Job Description

Job Title: Director of Technology

Reports To: CFO

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Department: Technology

Schedule: Full-time, 12 months

Position Summary:

The Director of Technology is responsible for providing the vision, leadership, planning, and management of

information and educational technology systems and services to advance the mission of The Alexander Dawson School. The Director of Technology collaborates closely with the Executive Leadership team to set and actualize the School’s strategic direction goals. By effectively managing and maintaining Dawson’s technology resources, the Director of Technology helps create an environment that fosters innovation, enhances learning experiences, and meets the diverse needs of faculty, staff, and students. The Director of Technology promotes a school culture of regular, enthusiastic, and responsible use of technology in instructional and administrative efforts. The Director of Technology supports an innovative classroom environment as a resource for educational technology initiatives. The School has a robust 1:1 laptop program and uses Finalsite as the school website, Canvas as the learning management system, and Blackbaud as the student information system. The redefinition of learning through the use of technology is a hallmark of the School’s modern learning program, and the Director of Technology will play a significant role in building upon the advancement of technology use as it embarks on new opportunities to fuse technology and learning. The ideal candidate is communicative, relationship-driven, and customer service-focused.

This position oversees two full-time systems administrators and one part-time technology support member. This position works in partnership with two educational technology integrators who report to the Director of Academic Innovation & Design and assist in overseeing the educational technology project team.

Shared Values & Competencies of Dawson Employees:

Alexander Dawson employees are academic leaders committed to modern learning. Our faculty are engaged and innovative collaborators. Those who see opportunities before problems, lead with questions, assume positive intentions, are professional and respectful in their relationships, and collaborate effectively with colleagues of varied backgrounds find success in this working environment. Additionally, this position seeks individuals who:

• Commit to shaping a just, inclusive community and understand how centering equity impacts all aspects of the job
• Adapt a nimble mindset when dealing with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events
• Act with intentionality, transparency, humility, and honesty
• Develop solutions when faced with problems, challenges, or dysfunctions and make decisions with resolve and empathy
• Communicate with empathy and clarity with multiple stakeholder groups
• Build trusting relationships and demonstrate teamwork through attentive listening and a commitment to collaboration
• Believe they can learn from others and lead with questions to gain perspective
• Act ethically, morally, and legally to maintain compliance with organizational policies

Essential Functions: The essential duties and responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:

Strategic Planning & Budgeting

• Address the diverse needs of The Alexander Dawson School and its constituents; assess needs and ensure an outstanding approach toward technology for academic and administrative functions; communicate proactively to solicit and identify new opportunities to develop value-added academic and business products and services
• Report clearly and regularly to stakeholders on progress toward objectives
• Develop justifications and cost/benefit analyses for technology spending and initiatives. Manage substantial departmental budget and annual and long-term budget initiatives
• Prepare and present information services plans, budgets, service-level data, objectives, and outcomes
• Collaborate with the Head of School, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Academic Officer to meet strategic technology goals

Information Systems

• Benchmark, analyze, report, and make recommendations to improve the School’s infrastructure and IT systems This includes managing the School’s network, servers, software applications, and user support systems
• Coordinate activities with technology vendors and negotiate contracts with the assistance of appropriate leadership
• Coordinate activities with and amongst vendors to ensure project and school success
• Provide direction and guidance to IT Staff and contractors who install, configure, manage, maintain, and troubleshoot associated systems and applications
• Collaborate with the Director of Safety & Security to develop, support, and implement comprehensive cyber security and cyber safety programs
• Ensure appropriate anti-virus, anti-spam, and web filtering solutions are implemented and maintained
• Keep web filter entries up to date by collaborating with the organizaion and reading up on trends
• Maintain security and privacy of information systems, communication lines, and equipment; conduct a semi-annual internal audit and annual external audit of network security

Academic Technology

• Support faculty in utilizing resources and facilitating opportunities for increased understanding of hardware, software, and educational technology strategies
• Contribute to the infusion of educational technology into classrooms, the library, and offices by providing highly motivated, full-time, professional leadership in all areas of technology planning and technology resource management
• Collaborate with the Director of Academic Innovation and Design to develop and implement a strategic vision for innovation, educational technology, instructional design, and cross-curricular PBL initiatives throughout the School 
• Co-lead the EdTech Task Force with identified faculty leads; serve on or oversee technology-related committees at the administrative, faculty and staff, and student levels
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support for the EdTech Ambassadors and others who support innovation and instructional technology initiatives 
• Inspire the technology team and the broader faculty community to model and support best practices in innovation, technology integration, and instructional design 
• Design, deliver, and manage major professional development and growth experiences for faculty in areas of technology integration and instructional design 
• Work with teams to integrate AI solutions into the learning process
• Help develop a culture of creative innovation to meet the dynamic and evolving needs of an excellent modern learning school

Professional Development and Leadership

• Remain current on technology advancements, emerging standards and regulations, and industry trends relevant to the School’s ongoing success. Stay abreast of major information technology initiatives across independent schools, incorporating them whenever they may further the School’s Mission
• Lead the School’s information technology staff by fostering a service-oriented, collaborative, and efficient environment
• Sustain relationships with vendors, third-party IT consultants, and managed service providers
• Meet with direct reports to determine department and professional goals
• Complete yearly performance evaluations for direct reports 
• Address ethical implications and compliance related to AI technologies
• Remain current on AI advancements and trends to evaluate new tools and vendors, and assist the School with following the appropriate standards and regulations
• Establish and maintain local, regional, and national partnerships and networks to support personal growth and program advancement

About The Alexander Dawson School

The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain is a coed, preschool to eighth-grade independent school located in the Summerlin area of Las Vegas, Nevada. Close to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and about twenty minutes from downtown Las Vegas, Dawson's Mission, Vision, Diversity Statement, and Core Beliefs are a reflection of the beautiful environment it calls home. A Stanford University Challenge Success School, Dawson has emerged as a beacon school where student voice is the fabric of the culture. Apply today:

Job Tags

Similar Jobs