Information Technology Division Director (Austin)

Texas Workforce Commission; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 2,344,000 - 2,790,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family-friendly workplace

Competitive salary

Retirement benefit plan

401(k) and 457 accounts

Medical insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Texas Workforce Commission seeks a visionary Information Technology Division Director (Director VII) to lead its digital transformation, safeguard sensitive data, and deliver modern services for millions of Texans. Located in Austin, this role requires balancing technical foresight with public-sector governance.

The Director will partner with agency executives, lawmakers, and federal partners to drive strategic technology planning, cloud initiatives, and robust change management while

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of senior IT leadership experience in public or large-scale organizations.
• Experience translating legislative mandates into compliant IT realities.
• Strong background in data governance, privacy, and security protocols.

Responsibilities

• Lead agency-wide digital transformation initiatives and cloud modernization.
• Oversee IT budgeting, procurement, and vendor management to optimize resources.
• Ensure enforcement of data privacy and security across the enterprise.

Skills

Strategic Leadership

Digital Transformation

Cybersecurity & Privacy

People Leadership

Stakeholder Collaboration

Regulatory Knowledge

Job description

Job Description - Information Technology Division Director (Austin) (827271)

Job Description

Description

About the Texas Workforce Commission:
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency charged with overseeing and providing workforce development services to employers and job seekers of Texas. Our mission is to promote and support a workforce system that creates value and offers employers, individuals, and communities the opportunity to achieve and sustain economic prosperity.

Position Summary:
The Texas Workforce Commission is seeking a highly collaborative technology executive to serve as our next Information Technology Division Director (Director VII).
This critical role demands a rare balance of technical foresight and mastery of the complex political, regulatory, and budgetary realities inherent to public service. Operating under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, the Division Director will lead TWC’s comprehensive digital transformation, safeguard highly sensitive constituent data, and ensure seamless, modern services for millions of Texans.

As a key strategic partner to agency executives, state lawmakers, and federal partners, you will participate in overall agency technology planning, bringing a current knowledge and future vision of technology and systems to support agency goals. The Director must understand the core public sector IT competencies modernization, deployment of AI initiatives, data governance, data management to leverage and optimize AI, understanding of public sector privacy and security requirements, and change management. This role serves as the primary architect of TWC's technical roadmap, driving modern cloud initiatives, steering complex public procurement cycles, and fostering an agency-wide, security-first culture. This position is located at 1411 Brazos Street, Austin, Texas.

Who You Are:
You are a visionary, highly collaborative IT Executive who thrives at the intersection of cutting-edge technology, public service, and strategic leadership. You are a diplomat and builder equally comfortable navigating complex state bureaucracy, building consensus across diverse agency divisions, and leading high-impact digital transformations. You can coordinate, collaborate, and partner with TWC division leadership as internal customers. You understand the value of the Texas Department of Information Resources’ scale and expertise and the Texas Cyber Command’s role as a critical partner.
As a champion of innovation and security, you lead with a security-first mindset, ensuring that modernization never comes at the cost of compliance or public trust. You are not just a manager of systems, but a leader of people; you know how to inspire, mentor, and retain top-tier technical talent in a competitive market by fostering an inclusive, mission-driven culture.

Your Core Capabilities:

• A Strategic & Collaborative Navigator: You have a proven track record of building trust with internal stakeholders, legislative entities, and vendor partners. You easily navigate complex bureaucratic landscapes and swiftly translate legislative mandates into compliant, operational IT realities.


• A Digital Transformer: You bring a forward-looking vision to agency-wide technology planning. You know how to optimize data analytics, improve system interoperability, and strategically manage budgets to maximize every dollar. You also know that lasting transformation requires thoughtful change management and can implement strategies to ensure successful deployments for multiple stakeholders.


• A Guardian of Security & Privacy: You actively champion robust cybersecurity frameworks (such as the Texas Cybersecurity Framework and TX-RAMP). You strictly enforce data privacy protocols to protect sensitive records and uphold public trust.


• An Inspiring Leader & Deliverer: You ensure the flawless, high-performance delivery of IT services across the entire agency. Above all, you are dedicated to mentoring and empowering your team, building a high-performance culture that successfully competes with the private sector.

Experience and Education:

• Required Experience: Seven (7) years of full-time experience in the oversight and direction of an agency technology or business program, OR seven (7) years in strategic planning and policy development and implementation.


• Management Experience: At least five (5) years of the required experience must have been in an administrative management or supervisory capacity.


• Educational Substitution: Relevant academic credits may be applied toward the non-supervisory experience qualifications for this position.


• TWC Internal Path: One (1) year of full-time in-service TWC experience classified as a Director V with regular status will satisfy the minimum qualifications.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to enterprise IT, information security, public records, and public administration.


• Expert skill in establishing plans, objectives, and technology roadmaps that support an overall public service business strategy.


• Deep understanding of modern software delivery, cloud architecture, cybersecurity frameworks, and emerging trends and developments in technology.


• Skill in fiscal planning, budget management, and cost-benefit analysis for large-scale enterprise IT procurements.


• Skill in coordinating with vendor partners and managing service delivery to maximize internal and external customer satisfaction.


• Proven ability to communicate effectively, negotiate, build consensus, and drive cooperative public-private partnerships.


• Advanced ability to evaluate alternatives, identify complex operational risks, and implement robust, timely solutions.


• Proven ability to plan, assign, organize, and supervise the work of technical teams while promoting cross-divisional coordination and professional growth.

YOU GAIN:

• A Family Friendly Certified Workplace.


• Competitive salary: $17,500.00/month


• Defined Retirement Benefit Plan


• Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts


• Medical Insurance


• Paid time off, including time for vacation, sick and family care leave


• Additional benefits for active employees can be found at https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits.