City of Allen, TexasDirector of Information Technology

The CommunityAllen, Texas is a vibrant, welcoming and family-friendly community offering big-city amenities with a small-town feel. Located just 25 miles north of Dallas, Allen is conveniently situated along US Highway 75 within close proximity to two major airports, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field. Allen’s 94,000 residents enjoy abundant employment opportunities, world-class entertainment, unique cultural experiences and nationally-recognized recreation amenities. Its convenient location and high quality of life helped Allen earn a spot in Family Circle magazine’s “10 Best Towns for Families” and Money Magazine’s “100 Best Places to Live.”

Allen provides exceptional educational opportunities for all ages. The Allen Independent School District serves more than 20,000 students in Pre-K through 12th grade. The district operates 17 elementary schools, three middle schools, one freshman center and one high school. Allen ISD boasts a 98.5% graduation rate and meets state accountability ratings at every campus. Sixteen of the Allen ISD schools have earned at least one “Distinction Designation” from the State of Texas. Students seeking higher education can access 28 colleges and universities in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, including Southern Methodist University, University of North Texas, University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Woman’s University.

Allen offers nearly 800 acres of developed park land featuring 50 miles of hiking and nature trails, a skate park, spray ground and two golf courses. Adventure-seekers have access to one of the state’s best wakeboard parks, while nature lovers can explore the Connemara Meadow Preserve or Allen’s Old Stone Dam—a state archeological landmark. History buffs will learn about Allen’s railroad and farming heritage at the recently-renovated Allen Heritage Village.

Three major retail centers make Allen a regional shopping destination. Watters Creek at Montgomery Farms offers retail shops, office space, residential lofts and restaurants with al fresco dining and water views. Allen Premium Outlets is home to more than 100 designer stores with an expansion underway to add 30 more. The Village at Allen features distinctive shops and many of the city’s 200+ restaurants. Outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy the massive Cabela’s, featuring a giant indoor aquarium and wildlife dioramas.

City of Allen, TexasDirector of Information Technology

The Community, continued Allen is home to one of the region’s best venues for sports and entertainment. Allen Event Center offers a packed schedule of concerts, live performances, conventions and athletic tournaments. It also hosts home games for the Allen Americans hockey team, Texas Revolution indoor football team and Dallas Sidekicks soccer team. Sports fans can also enjoy high school football games at Allen Eagle Stadium, one of the biggest high school football venues in the nation. The region is represented by a range of professional sports teams, including the Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.

Government & OrganizationAllen is a home rule city operating under a council-manager form of government. This system combines represented democracy by elected officials with a city manager who is professionally trained and educated to maintain the day-to-day operations of the city. The Allen City Council is comprised of a mayor and six city council members who are elected at-large and serve three-year, staggered terms. In additional to strategic planning and annual budget approval, the city council sets policy, enacts ordinances establishing municipal law and regulates zoning and development.

Mayor Stephen Terrell has served the community for 20 years. The average tenure of the city’s pro-business city council members is approximately eight years. City Manager Peter Vargas has served since 1999.

While stable politically and organizationally, Allen is still experiencing growth in its population and City-owned capital assets. A full range of municipal services is funded by a FY 2015-2016 budget of $199.3 million, driven in part by an ad valorem tax rate of $0.0530 per $100 of assessed value. The city’s nearly 800 employees maintain high standards of performance, accountability and service to its citizens, supported by a positive organizational culture which reinforces Allen’s core values of P.R.I.D.E.

About the DepartmentAllen’s Information Technology (IT) Department operates with a staff of 19 and an annual budget of $3.9 million. The IT Department is responsible for planning and maintaining the City’s technology systems, including ensuring the security and integrity of 147 servers on the City-wide network. The department also provides support services to 13 departments in 20 facilities, connected by 15 miles of fiber. IT staff offers centralized support to the City’s emergency services dispatching systems and the Geographic Information System (GIS), which integrates hardware and software data for capturing, managing, analyzing and displaying all forms of geographically-referenced information.

Council’s Strategic Goals

1. Enhance Livability & Safety

2. Cultivate Regional Partnerships

3. Improve Regional Transportation & Mobility

4. Enhance & Communicate Allen’s Identity

5. Systematically Invest in Allen’s Infrastructure

6. Improve Operational Excellence

7. Increase Economic Investment

8. Conserve Water Resources

City of Allen, TexasDirector of Information Technology

Leadership and InnovationThe next IT Director will guide the department through ongoing review and implementation of the IT Strategic Plan. Allen’s first Five Year IT Strategic Plan was developed in 2006, providing a road map for planning future technology. The plan was updated in 2012 and many of the identified goals have been completed. Current goals include:

• The ongoing implementation of Tyler Technologies ERP software for Allen’s primary line of business

• The implementation of a new Public Safety CAD/RMS system and mobile technology systems

• The ongoing City-wide replacement of PCs and migration to Office 365 for the organization’s end users

• The ongoing review, development and implementation of the City’s next Five Year IT Strategic Plan

• The planning and management of IT support during a variety of new capital projects

• The continued, creative management of IT resources to achieve operational success

• The continued building of an IT culture that pursues innovative technologies while seeking the best value for the City and its taxpayers

Ideal CandidateThe City is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking IT professional to lead this high-performing department. The ideal candidate must show exceptional customer service skills and foster a spirit of collaboration within the department and the organization. The candidate must demonstrate flexibility, with a willingness to adjust quickly to changing circumstances and priorities. Exceptional communication skills--including speaking, writing, listening and presenting—are a must.

The candidate should be knowledgeable of current technology trends, proposing well-researched options and alternatives to improve business operations. The candidate must have a proven record of analytical reasoning, offering the appropriate facts and figures when advocating for a new technology or business practice. Emotional intelligence and diplomacy will be key to this candidate’s success. The candidate should delegate tasks with authority and clarity, encouraging the department to continuously improve performance and customer service. Because of the City’s high customer service standards, the director may be required to provide hands-on assistance during unforeseen circumstances, even if they occur outside normal business hours.

Education and ExperienceThe selected candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business information systems, computer science, information technology or a related field. The candidate must also have seven years of progressively responsible management experience in the information technology industry including three years of experience in managing and/or directing an Information Technology operation.

City’sCore Values

People First

Respect

Integrity

Deliver

Excel

City of Allen, TexasDirector of Information Technology

Compensation & BenefitsThe City of Allen offers a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. The City participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) at a mandatory employee deposit rate of 7% and a municipal matching ratio of 2:1. A full range of leave and insurance benefits are also provided, including a 457 deferred compensation plan and a flexible spending account.

Application ProcessPlease apply online at: bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches

To view the status of this position, please visit: bit.ly/SGRCurrentSearches

Mark Boynton, Senior Vice PresidentStrategic Government ResourcesMarkBoynton@GovernmentResource.com480-292-0116

The City of Allen is Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check.

ResourcesCity of Allenhttp://www.cityofallen.org/

Allen/Fairview Chamber of Commercehttp://www.allenfairviewchamber.com/

Allen’s Visitor and Convention Bureauhttp://visitallentexas.com

Allen’s Economic Development Corporationhttp://allentx.com

Allen Event Centerwww.alleneventcenter.com

City of Allen on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/CityofAllen

City of Allen on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/cityofallentx

AllenCityTV (YouTube)https://www.youtube.com/user/AllenCityTV