DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION & TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES (ITS) – ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA

Alachua County, Florida (pop. 289,900) seeks an innovative and versatile information technology leader to serve as its next Director of Information & Telecommunication Services (ITS). The ideal candidate possesses a balance of technical expertise and administrative management skills and has experience leading IT operations in local government. They will also possess a track record of championing technology that drives efficiency and supports operational needs and strategic priorities. The hiring range for the position is $130,000-$160,000, and the county offers a flexible hybrid and remote work policy.

Alachua’s principal city is Gainesville, which is best known for the University of Florida and the NCAA Division I Florida Gators football team. The county also boasts natural springs, historical districts, and a vibrant arts and culture scene. It is in North Central Florida, two hours south of the state capital, two hours north of Orlando, and one hour southwest of Jacksonville. The county is easily accessible via Interstate 75, and the Gainesville Regional Airport offers daily flights to major cities including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Miami.

  • Alachua County is a commission-manager government, and the appointed County Manager has oversight responsibility for all operations and staff under the purview of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The ITS Director is appointed by the County Manager, confirmed by the BOCC, and reports to the Assistant County Manager/Chief of Staff.
  • The county has a FY2025 budget of $866.9M and approximately 1,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions under the County Manager’s purview. The ITS Department has a budget of $10.7M and 38 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. In addition to serving the departments under the purview of the Board of County Commissioners, the ITS Department also provides varying levels of application, hardware, web, and telephony support to the Supervisor of Elections, the Gainesville/Alachua County Metropolitan Transportation Planning Organization (MTPO), the Sheriff’s Office, the courts, and several other independent and constitutional offices.

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Experience

  • Extensive knowledge of emerging IT technologies and potential applications to improve County operations and efficiency
  • Knowledge of current state of industry hardware, software, networks, data, telecommunications, and cybersecurity
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, including public presentations, agenda items, and correspondence
  • Ability to identify, assess, and prioritize risks within a complex IT environment as well as develop and operate plans to manage these risks
  • Ability to effectively lead, develop, and evaluate direct reports; manage multiple priorities; and effectively monitor performance objectives
  • Ability to develop, prepare, and monitor complex budgets

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university with major coursework in Information Systems, Information Technology, Computer Programming, Computer Science, or a related field, and five (5) years progressively responsible administrative experience including three (3) years of supervisory experience in the information services management, systems design/architecture, data management, software applications development and support network design and management, project management, or professional IT, or any equivalent combination of related training and experience.

The target hiring range for the position is $130,000-$160,000. Alachua County offers a robust and progressive benefits package, including an Employee Health & Wellness Center which provides services at no cost to employees, retirees, and dependents enrolled in the county’s health insurance plan. Services include primary care, urgent care, and wellness services.

All employees participate in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) with a required 3% contribution which the county matches. Employees can elect the FRS Investment Plan with a one-year vesting schedule or the FRS Pension Plan with an eight-year vesting schedule. The county also offers elective Deferred Compensation (457) and ROTH IRA plans.

Apply online at www.GovHRjobs.com with a cover letter, resume, and contact information for five professional references by May 9, 2025. Confidential inquiries may be directed to Dele Lowman, MGT Senior Consultant, at (847) 380-3240 x141, or Don Carlsen, MGT Approved Independent Executive Recruiter, at (847) 380-3240 x152.

The State of Florida has strong public record laws. Candidates are advised to be aware that all aspects of this recruitment are open to public records requests throughout the process.