DEPUTY IT DIRECTOR - 79760

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is seeking a highly motivated and analytically driven professional to serve as its Deputy IT Director. The Deputy IT Director is a strategic leader responsible for supporting the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in overseeing the AOC’s technology strategy, infrastructure, and innovation initiatives. This role balances hands-on technical oversight with strategic leadership, operational management, and vendor oversight. This role supports with driving the delivery of IT Solutions including in-house development, service integration, and by overseeing all aspects of IT operations and vendor management. The Deputy Director will lead a team of IT professionals and work closely with other state IT resources and agencies to ensure the court system provides exceptional IT service delivery., Responsibilities will include (but not limited to) the following:

• Strategic Planning: Assisting the CTO in developing KPI’s and executing a comprehensive technology strategy and roadmap that aligns with the organization’s overall business goals.
• Operations Management: Oversee daily IT activities, including application support, helpdesk, end-user support, analytics, development, and telecommunications (including video).
• Team Leadership & Development: Leading and mentoring technology teams (approximately 12 people), establishing performance standards, and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Technical Troubleshooting: Serving as a point of escalation for complex technical challenges and coordinating between different technical teams and/or vendors (e.g., engineering, product owners, vendor) to find resolution.
• Vendor and Partnership Management: Manage relationships with technology vendors, ensure contract compliance, monitor vendor performance, and optimize technology investments.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate technology-related risks, including cybersecurity threats, and ensuring compliance with relevant state and federal regulations and security standards.
• Executive Collaboration: Partner with executive management and operational stakeholders to define business needs and translate them into effective technology solutions.
• Driving Innovation: Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and industry trends and assess their potential for operational efficiency and business impact.
• Infrastructure Management: Assist with the management and maintenance of the organization’s IT infrastructure, ensuring scalability, reliability, and security of systems.
• Process Improvement: Contributes to business process improvements and establishing best practices for software development, data management, and IT operations, often using methodologies like Agile or DevOps.
• Budget & Resource Allocation: Assisting with the planning and administration of the departmental budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources to meet strategic goals cost-effectively.

Qualifications/Education/Experience:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive IT leadership experience, with at least 3-5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Certifications are a plus: Professional IT certifications (e.g., CGEIT, ITIL, CSM, CISM).
• Proof of ability to manage and develop high-performing teams.
• Proof of analytical and problem-solving abilities.

The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) serves as a trusted resource to assist in improving the administration of justice and promoting con’dence in the judiciary. It is the administrative arm of the State’s judicial branch, one of the three fundamental divisions of Tennessee state government. The judicial branch provides an essential check on the legislative and executive branches through judicial review. The AOC supports the Tennessee Supreme Court, intermediate appellate courts, trial courts, and courts of limited jurisdiction by managing programs, resources, and operations that enable the courts to function efficiently.