Director of Technology

Available Position:

Director of Technology

Department:

Operations

Reports to:

Chief Operations Officer

FLSA Classification:

Exempt (Salary)

Full/Part-time:

Full-time (12 months)

Date Posted:

October 3, 2022

Start Date:

July 1, 2023

About The Hockaday School:

The Hockaday School is an independent, college preparatory school for girls of strong potential and diverse backgrounds who may be expected to assume positions of responsibility and leadership in a rapidly changing world. With an enrollment of more than 1,100 students, The Hockaday School is the nation’s largest prekindergarten through grade 12 independent girls’ school. Ranked among the country’s finest college preparatory schools, it was founded over a century ago and continues today to build on its original Four Cornerstones: Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics.

Hockaday’s faculty are recognized as experienced leaders in their field and students in every grade benefit from outstanding faculty and access to unmatched resources.  Families who choose Hockaday care deeply about providing their daughters with a comprehensive and rigorous education, both inside and outside the classroom. Hockaday’s student body reflects the diversity that is deeply valued by the School. While most Hockaday families come from across the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, Hockaday students also come from across the United States and around the world.

Position Description:

We seek a creative and experienced school leader who possesses excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills; the ability to supervise people and manage programs; and will be a catalyst within the community to create a dynamic and forward-thinking learning environment for the exponentially changing world our students are already experiencing. The Director will be responsible for the technology infrastructure of The Hockaday School and will ensure that the infrastructure and systems effectively support an innovative academic program and the School’s daily operations. This individual will be responsible for implementing technology solutions for a 21st century learning environment, including the increased use of cloud computing and mobile technologies.  The Director must be able to forecast and manage several complex budgets.

The ideal candidate should be approachable and embrace a collaborative work environment. An understanding of Windows, MacOS, Cisco Networking environments, current network/server technologies, data backup strategies, and security issues is extremely important. The Director will represent the School locally and nationally and cultivate relationships with other key institutions, including other independent schools, ISAS, NAIS, NCGS, and One Schoolhouse.

Essential Functions:

• Under the supervision of the Chief Operations Officer, oversee all operations of the technology department, including the hiring, supervision, evaluation, and growth of all technology staff.
• Assess the effectiveness of, and lead efforts to improve, the School’s implementation of technology tools for instructional and operational purposes
• In partnership with the Division Directors, oversee integration the integration of technology into the curriculum and assist in the development and implementation of classes and integrated units in areas of technology skills, applied technology, computer science, and related topics.
• Manage the deployment of IT infrastructure, hardware, and systems
• Design, manage, and evaluate training and professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
• Establish and evaluate technology policies, procedures, and processes in areas such as: end-user support, data management, network access, and content filtering
• Ensure IT security, purchasing, risk management, disaster recovery and planning processes are in place and receive regular review for currency and adequacy
• Manage vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, third-party installation projects, and manage purchasing to equip the School’s programs
• Develop multi-year school technology plan and conduct periodic reviews
• Assume responsibility for budgetary oversight of all technology operations
• Represent Hockaday locally and nationally and speak at technology meetings and conferences
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is a minimum requirement, though a graduate degree in Computer Science is highly desirable
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience leading departments and supervising employees, preferably in an educational institution, and/or in a department of technology
• Experience with technology planning and management in one or more of the following areas: enterprise IT, network management, client services, data and systems management, and instructional technology and design
• Experience designing, implementing, and overseeing professional development
• Communication – e.g., Well-developed interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with all constituents in a school environment, including students, co-workers, parents, alumnae, volunteers, trustees, and the public
• Personal characteristics – e.g., Adaptability, honesty, self-reliance, teamwork, dependability, flexibility, willingness to listen and learn, work ethic, determination, persistence, problem-solving skills, loyalty, and congeniality are essential
• Must have the ability to work in a school environment through satisfactory completion of all legally required and School-required background and screening checks and verifications, including criminal and sex offender background checks.

Training:

• Participate in all requisite School trainings prior to the start of the school, and throughout the School year. 
• Attend required staff development and training sessions throughout the year
• Attend periodic in-service meetings
• Acknowledge receipt of the current Employee Handbook and are responsible for reviewing the contents and abiding by rules, policies and procedures stated in the Handbook or otherwise by the School
• Abide by Hockaday’s Code of Ethics and Conduct
• Commit to the ideals expressed in Hockaday’s Tenets of Staff Excellence

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Conditions/climate – Regularly works in standard office or classroom conditions and climate, occasionally works outdoors in varying weather conditions and climate
• Vision – Regularly uses close and distance vision, including working at a computer screen for extended periods of time; Ability to observe students from various distances
• Movement (or lack thereof) – Frequently required to move around the office/classroom; works at a desk for extended periods of time; occasionally positions oneself to work with small children on the floor; frequently moves around campus, ascends ladders, etc.
• Lifting – Ability to occasionally move items weighing up to 50 lbs. across the campus/classroom/office
• Mental – Sometimes works in a occasionally/highly stressful environment, effectively dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts with stamina to maintain attention to detail despite interruptions
• Flexibility – Ability to frequently work flexible hours to support before and after-school or weekend events
• Occasional prolonged and irregular hours; frequent standing, stooping, bending, kneeling, pushing and pulling; occasional lifting up to 50 pounds; prolonged use of computer and repetitive hand motions; work on call and after hours.
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with students, fellow staff and community members

Limitations and Disclaimer:

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.  This job description reflects administration’s assignment of essential functions; and nothing in this herein restricts administration’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Application Requirements:

Qualified candidates should complete an online application for employment under How To Apply at https://www.hockaday.org/about/employment and attach a cover letter and résumé. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application and additional details to complete the application process. Contact recruitment@hockaday.org with any questions.

The Hockaday School is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy not to discriminate, and to comply with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, or other applicable protected classification.