IT Director

TriSearch

Shoreview (MN)

Hybrid

USD 150,000 - 190,000

Full time

4 days ago

Be an early applicant

A complete application in a minute

Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

TriSearch is seeking a Director of Information Technology to own the organization’s core IT infrastructure, including enterprise servers, data centers, cloud environments, and end-user support. The role balances a small in-house team with MSP/MSSP delivery, focusing on vendor oversight, architecture, security, and escalation.

You will shape the operating model, oversee MSP relationships, and drive governance, lifecycle management, and cost optimization across North America, EMEA, and APAC as

Qualifications

12+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, including hybrid in-house and MSP delivery.
Proven MSP/MSSP governance, vendor management, and contract/SLAs
Experience with enterprise infrastructure, networking and security
Strong IT budgeting and governance collaboration with executive stakeholders

Responsibilities

Define and refine the operating model for in-house vs outsourced IT delivery.
Own MSP/MSSP relationships and ensure SLA, KPI, and scope adherence.
Develop and lead a small, high-leverage IT team focused on architecture, security, and escalation.
Oversee enterprise network operations and infrastructure lifecycle management.
Strengthen cybersecurity posture aligned with NIST CSF / ISO 27001.
Lead incident response and post‑incident improvement with executive communication.

Skills

MSP/MSSP Management

Hybrid Operating Model

Enterprise Infrastructure

Enterprise Networking

Cybersecurity Governance

Business Continuity

End-User Support

IT Service Management (ITIL)

Leadership & Talent Dev

Tools

Azure

Windows Server

Linux

Virtualization

Job description

Director, Information Technology

Position Overview

The Director of Information Technology owns the organization's core IT infrastructure — enterprise servers, data center and cloud environments, network operations, cybersecurity, and end-user/helpdesk support — in an environment where a small internal team is supported by managed service provider(s) (MSP/MSSP) who deliver much of the day-to-day operational work.

A central part of this role is determining and continuously refining the right operating model: deciding which functions the in-house team should own directly versus which are best delivered through outsourced partners, then holding those partners accountable for security, reliability, and performance. The Director builds and leads the small internal team — focused on vendor oversight, architecture, security, and escalation — while directing MSP/MSSP relationships as the primary delivery mechanism for infrastructure, network, and support operations.

Key Responsibilities

Infrastructure, Network, Security & Support — Hybrid In-House / MSP Delivery

Define and continuously refine the optimal operating model for IT delivery — determining which infrastructure, network, security, and support functions are owned by the small in-house team versus delivered through MSP/MSSP partners, based on risk, criticality, cost, and available internal capacity.
Serve as the primary owner of MSP/MSSP relationships responsible for day-to-day management of servers, network, security operations, and helpdesk/end-user support, holding providers accountable to SLAs, KPIs, and contracted scope.
Lead and develop the small in-house infrastructure/security team, directing their effort toward vendor oversight, escalation management, architecture decisions, and work too sensitive, urgent, or strategic to outsource.
Direct enterprise network operations (switching, routing, wireless, WAN) delivered through MSP partners, ensuring resiliency, security, and lifecycle currency regardless of who performs the work.
Strengthen the organization's cybersecurity posture through governance aligned with recognized frameworks (e.g., NIST CSF, ISO 27001), including incident response, business continuity, disaster recovery, and backup validation — retaining executive ownership even where an MSSP executes day-to-day monitoring.
Serve as the executive technical lead during significant infrastructure and cybersecurity incidents , directing both internal staff and MSP/MSSP resources through technical response, executive communications, and post-incident improvement.
Own end-user support outcomes — whether delivered by the in-house team, an MSP-run helpdesk, or a blend of both — establishing a tiered support model, ticket SLA targets, and escalation paths to ensure fast, reliable resolution for end users.
Establish and monitor operational KPIs and service-level metrics across infrastructure, network, security, and helpdesk functions to hold both internal staff and MSP/MSSP partners accountable.
Develop lifecycle strategies for servers, network hardware, and enterprise platforms — coordinating internal team and MSP input — to reduce technical debt, improve resiliency, and optimize total cost of ownership.

Supporting Governance & Financial Stewardship

Partner with IT leadership and actively participate in enterprise IT governance functions — technology evaluation, architecture review, Change Control Board, and project prioritization — to ensure infrastructure and security initiatives align with enterprise standards.
Manage IT budgets and MSP/vendor spend related to infrastructure, network, security, and support operations to optimize cost and return on investment.
Partner with executive leadership and business stakeholders across North America, EMEA, and APAC to align infrastructure and security services with organizational priorities, and provide regular reporting on operational performance, security posture, MSP performance, and service levels.

Required Qualifications

Category

Qualifications

Experience

12+ years of progressive IT leadership experience, including experience operating a hybrid model with a small in-house team supported by managed service providers for infrastructure, network, security, and end-user support.

MSP & Vendor Management

Proven track record managing MSPs/MSSPs as the primary delivery arm for infrastructure, network, and helpdesk operations — including contract negotiation, SLA/KPI management, governance, and escalation — and determining the right balance of in-house versus outsourced ownership across functions.

Infrastructure

Expertise managing hybrid infrastructure — including Windows and Linux environments, Azure, virtualization, enterprise storage, and infrastructure lifecycle management — whether executed by internal staff or MSP partners.

Networking

Strong knowledge of enterprise networking, switching, routing, wireless, and WAN technologies, including resiliency and lifecycle planning, in environments where network operations are MSP-delivered.

Cybersecurity

Experience implementing and governing cybersecurity programs aligned with frameworks such as NIST CSF and ISO 27001, including incident response, business continuity, and disaster recovery, whether executed in-house or via an MSSP.

End-User Support

Experience leading helpdesk and desktop support delivery — in-house, MSP-run, or a blend of both — including ITSM/ITIL processes, ticket SLA management, and end-user experience improvement.

Small-Team Leadership

Experience leading and developing a small, high-leverage internal team, with staff focused on vendor oversight, architecture, security, and escalation rather than high-volume hands-on operations.

Supporting Disciplines

Working knowledge of IT governance and PMO practices, enterprise architecture review, and IT financial management sufficient to partner effectively with those functions.

Core Competencies