IT Director II | DOA

Socket.dev; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Atlanta seeks an Information Technology Director II to lead enterprise data and AI initiatives within the Office of Technology and Digital Experience. You will guide the AI roadmap, data platforms, and governance across airport operations, collaborating with stakeholders to deliver measurable outcomes.

Ideal candidate brings strong leadership, data governance, and security expertise to drive innovation while ensuring compliance and resilience across IT systems.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in IT/engineering related field.
• 7 years of leadership/management experience guiding data/AI programs.
• Strong governance, security, and regulatory awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise data and AI roadmap aligned to business goals.
• Oversee data platforms, pipelines, and data products for operations.
• Govern AI adoption with governance, risk, and compliance oversight.
• Manage cross‑functional teams and stakeholder partnerships.
• Develop KPIs and drive continuous improvement across data programs.

Skills

Leadership & Strategy

Data Governance & Management

Data Analytics & AI Integration

Project & Portfolio Management

Security, Privacy & Compliance

Research & Analysis

Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

Negotiation & Vendor Management

Problem-Solving & Continuous Improve

Education

Master’s degree in computer science, information systems, data science, or engineering

Tools

Tableau

Power BI

Snowflake

Job description

Information Technology Director II GE20

Job Code: IT0909.1

General Description and Classification Standards:

The Information Technology Director II in the Enterprise Data Services (EDS) team, within the Office of Technology and Digital Experience (TDE), is responsible for leading the airport’s enterprise data and artificial intelligence (AI) programs and for delivering the AI roadmap and enterprise data initiatives that support the airport’s business objectives. This role leads the strategy, governance, platforms, and analytics that turn airport data into trusted insight, and directs the responsible adoption of AI and automation to enhance operational efficiency, passenger experience, and long‑term IT sustainability. The Director will oversee a team of data engineers, architects, analysts, and AI and analytics professionals while collaborating with key internal and external stakeholders.

The ideal candidate possesses a strong technical foundation in enterprise data management, analytics, and AI, coupled with the leadership skills to establish trusted data practices, translate the enterprise data and AI strategy into measurable operational outcomes, and foster a data-driven culture across the airport.

Supervision Received:

Reports to the Chief Data Officer (CDO) with broad autonomy to plan, prioritize, and deliver the Enterprise Data Services portfolio and the airport’s AI roadmap.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.

• AI Roadmap & Strategic Data Leadership
  • Develop, maintain, and execute the enterprise AI roadmap and data strategy in partnership with the CDO, aligned with business and operational objectives.
  • Identify, prioritize, and sequence AI, automation, and intelligent passenger management use cases across airport operations, such as passenger flow and wait‑time prediction, disruption management, and process automation.
  • Provide thought leadership on the responsible adoption and scaling of AI, automation, and data capabilities within TDE and across airport departments.
  • Advocate for funding and resource allocation to support multi-year data and AI initiatives, including platforms, licensing, and staffing.
• Enterprise Data Services Delivery
  • Lead and manage a cross‑functional team in designing, building, and operating enterprise data platforms, integration pipelines, and reusable data products.
  • Manage the EDS portfolio, including intake, prioritization, and delivery of data and analytics requests from airport operations, security, finance, and other business units.
  • Analyze industry trends, competitive landscapes, and regulatory requirements to inform data and AI investments.
  • Establish partnerships with technology vendors, research institutions, and industry peers to advance the airport’s data and AI capabilities.
• AI Platform Evaluation & Implementation
  • Oversee the evaluation, piloting, and enterprise deployment of AI platforms and tools, including generative AI and AI‑assisted software development, with license models matched to user roles and expected usage.
  • Oversee proof‑of‑concept projects, ensuring rigorous testing and alignment with business goals.
  • Develop business cases, ROI analyses, total cost of ownership comparisons, and feasibility studies, including evaluation of subscription and consumption‑based (token) pricing and government procurement channels.
  • Ensure that AI and data solutions meet security, compliance, and operational resilience standards, including the protection of Sensitive Security Information (SSI), Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), personally identifiable information (PII), and critical infrastructure data.
• Data Governance, AI Governance & IT Compliance
  • Establish and operate the enterprise data governance program, including data ownership and stewardship, data catalog and metadata management, lineage, master and reference data, and data quality standards.
  • Develop and maintain AI governance policies covering acceptable use, human oversight, model validation, accuracy and bias monitoring, and auditability.
  • Ensure compliance with IT governance frameworks, cybersecurity policies, records retention requirements, and federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Data Management & Advanced Analytics
  • Oversee the integration, architecture, and governance of enterprise data across airport systems, ensuring data quality, accessibility, and alignment with enterprise‑wide data strategies.
  • Implement AI‑driven analytics, predictive modeling, and business intelligence tools to enhance decision‑making capabilities and enable self‑service analytics.
  • Lead intelligent automation initiatives that reduce manual effort and improve operational performance.
  • Establish data‑sharing frameworks and platforms that support cross‑functional collaboration with airlines, tenants, and government agencies.
• Stakeholder Collaboration
  • Work closely with airport operations, security, airlines, and government agencies to align data and AI initiatives with operational needs.
  • Drive stakeholder engagement by translating complex data and AI concepts into business‑friendly solutions.
• Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
  • Develop KPIs and performance metrics to measure the success of data and AI initiatives, including adoption, data quality, benefits realized, and platform usage and cost.
  • Foster a culture of continuous learning by leading data and AI literacy programs and identifying opportunities for process improvement.
  • Conduct periodic reviews of implemented data platforms and AI solutions to ensure optimal performance, scalability, and value.

