost Management: Assess and manage costs associated with enterprise technology, communications, and information systems.
Workload Prioritization: Direct and prioritize IT personnel workloads.

8. Director of IT Details and Accountabilities

Quality Oversight: Provide oversight and advocate for quality across solutions and programs.
Strategic Partnership: Partner with teams and business stakeholders to define and prioritize strategic investments aligned with customer, market, and business goals.
Roadmap Planning: Maintain a forward-looking 6–24 month solutions roadmap for each insurance product in scope.
Team Development: Manage, coach, and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture where individuals thrive and reach their potential.
Critical Thinking: Ask "why" to challenge assumptions and guide the organization’s ongoing evolution.
Continuous Improvement: Acknowledge mistakes as opportunities to learn and continuously improve outcomes.
Collaborative Practices: Collaborate transparently across the organization through "scrum of scrum" style practices.
Accountability Management: Drive accountability by monitoring team performance and ensuring delivery of results.
Technology Monitoring: Track technological advancements to uncover opportunities for competitive advantage.
Executive Guidance: Provide proactive guidance to senior management on emerging technologies and digital trends relevant to organizational goals.
Vendor Negotiation: Oversee procurement of technology assets and software while negotiating agreements with IT vendors.

9. Director of Information Technology Overview

IT Operations Management: Plan, manage, and control IT operations effectively across multiple sites.
Strategic Collaboration: Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand strategic and operational imperatives and develop an IT strategy and operational plan that supports company needs and delivers measurable ROI.
Roadmap Development: Develop an IT strategic roadmap to ensure continual alignment between IT, the company, and operational planning.
Executive Relations: Establish key relationships with Lam Research IT executives and support teams to understand strategies and policies, and recommend how and when Silfex IT/Network should integrate to leverage capabilities.
Operational Leadership: Provide leadership in planning and managing computer operations, production support, systems and database administration, and network operations.
Infrastructure Management: Manage day-to-day IT operations to improve infrastructure costs, system performance, and end-user satisfaction.
Innovation Leadership: Provide business rationale and innovative perspectives to address technology problems and drive innovation.
Systems Analysis: Analyze operational procedures, data requirements, and existing IT systems to evaluate efficiency, capabilities, and limitations, and propose solutions to support business scaling.
Service Delivery: Direct technical and management teams in successfully fulfilling IT service delivery commitments.
Process Improvement: Confer with department managers to analyze current operational procedures, identify problem areas, and determine opportunities for improvement in information services.

10. Director of Information Technology Job Description

Healthcare Systems Management: Apply strong knowledge of healthcare operations, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and management skills to guide, design, develop, and deploy critical systems.
Process Improvement: Drive continual process improvement in the delivery of application services across CH.
Technology Trends: Maintain knowledge of current and emerging healthcare technology trends.
Best Practices: Stay abreast of best practices, application solutions, and services while incorporating innovation in practical, cost-effective ways.
Support Services: Establish end-user support service levels in collaboration with Business Leadership and IT.
Performance Metrics: Report metrics regularly, and drive technology improvements from the perspective of end users and management.
Budget Management: Develop, monitor, and report on operating and capital budgets for the department and associated applications.
Vendor Management: Manage vendor services, performance, and contracting to achieve optimum results.
Systems Maintenance: Maintain and upgrade information systems in close collaboration with business leadership and staff.
Relationship Building: Foster and further develop relationships throughout the organization to proactively facilitate technical and process management solutions.

11. Information Technology Director Functions

Strategic Planning: Provide strategic and tactical planning, development, evaluation, and coordination of information and technology systems for Franciscan Ministries.
Business Alignment: Partner with Business Leadership to solicit input and achieve alignment in developing short- and long-range plans for delivering high-quality, industry-relevant information systems.
Team Leadership: Provide leadership, direction, development, and mentoring to IT professionals to ensure delivery of high-quality systems to internal business customers.
Operations Oversight: Oversee back-office computer operations across enterprise systems, data, voice, imaging, office automation, local area networks, and wide-area networks.
Security Management: Oversee and evaluate system security and backup procedures.
Acquisition Review: Review all hardware and software acquisitions and maintenance contracts, involving other management team members.
Project Delivery: Approve, coordinate, and deliver projects related to the selection, acquisition, development, and installation of major information systems.
Policy Development: Develop and maintain corporate policies and standards to maximize effectiveness and minimize costs in IT acquisition, implementation, and operations.
Communication Strategy: Communicate IT plans, policies, and technology trends throughout the organization, including to management groups and professional staff.
Budget Oversight: Develop and monitor the approved fiscal operating and capital budgets for information and technology systems.
Technology Planning: Incorporate short- and long-term technology plans into the operating and capital planning process to ensure proper funding and prioritization of initiatives.
Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all information systems and networks comply with internal standards, external accrediting agency standards, regulatory agencies, and legal requirements, including HIPAA.

