Cowlitz County Hiring for IT Operations Manager at Kelso,Washington Full Time

Under general direction, this position is responsible for: planning, organizing and managing day-to-day IT operations; overseeing IT projects as assigned, including vendor communication; overseeing all aspects of the data center; ensuring IT systems security and integrity; assisting in the recommendation, development, implementation, and support of IT solutions throughout the County; purchasing enterprise and department hardware, software, and ancillary IT items; maintaining documentation for system architecture and project progress/timelines; participating in fiscal, administrative, and personnel decision making; and performing related work as required and/or assigned.

Benefits Information:

Cowlitz County offers a generous benefits package which includes:

• Medical/Dental/Vision (includes dependent coverage)
• VEBA/Health Retirement Account for those who qualify
• Retirement through Washington State Public Employees Retirement System
• Life Insurance
• Deferred Compensation plans available (457b)
• Vacation, Bonus and Leave Days Paid
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Reasonable work hours

The County

Cowlitz County is a great place to live and work. Located along the Columbia River less than an hour from the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Cowlitz County provides an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities and easy access to the Arts. The I-5 corridor runs right through Cowlitz County providing quick access to the Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon metropolitan areas.

1. Oversee day-to-day IT operations for including monitoring project timelines, end-user needs, help desk review, procurement, and reporting.
2. Assign IT staff to appropriate daily projects and duties, and review project outcomes as measured against IT operational and strategic goals and initiatives.
3. Oversee, administer, and monitor IT security compliance (including, but not limited to, cybersecurity awareness, CJIS, HIPAA, and PCI) in accordance with adopted standards, policies and procedures.
4. Oversee the procurement, installation, life-cycle maintenance, and license management of IT hardware and software (including but not limited to: PCs, peripherals, servers, networking equipment, communications, operating systems and software).
5. Oversee all functions of the datacenter, including (but not limited to) servers, firewalls, backup and filter appliances, switches, routers, virtual environments, SANs, and Windows server and email environments.
6. Coordinate Information Technology operations at multiple county campuses/sites to promote maximum efficiency;
7. Coordinate systems installation, debugging and operational troubleshooting.
8. Develop means to test systems and solutions, including gathering and analyzing relevant data, and monitoring and adjusting systems for efficient use.
9. Assist with development of IT policies and procedures, annual IT Strategic and Operations Planning revisions (including the identification of viable metrics and performance measures for annual budget reporting), and training and employee development programs.
10. Coordinates the development and implementation of policies and procedures relating to new technology, information systems, changes in business process and/or regulations, and change management controls.
11. Participates in budget discussions and strategic development.
12. Develop, negotiate, and administer RFPs and contracts to acquire IT product solutions and services. Ensure vendor compliance with contractual requirements and product specifications.
13. Meet with end-users as necessary to discuss needs, instruct and train, and assist them in using system software and hardware efficiently and productively.
14. Respond to emergencies, system problems or maintenance situations as appropriate.
15. Conduct staff meetings as assigned, and attend other meetings as assigned/necessary.

Other Duties:

1. Perform other duties or projects as assigned by the Finance Director.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or related field, or a combination of education, experience, and training that would provide the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the functions of the job.
2. Five (5) years of experience as a Systems Administrator, Network Analyst or Network Engineer, or other higher classification.
3. Advanced proficiency in the administration of Microsoft Windows Server, and in administering hardware and virtual server environments.
4. Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
5. Successfully pass a full background investigation, including a fingerprint background check.

Required Skills and Abilities:

1. Interpersonal and customer service skills. Establish and maintain effective working relation with county employees and with those contracted in the course of work. Effectively deal and assist clients with limited knowledge of PC use and applications. Excellent communication skills to get information and ideas across a wide range and levels of client users.
2. Networking in a LAN/WAN environment, including strong skills in network security/cybersecurity, and working in virtual environments.
3. In-depth knowledge of VOIP telephony protocols.
4. Ability to handle confidential material.
5. Ability to maintain accurate records, reports, and documentation; and to create and present oral and written presentations.
6. Ability to work effectively in a teamwork environment, as well as able to work well independently.
7. Continue to upgrade and update relevant technical skills, and a willingness to share information and expertise among the team and clients.
8. Strong time management skills, and ability to perform work under time/date deadlines.
9. Analytical skills to assess and identify problems, and develop corrective action, and develop logical/effective solutions.
10. Ability to handle job stress and interact effectively with others in the workplace.