The Surrey School District respectfully acknowledges that our schools reside on the traditional, unceded, and shared territories of Coast Salish peoples: The q̓íc̓əy̓ - Katzie, the q̓ʷa:n̓ƛ̓ən̓- Kwantlen and the SEMYOME - Semiahmoo First Nations, who have been stewards of this land since time immemorial.

Surrey Schools is the largest BC school district and the second-largest employer in Surrey. Surrey Schools provides quality education to over 82,000 students with 124 schools sites and a variety of other learning facilities, offering a broad range of innovative programs and services to support the learning of our students. The Surrey School District team of approximately 13,000 employees works tirelessly every day to ensure that children are getting the best start they can, providing the preparation to be our leaders of tomorrow.

Our Commitment:

Providing quality education extends beyond academic excellence; we are committed to creating and cultivating diverse, inclusive, and barrier-free environments for all applicants, employees, students, and their families.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Values:

Our identity, as Surrey Schools, is expressed in the shared values of openness, fairness and belonging and recognizes the importance of diversity of identity and thought. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We are committed to removing barriers and creating a workplace where everyone, regardless of their background, feels empowered to contribute their best.

Join us in our mission to provide the best start for children, preparing them to be the leaders of tomorrow. If you are passionate about education, diversity, and making a positive impact, we invite you to explore opportunities with Surrey Schools.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Secretary-Treasurer/CFO, the Executive Director, Information Technology (IT) is responsible for providing strategic leadership, management, and oversight of the school district’s IT systems and infrastructure. This position oversees the development and implementation of technology roadmaps, ensuring that technology is leveraged to support and enhance the educational experience, improve district operations, and ensure data integrity, security, and privacy. This encompasses solution development, enterprise architecture for data and systems, cyber security, infrastructure, IT operations, client services, telecommunication networks and associated systems.

Responsibilities

Leads the development, implementation, and assessment of technology roadmaps to support the school district’s vision and strategic plan and ensure IT capacity and capability to meet changing district needs.
Oversees the planning, deployment, and management of IT systems, including network infrastructure, software applications, hardware, and telecommunications. Ensures systems are designed, implemented, and integrated to achieve objectives, optimize investment, and enhance user experience.
Advises the senior leadership team on technology initiatives, trends, and best practices. Drives digital transformation initiatives and collaborates with education and business leaders to enhance teaching and learning and advance business processes.
Oversees the development and implementation of departmental plans and budgets, ensuring efficient allocation of IT resources and alignment with district priorities.
Ensures the IT department is structured and staffed to meet the evolving needs of the district. Provides departmental leadership and fosters a high-performance culture focused on service, teamwork, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
Ensures the reliability, security, and scalability of IT systems and compliance with relevant standards, regulations, and requirements.
Oversees the district’s data centers, cloud services, and IT support functions to ensure continuous availability and optimal performance.
Directs the management and delivery of information security capabilities to protect the district’s information assets including cybersecurity strategies and incident response, analytics, audit and compliance, and security operations.
Presents to the Board of Education, Executive Committee and school district leadership regarding strategic direction, services and standards, policies and procedures.
Leads change and fosters a culture of innovation by encouraging and facilitating the adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced analytics.
Builds relationships and leverages the expertise and contribution of internal and external partners to address technology needs and promote technology initiatives and innovation.
Ensures the effective implementation of IT governance structures and oversees policies, procedures, and departmental protocols.
Oversees the procurement and management of IT contracts, vendor relationships, and service agreements.
Represents the district in technology-related forums, conferences, and partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Business Administration, or related field; Master’s degree preferred. Fifteen years’ relevant leadership experience, preferably within a large and complex organization.
Certification in project management, process engineering, IT service management or software development is desirable.
Proven track record of developing and implementing successful IT strategies that drive organizational performance and innovation.
Experience leading large-scale, complex IT projects, including infrastructure upgrades, software implementations, and digital transformation initiatives.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Advanced strategic thinking and decision-making skills, with the ability to translate vision into actionable plans.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships and foster collaboration across diverse partner groups.
Strong leadership skills with a commitment to coaching and mentorship to develop an engaged, empowered, and forward-thinking team.
Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and belonging and building a caring and respectful workplace.
Exceptional project management and organizational skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and lead large-scale, complex initiatives.
Effective change leader with experience inspiring, guiding, and supporting individuals and teams through change.
Strong service orientation and commitment to enhancing user experience through innovation and continuous improvement.
Demonstrated ability to apply data-driven decision-making, business case development, and performance metrics to planning and evaluation.
Comprehensive knowledge of cloud-based architecture, DevOps practices, application development, and system integration strategies.
Expertise in data governance, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.
Understanding of emerging technologies, industry trends, and regulatory requirements, and their potential impacts.
Understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in K-12 education.
Acts with accountability, responsibility and transparency in the use of public funds.

What we're offering

Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Extended Medical, Vision and Dental.
- Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability.
- Employee Family Assistance Program.
- Municipal Pension.
13 Paid Holidays, plus Sick & Vacation Time. Supportive workplace with a positive and productive work environment. Feel a sense of security and safety to act, speak, and reflect who you are.

The salary range for this position is $199,656 to $221,840 per year with comprehensive benefits package and Municipal Pension.

Placement in the salary range is determined by an assessment of qualifications and ability to meet the key requirements of the job, and consideration of internal equity comparisons. The midpoint of the range represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications, and experience for the position.

Qualified applicants can apply by clicking the "apply" button to the right of the posting. The closing date for this position is August 6, 2025 at 4:00pm.

Surrey Schools recognizes the importance of accessibility and supporting the diverse needs of our community. If there is any accommodation you may require for your interview, whether related to accessibility or otherwise, please do not hesitate to advise and we will make every effort to meet your needs.

Note: Successful applicants will be required to consent to a Criminal Records Search prior to employment. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted. To all others, thank you for your interest.

School District #36 (Surrey)

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Executive Director, Information Technology