12. Information Technology Director Accountabilities

IT Operations Management: Manage and direct operations for all functional IT areas.
Strategic Objectives: Set short- and long-term strategic objectives for information systems and technology based on stakeholder input.
Contractor Oversight: Oversee contractors providing IT systems and services.
Program Collaboration: Collaborate with the Director Team to develop and analyze programs and policies.
Systems Development: Manage evaluation, maintenance, and enhancement of complex information systems, and lead the development and implementation of new systems, including hardware, software, network infrastructure, and custom applications.
Budget Administration: Develop and administer the department budget, including capital projects, and forecast funds needed for hardware, software, and professional services.
Security Management: Ensure security of internal network infrastructure, computer systems, and data in compliance with security regulations and industry best practices.
Personnel Supervision: Supervise, plan, and direct the work of assigned personnel.
Policy Evaluation: Evaluate and make recommendations on IT policies, programs, projects, and regulatory compliance matters.
Systems Coordination: Coordinate with City departments and external agencies to establish and maintain data management and telecommunication systems.
Project Monitoring: Monitor projects to ensure conformance with specifications, schedules, and budgets.

13. Director of Information Technology Job Summary

Project Management: Work with the team to define roles, establish budgets, develop schedules, and monitor project progress related to data and computer information systems, including network infrastructure, reporting, database systems, information exchange systems, user training, and desktop and network support.
Team Leadership: Provide leadership, mentoring, and development to ensure staff possess the skills necessary to meet customer and stakeholder needs.
Supervisory Responsibilities: Carry out supervisory responsibilities by providing direction and feedback, setting work and professional development goals, mentoring and coaching staff, addressing performance issues, and supporting recruitment and orientation.
Business Collaboration: Collaborate with business leaders to understand challenges and align IT system capabilities with business objectives through effective use of technology.
Budget Management: Partner with Finance and IT leadership to develop and manage budgets, monitor staffing and subcontractor resources, and ensure a flexible work environment, infrastructure, and desktop management.
Security Standards: Ensure infrastructure and reporting capabilities meet security standards and industry best practices to support long-term organizational growth.
Technology Adoption: Stay current with best practices and emerging technologies, applying them to maintain up-to-date, compatible hardware and software aligned with organizational needs.
Vendor Management: Manage and oversee vendor support relationships and project-based work.
Staff Support: Support staff activities to achieve organizational goals and objectives.

14. Information Technology Director Responsibilities

Data Visualization: Direct the office in the use of data for institutional intelligence through data visualization and dashboards.
Analytic Support: Provide analytic support to facilitate strategic planning, assessment, enrollment planning, policy decisions, resource allocation, and other processes requiring analysis.
System Development: Develop and maintain university systems for databases, dashboards, and reporting procedures to present the institutional profile.
Information Management: Supervise the generation and dissemination of data and information, including the Fact Book, Quickfacts, dashboards, videos, website content, and digital storytelling media, as well as reporting to CSU system offices and external agencies such as WSCUC, NCAA, and publishers.
Needs Assessment: Anticipate data and reporting needs, manage internal and external requests, and assign projects and research tasks.
Status Reporting: Provide periodic status reports and project updates to leadership.
Staff Supervision: Supervise and train staff in data collection, analysis, survey development, report writing, presentations, and dashboard development.
Professional Development: Support staff professional development, create growth opportunities, and conduct performance evaluations.
Committee Participation: Serve on institutional, divisional, university, or college committees, task forces, and councils.
Systemwide Engagement: Participate in CSU systemwide meetings and projects related to institutional research.
Constituent Relations: Act as the official point of contact for institutional research-related queries from internal and external constituents, including CSU queries.

15. Information Technology Director Details

IT Staff Management: Direct all activities of the IT staff responsible for the organization’s Information Technology and Systems operations.
Systems Oversight: Oversee fulfillment of all technology and systems functions, including equipment selection, system development, system operations, contingency planning, and capacity planning.
Disaster Recovery: Develop, implement, and maintain the organization’s disaster recovery plan.
Systems Support: Oversee installation, support, and utilization of information technology systems.
Information Security: Work with executive leadership to ensure the integrity and security of all information, equipment, and telecommunications.
Executive Reporting: Report to the Vice President/CIO.
Council Participation: Serve as an active member of the Management Council.
Supervision: Supervise direct reports, including the IT Operations Manager and third-party consultants.
Operational Consistency: Establish overall operational consistency in applications, hardware, software, and communications facilities across the organization.
Applications Portfolio: Direct, develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive applications portfolio, defining all system application requirements.

