IT Director with strong Infrastructure/Security background to lead strategic direction, transform services, and execute plans to enhance support for a smal

Our client in Calgary is looking for a hands on IT Director with strong Infrastructure/Security background to lead strategic direction, transform services, and execute plans to enhance support for a small IT team.

This Director role requires the individual to be in Calgary and will be 100% onsite at clients SE location with flexibility

Must Haves:

• 10+ years of IS/IT experience, with experience in enterprise leadership, strategic direction, and experience providing operational oversight
• Must have a strong hands on background providing support in the following areas:Infrastructure, cloud, systems architecture, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology delivery
• Well versed with the MS Suite , SQL, Networking and Cloud platforms
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Systems Engineering, or equivalent.

In this role you will ensure systems, data, infrastructure, and support services are secure, reliable, scalable, and aligned with organizational strategy, operational needs, and growth objectives. Acting as a member of the senior leadership team, the Director contributes to organizational planning, decision‑making, and risk management beyond the Information Systems function.

You will establish enterprise governance for information systems, cybersecurity, data management, and technology services, while leading the delivery and continual improvement of operational IS services that enable staff productivity, scientific defensibility, and client delivery across Canada.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Provides support and guidance for team members, stakeholders and customers using a people first approach.
• Promotes a positive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture that fosters trust, respect, and inclusiveness.
• Provides leadership and direction in evaluating and selecting innovative technologies and methodologies to support the business operations and strategic initiatives.
• Fosters a continual improvement mindset across teams with a focus on increasing value and customer experience.
• Manages, coaches and mentors a diverse team of IT professionals - including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, professional development, prioritizing, and resolving problems.

Strategy and Planning

• Formulates long-term strategic plans for implementing innovative IS services and technologies.
• Develops and implements policies, procedures, and standards for the technology and client services, ensuring they align with companies strategic goals, objectives and policies.
• Develops governance processes related to core network services and enterprise-wide business systems.
• Develops business justifications and cost/benefit analyses for IS spending and initiatives.
• Establishes team goals, objectives, procedures, and key performance indictors (KPIs).
• Assesses, manages and communicate risks associated with IT and/or institutional & enterprise risks.
• Maintains strong awareness of emerging trends and best practices in technology services and recommends new strategies and initiatives to enhance capabilities.
• Collaborates with other departments and leaders to assess business processes, assist in building business cases for IS projects, address IT issues/opportunities, identifies emerging technologies, and assesses new approaches to services & support models.
• Leads or participates in contractor selection and contract negotiation for agreements such as software licensing, hardware procurement, IS development projects, and support services.
• Develops sound disaster preparedness and business continuity and recovery plans in cooperation with business operations.

Operational Management

• Directs and oversees provision of IT services, including service desk, technical support services and end-user computing and classroom technologies.
• Oversees negotiation and administration of vendor, outsourcer, and consultant contracts and service agreements.
• Develops, tracks and controls annual operating and capital budgets for purchasing, staffing and operations.
• Prepares regular status reports outlining project progress, resource utilization, budget status and other issues for presentation to the leadership team.
• Reviews performance of IS staff and services to determine operating costs, productivity levels, and continual service improvement opportunities.
• Benchmarks, analyzes, reports on and makes recommendations for the improvement of the IS infrastructure and systems.

Budgeting, Procurement & Vendor Management

• Manage IS budget (operational + capital), ensuring cost‑effective use of resources.
• Develop business cases and cost‑benefit analyses for technology investments.
• Negotiate contracts for major software, hardware, and cloud services.
• Optimize vendor performance and evaluate market alternatives for cost, innovation, and reliability.

Cybersecurity, Compliance & Risk Management

• Direct cybersecurity program, ensuring controls meet or exceed industry and regulatory expectations.
• Oversee threat monitoring, vulnerability management, security architecture, and incident response readiness.
• Ensure compliance with privacy legislation, data retention, access requirements, and internal/external audits.
• Build a culture of cybersecurity awareness