Information Systems Director

City of Rochester Hills; Rochester Hills (MI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Rochester Hills seeks a senior information technology leader to oversee the MIS Department, guiding strategic tech initiatives and budget decisions to support city services.

The role directs governance, vendor relations, and major IT projects, with emphasis on data protection and regulatory compliance. Candidates should have extensive public-sector IT experience and strong leadership capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in MIS, CS, or related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in enterprise technology management.
• Five years of supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Foster a culture of innovation and provide high-level technology leadership and vision.
• Direct overall operations and governance, set priorities, and authorize personnel actions.
• Develop and manage annual budgets and CIP for technology assets and services.
• Review and execute high-level vendor contracts and RFPs; escalate major issues.
• Provide strategic direction for citywide tech initiatives, including AI and cloud services.
• Ensure data and system protection in line with laws and privacy requirements.
• Represent the MIS Department to the Mayor, City Council, and external bodies; brief on projects.
• Work extended hours as needed to meet department needs.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Budgeting

Vendor management

Policy development

Public sector experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in MIS/CS or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

This position is responsible for the overall administrative oversight, visioning, leadership, planning, coordinating and control of the development of technical strategy for the present and future management of the City's information technology needs. Manages and directs the operations of the department, including policy development, budgeting, procurement of technology assets and services, and serves as the principal staff advisor to City Council and the Mayor on information technology matters. Supervision is exercised over the Deputy Information Systems Director, with executive authority over all department personnel.

The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. Other duties may be required and assigned.

1. Responsible for fostering a culture of innovation across municipal operations. Provides high-level technology leadership and strategic vision to deliver superior services to City residents and businesses.
2. Directs the overall operations and governance of the department. Establishes department-wide priorities, monitors strategic performance, sets organizational goals, and authorizes final personnel actions, including selections, promotions, and disciplinary matters.
3. Develops, recommends, and implements annual departmental budget and Capital Improvement Projects (CIP). Directs the allocation of resources for personnel, technology infrastructure, equipment, and contracted services to support current operations and long-term City needs.
4. Reviews, approves, and executes high-level service agreements, vendor contracts, and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for citywide technology services and solutions. Serves as the final point of escalation for significant vendor issues, contract changes, and technology-related business matters.
5. Provides strategic direction for citywide technology initiatives, including emerging technologies, cloud services, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Approves major technology integrations and automated solutions that improve efficiency, service delivery, and operational effectiveness.
6. Ensures the protection and responsible management of City data and technology systems in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and public records and privacy requirements, including HIPAA and FOIA provisions.
7. Serves as the primary executive representative for the MIS Department to the Mayor, City Council, department leadership, and external governmental organizations. Provides executive briefings, communicates major project developments, and reports on the City's long-term technology infrastructure and system needs.
8. Works extended hours as required to accommodate needs of the department or organization, including attending or facilitating evening or weekend meetings.
9. Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field;
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in systems administration, network security architecture, or enterprise technology management,
• Five (5) years supervisory experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or specialized credentials in enterprise cloud administration and emerging Artificial Intelligence auditing are highly desirable.
• Master's Degree with minimum of five years directly related experience.
• Proven experience leading the procurement, architecture, implementation, or lifecycle management of enterprise-tier Enterprise Asset Management Systems (EAMS) or complex Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) frameworks within a public sector or multi-departmental corporate environment.
• Public sector Information Systems experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This work requires the occasional exertion exceeding 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work has limited exposure to adverse environmental conditions when accessing systems and equipment, such as dirty, dusty building environments and non-climate controlled settings.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy office setting (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Note Regarding Starting Wage: Each position at the City of Rochester Hills has an assigned Pay Grade consisting of 6 steps. New employees generally start at Step 1 to allow for growth and wage progression, aligned with the City's annual review process. However, the City will evaluate the applicant’s skills and experience to determine whether a higher Step placement is appropriate.

We value diversity, equity and inclusion as a foundation for innovation and seek candidates who represent a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.