Additional Responsibilities

• Represent EDS and TDE at industry conferences, technology forums, and airport industry events, sharing the airport’s AI, automation, and data practices.
• Prepare reports, presentations, and strategic recommendations for executive leadership on the AI roadmap and data initiatives.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

The above statements reflect the general duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job and should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. COA may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

This is a partial listing of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job successfully, it is not an exhaustive list.

• Leadership & Strategy: Ability to develop and execute long‑term enterprise data and AI strategies and roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Data Governance & Management: Knowledge of data governance, data architecture, master data management, metadata, and data quality practices.
• Data Analytics & AI Integration: Proficiency in leveraging data‑driven insights and implementing AI‑driven analytics and automation for predictive decision‑making.
• Project & Portfolio Management: Expertise in managing complex IT projects, including proof‑of‑concept development, vendor coordination, and enterprise‑level deployment.
• Security, Privacy & Compliance: Knowledge of cybersecurity standards and the handling requirements for SSI, CUI, PII, and critical infrastructure data.
• Research & Analysis: Strong skills in evaluating technology trends, assessing feasibility, and conducting cost‑benefit and total cost of ownership analyses.
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Strong ability to translate complex technical information into business‑friendly language and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Negotiation & Vendor Management: Experience in contract negotiations, vendor selection, licensing models, and managing relationships with external service providers.
• Problem‑Solving & Continuous Improvement: Creative problem‑solving skills to drive data and AI solutions and process improvements.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience

Master’s degree in computer science, information systems, data science, or engineering (equivalent professional experience may be considered for substitution for the required degree on an exception basis). 7 years’ of leadership/management experience, including experience leading data, analytics, or AI programs.

Preferred Requirements

The ideal candidate is a visionary data and technology leader with a strong background in enterprise data management, AI and analytics, and digital transformation, capable of executing a multi‑year AI roadmap, managing cross‑functional teams, and fostering partnerships to advance aviation data and AI solutions.

Education & Certifications:

Master’s in IT, Computer Science, Data Science, Business, or related field. Certifications such as CDMP, TOGAF, ITIL, PMP, AWS/Azure Architect, or AI/ML‑related credentials preferred.

• Industry Experience: Aviation, transportation, or public sector experience with knowledge of FAA and TSA requirements, cybersecurity standards, and airport IT ecosystems.
• Data & AI Leadership: Proven success in enterprise‑wide data strategy, AI, automation, cloud migration, and digital transformation.
• Data Strategy & Analytics: Experience with data governance, big data, predictive modeling, AI/ML, generative AI, and business intelligence tools (Tableau, Power BI, Snowflake).
• Stakeholder & Vendor Management: Strong ability to manage executive relationships, negotiate vendor contracts and licensing models, and drive cost‑effective IT investments.
• Change Management & Transformation: Expertise in leading digital transformation, implementing agile methodologies, and ensuring user adoption of new data and AI capabilities.

Work Environment

Lifting Requirements:

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.