OVERVIEW:
For over 50 years, this dynamic multi-disciplinary design firm has been recognized internationally for contributions to the built environment through their unwavering commitment to design excellence, creativity, and client service. The firm promotes a unique method of interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging its diverse resources across multiple markets and geographies. The firm’s portfolio includes international award-winning projects and consistently ranks in the top largest Architecture, Engineering and Interior Design firms in the U.S.. Market expertise includes Higher Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Civic + Government, Cultural, Institutional, Commercial, Aviation and Science + Technology. Given the firm’s continued growth and success they are seeking to identify a Global IT Director for their Chicago office.

ROLE:
The Global IT Director is responsible for the overall planning, organizing, and execution of IT functions for all firm-wide systems. This includes the exploration and implementation of emerging tools and methods, while successfully directing and supporting existing IT operations and staff to meet organizational requirements. S/he will have exceptional leadership skills, the ability to work creatively and collaboratively across multiple disciplines, strong project management skills at all scales, and an in-depth knowledge of both current and emerging technologies.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work across all offices with IT Managers and the CIO to ensure efficient operations and services to staff and offices.
• Analyze complex business needs presented by the CIO or other internal organizations and recommend technical solutions.
• Develop and oversee corporate IT technology roadmap and strategy.
• Ensure the consistency and maintainability of existing applications by creating, maintaining, and enforcing standards and procedures for implementing technical solutions.
• Develop requirements, outlines, budgets, and schedules for projects.
• Oversee all phases of project from conception to completion, ensuring projects are completed within budget and on time.
• Follow PMI standards to manage projects through the project lifecycles of initiation, planning, execution and closure.
• Assemble risk management plans and work effort documents.
• Utilize in-depth technical knowledge and business requirements to design and implement secure solutions to meet customer and client needs while protecting the corporation's assets.
• Develop security standards, procedures, and guidelines for multiple platforms and IT operations
• Provide daily oversight and management of the corporate IT budget.
• Coordinate adequate system documentation, as well as disaster recovery and business continuity plans for primary services.
• Review all designs, solutions and project test plans where applicable.
• Approve all business requirements prior to the technical solution. Lead and/or participate on all hardware and software evaluations and maintain vendor contracts and negotiations.
• Direct IT education programs for staff.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of IT KPI reporting.
• Perform salary administration, conduct staff reviews and make recommendations for new hires, consultants and/or replacement personnel.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field or related experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience within information technology.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience managing staff.
• Experience in the most current technologies and products used.
• Strong ability to manage staff and projects.
• Working knowledge of engineering systems and the ability to understand and communicate with professionals of other disciplines.
• Demonstrates good communication and interpersonal skills with team members, consultants and clients.
• Understanding of a broad range of technologies at a business process/impact level including systems for enterprise work process, mobility, data management and cloud-based computing, including Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server.