Information Technology Division Director (Austin)

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.

VETERANS:
Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications, and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf

HOW TO APPLY:
To be considered, please complete a State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at www.workintexas.com or on Taleo (Job Search). TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.