An IT director is responsible for all aspects of a company’s information technology to ensure that it is secure and working efficiently. They oversee multiple different programs and teams in an effort to create a strong team. They have the ultimate decision power for which IT systems to use and how to manage risk.

This IT director job description covers multiple different aspects including their typical responsibilities and the skills needed to perform these responsibilities. The expected education and experience, as well as the working schedule, are reviewed. Finally, job and pay outlook are described.

What Does an IT Director Do?

IT directors manage all aspects of IT for a company at a high level. They do not frequently work on small aspects of IT. Rather, they make important decisions and set the strategic direction for the company. Based on the decisions and goals, they decide which IT systems to use.

IT director

The bare minimum education required is a bachelor’s degree. Many IT director job description postings call for someone who also has a master’s degree and several years of experience. IT directors can expect a pay between $82,360 and $208,000 dollars.

IT Director Job Description for Resume – Responsibilities

Virtually all of the responsibilities for an IT director are at a high level. They must make decisions and manage risk. The following responsibilities are just a general example of the duties performed by an IT director.

  • Establish the timeline for implementation of a new computer system.
  • Evaluate the functionality of existing systems and make decisions on improvements and upgrades.
  • Manage risk and security by creating safe networks while minimizing downtime to work systems.
  • Delegate and create efficient reporting structures between IT program heads and the IT director.
  • Communicate to the company when planned updates are made on IT systems.
  • Engage in professional development to keep current on latest technology trends.
  • Communicate with various vendors and try to get the best deal for the company.

IT Director Essential Skills

  • Interdisciplinary skills. An IT director needs to have expertise in many different fields. This includes business and sales as well as IT. Thus, being conversant in these different disciplines is essential.
  • Decision-making skills. The IT director will have final say on the implementation of computer systems. They must be able to use data in their decisions and justify the choices they made.
  • Flexibility skills. Working in technology means that the IT director needs to embrace change and devote significant time to learning new skills.
  • Leadership skills. A good leader is confident in their decisions and values the contribution of their team members. However, there is a fine line to walk between valuing the team and making sometimes controversial choices. An IT director needs to walk this line.

How to Become an IT Director

An IT director needs their bachelor’s degree in an information technology-related field. Many IT director job description (s) need someone who has a master’s degree and several years of experience. This is particularly true for large companies.

Education & Training Requirements

Typical majors for an IT director are computer science, information science, information systems, or software development. Many of these students will also minor or earn an additional certificate in business. Sometimes, a master’s degree in business administration is also a requirement for this position.

There are numerous different option IT certificates. While none of these are required, the right certificate can propel your career forward. Check out this resource to investigate 12 different IT certifications and choose the one that makes sense for your career.

Work Experience

Work experience is essential for IT directors. They need first-hand experience in many different IT areas to improve their ability to be the IT director. As a result, this helps connect the IT director to the people who work in IT and lets them know the day-to-day responsibilities of these professionals.

It is typical that an IT director needs 10 years of prior experience before assuming this rule. A smaller company may require less experience than that. Sometimes, an IT director can advance to the position of chief technology officer or chief information officer. This level requires several years of dedication and an excellent reputation in the field.

Work Schedules

Virtually all IT directors will work full-time. Overtime hours are normal, particularly when there is a problem with the system or when a project is due. Someone who has been in the field for a while will note that change happens much more frequently today than when IT started as a profession. The field has matured and now there are norms and expectations for IT directors.

Career Prospects

This is an extremely positive field with regard to the job growth. They can expect a 15 percent increase in positions until 2024. This is primarily due to everyone having a digital presence and needing someone to direct this aspect of the business. The industry that is expected to have the highest growth is healthcare.

An interesting transition in the field is a movement from internal IT departments to having a cloud company manager all IT infrastructure. This eliminates the need for IT to work in specific fields as these fields will outsource their IT needs to a central company.

These professionals can expect a nice salary. The median salary is $135,800 dollars with information and computer systems design having the highest overall salary in the field at $150,190 and $143,040 dollars.

Conclusion

Overall, an IT director job description emphasizes the importance of leadership, decision-making, and keeping current with trends. Someone who can do this and influence executive leadership will find success and steady career advancement. A similar position that entails strong leadership skills and a strategical mind in the technological industry is that of a CTO.