16. Information Technology Director Duties

Department Management: Acquire, develop, and manage the IT Department to ensure optimum human resource utilization in alignment with organizational goals, objectives, and strategic plans.
Telecommunications Systems: Develop and maintain telecommunications systems supporting effective communication within the organization and with external business contacts.
Technical Support: Develop, implement, and maintain technical support for all applications, hardware, software, and communications facilities.
Budget Management: Prepare and monitor budgetary forecasts while controlling technology and system costs and expenditures.
Campus Support: Provide consistent technical and telecommunications support to all organizational campuses.
Project Reporting: Establish, maintain, and report the status of projects, issues, and activities regularly to senior leadership.
Data Security: Develop, implement, and maintain a data security plan, including emergency backup and recovery procedures for short- and long-term outages.
Technology Utilization: Recommend new uses for IT equipment and oversee disposal of unprofitable or outdated technology.
Staff Training: Provide adequate training, resource materials, workspace, facilities, and supplies for IT staff.
System Evaluation: Participate in hardware and software evaluations.
Requirements Review: Review and approve business requirements before implementing technical solutions.

17. Information Technology Director Roles and Details

Strategic Planning: Provide strategic and tactical planning, evaluation, and coordination of all information and technology systems (including HCM, FSCM, ALM, and related platforms) for the organization.
Goal Setting: Set goals and a strategic direction for information technology operations in collaboration with executive leadership.
Technology Trends: Keep abreast of current and future technology trends and make appropriate recommendations.
Project Oversight: Oversee the implementation of all information technology projects.
Stakeholder Communication: Ensure communication with project stakeholders is appropriate and timely.
Cost Management: Track costs associated with projects and ensure delivery on time and within budget.
Roadmap Development: Develop and maintain the Information Technology Strategic Roadmap.
Performance Metrics: Establish metrics for system performance, service levels, and security events, and report metrics regularly to senior leadership.
Systems Upgrades: Stay current on new developments in information systems technology and plan for future upgrades and organizational changes.
Infrastructure Assessment: Assess current infrastructure and recommend improvements.

18. Information Technology Director Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Risk Management: Identify, prioritize, and address security risks to protect organizational information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
Information Security: Ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational information.
Regulatory Compliance: Comply with applicable internal and external policies, standards, laws, and regulations related to information security and technology management.
Business Continuity: Direct and coordinate business continuity and service restoration plans related to technical infrastructure and application systems.
Budget Management: Develop and manage the IT department’s annual operating and capital budgets.
Staff Management: Manage information technology staff and contractors.
Team Leadership: Provide leadership, development planning, motivation, and mentoring of IT staff.
Performance Review: Review staff performance annually in line with Human Resources guidelines and procedures.
Committee Leadership: Serve as chairperson of the IT Steering Committee.
Professional Development: Promote ongoing professional development and training of staff to remain technologically current.

19. Information Technology Director Duties and Roles

Engagement Management: Manage consulting engagements day to day through the creation and monitoring of project scope, timeline, budget, and deliverables while meeting the needs and expectations of colleagues and customers.
Project Oversight: Drive projects to completion by overseeing, managing, assisting, or executing project activities, workstreams, and deliverables.
Value Identification: Identify, quantify, and prioritize enterprise value improvement opportunities and solutions.
Team Management: Manage associates and consultants through data gathering and analysis, and perform technical QA of work completed by the team.
Project Tools: Utilize project management tools and best practices such as Gantt Charts, budgets, risk assessments, work breakdown structures, and RACI charts.
Deliverable Development: Develop high-quality written deliverables.
Vision Communication: Clearly communicate a vision of what "state of the art" looks like in the field of expertise.
Practice Development: Assist in practice development through the identification, development, and rollout of standard tools, templates, and methodologies.
Research Analysis: Conduct independent research to support fact-based analysis and experience-based qualitative assessments.
Collaboration: Collaborate with team members in Information Technology and Operations practices to ensure relevant project information is shared efficiently and effectively.

20. Information Technology Director Roles and Responsibilities

Client Management: Manage daily client relationships and interactions, including responding quickly to emails, remediating risks and issues, and presenting check-ins and final deliverables.
Business Development: Assist business development efforts through the creation of work plans, pricing estimates, and risk assessments.
Team Leadership: Mentor and lead teams of consultants and associates through project engagements as well as internal growth opportunities.
Values Alignment: Support behaviors consistent with organizational values while providing constructive feedback to team members.
Performance Feedback: Provide frequent and authentic feedback to direct and indirect reports.
Training Support: Support training efforts by helping to identify training needs and delivering training.
Internal Projects: Participate in internal projects that build firm capability.
Vendor Relations: Act as liaison with IT vendors, consultants, technology providers, and regulatory agencies.
Budget Management: Prepare and manage the annual IT budget while recommending system and capital improvements.
Standards Development: Develop new standards, techniques, and procedures.

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