DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Welcome to La Crosse County — Where Your Work Truly Matters Every day, our unique teams contribute to our vision of a community that is vibrant, safe, and resilient. Whether you're supporting families, safeguarding natural resources, maintaining infrastructure, or delivering essential services, your work here creates real impact for the people who live, work, and visit our county. What You’ll Gain by Joining Us • A Future You Can Count On: Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), one of the most respected pension programs in the nation. • Reliable, Affordable Coverage: Countywide insurance plans plus growing access to local, no-cost care options for everyday health needs. • Time Off That Works For You: You’ll have two dedicated banks of vacation and sick time, giving you the freedom to plan real downtime when you need it—and the peace of mind to take care of yourself when you’re under the weather. ◦ Start earning vacation and sick time your very first day ◦ Bank up to 2× your annual vacation accrual ◦ Build up to 150 sick days as a full time employee A Place Where Everyone Belongs We believe our workforce should reflect the community we serve. We’re committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging—because diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes for everyone. Overview FLSA: EXEMPT. This is an executive leadership position within the La Crosse County Information Technology Department, selected by and reporting directly to the County Administrator. The Information Technology Department consists of a multidisciplinary team responsible for infrastructure services, enterprise applications, and cybersecurity. The department includes approximately 27 full time staff members and operates through a functional management team of three managers and three supervisors who work collaboratively to deliver secure, reliable, and innovative technology solutions for all County departments. This role provides strategic leadership and vision, ensuring that technology plans and initiatives align effectively with the business needs of the County of La Crosse. The IT Director is responsible for developing and empowering a high performing team that delivers exceptional service to County leaders and staff. In addition, the role oversees and administers the Information Technology budget required to purchase, maintain, and support technology systems and emerging technology initiatives. Essential Leadership Functions Act with Integrity and Build Trust • Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions • Speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints • Actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives Drive for Results • Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes • Seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results • Hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring Develop Talent and Effective Teams • Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth • Provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential • Recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team Lead with Vision and Strategy • Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals • Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long-term objectives • Connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking • Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives • Adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment • Make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others Build and Maintain Effective Relationships • Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization • Influence others through coaching, consulting, and team-minded thinking • Develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service • Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community • Incorporate community perspectives into decision-making processes • Drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence • Show self-awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations • Seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks • Balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others Essential Job Functions Oversees and directs the activities of the Information Technology Department leaders and teams. Leads and defines Information Technology Vision and Strategic Plans for IT Systems and Business Departments Technology needs. Ensures IT Team and key systems have defined performance measurements. Oversees IT projects ensuring deadlines and business sponsors objectives and goals are being met. This includes assisting Project Leaders with acquiring resources and coordinating efforts through third-party contractors or consultants to deliver projects and systems according to plan. Leads IT team to research and stay current with new technology solutions and changes in the Information Technology field. Provides cost forecasting for all information technology activities, short and long-term. Holds team accountable for the management and oversite and coordinating compliancy, security and IT policies needed to conduct IT operations and IT activities. Prepares and presents reports and materials in oral and written form to keep County Administration and County Board informed of department's activities. Coordinates and submits annual budget for the department and the budget for Information Technology needs for the County offices and end users. Develops IT teams to foster and maintain good customer relationships. Responsible for hiring, supervision, training, motivation, evaluation, discipline, scheduling work design and activities within the department. Leads IT team to execute smooth delivery of IT services through a defined Service Model that delivers a high performing request fulfillment system. Leads IT team to oversee and coordinate vendor contracts and vendor relationships used to deliver IT solutions. Monitors and coordinates budget expenditures. Physical Requirements: This position primarily involves sedentary work at a desk, requiring the ability to sit for extended periods while using a computer and other office equipment. The role also requires occasional walking between County campus buildings to meet with departments, including navigating hallways, stairs, and outdoor pathways as needed. The employee must be able to lift and carry light items such as laptops or paperwork and maintain the physical ability to move throughout various work areas. This job description is not intended to encompass every job duty or responsibility but is only illustrative. This position is required to perform other duties as may be assigned or required. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Knowledge of the networks and software architectures needed for large-scale enterprise systems. In-depth knowledge of IT Project Management, Process Improvement and Gap Analysis methodologies. Knowledge of application and database designs for large-scale systems. Knowledge and ability to prepare, forecast and oversee the IT budget. Ability to understand and oversee accounting practices needed for the IT Department budget. Ability to create, develop, oversee, and implement IT policies and IT procedures. Ability to lead, develop, and motivate. Ability to review and assess staff performance and staff development. Ability to exercise initiative and independent judgment with no supervision. Ability to apply critical thinking and apply good judgement to all situations. Training, Experience and Other Requirements Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with a major emphasis in Computer Science, Management Information Systems, or closely related field. 10 years of IT experience with a minimum of 5 years at a senior IT level. System-wide experience with a large organization in enterprise-wide software and hardware systems. Experience leading large scale IT operations with multiple locations and extension enterprise-wide hardware and software systems. Proven effective management and leadership skills, as well as technical expertise, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. May consider other relevant combinations of education and experience that provide equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities. Equal Opportunity Employer We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Need an Accommodation? If you require a disability-related accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, reach out to Human Resources at — we're here to help. Ready to Apply? Submit your application through our online career site. Please double-check your materials before submitting them; complete applications help us move quickly and give every candidate fair consideration.