Director of Technology and Innovation - JOB ID# 14160

DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Since 1966, the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) has been dedicated to providing innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective educational programs and services to meet the diverse needs of children and adults in Greater Hartford. Serving 33 member districts and reaching additional communities statewide, CREC supports approximately 12,000 students annually through more than 120 educational programs. Our offerings include professional learning and coaching for educators, specialized programming for students with diverse needs, and PreK-12 education across 16 interdistrict magnet schools. Additionally, CREC provides school construction, operations, and cooperative business services, while also delivering programs that help adults build real, job-ready skills.

Position Summary: The Director of Technology and Innovation (DTI) serves as CREC's senior leader for technology, innovation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data systems, and digital transformation. Reporting to the Director of Operations, the DTI provides strategic vision and operational leadership for all technology systems and services across the agency while helping CREC identify and leverage emerging technologies that enhance educational services, organizational effectiveness, workforce productivity, and operational excellence

The DTI oversees the planning, implementation, management, security, and continuous improvement of CREC's enterprise technology environment, including infrastructure, networks, cybersecurity, cloud services, enterprise applications, data governance, customer support services, and technology-enabled innovation initiatives. The DTI works collaboratively with leaders across all divisions, schools, and programs to ensure technology investments align with CREC's mission, strategic priorities, and long-term organizational goals.

The DTI serves as a strategic advisor to agency leadership on technology, innovation, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and emerging trends, helping position CREC as a leader in educational innovation and technology-enabled service delivery.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all agency-wide technology operations, infrastructure, cybersecurity, enterprise systems, and customer support services.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive technology and innovation roadmap aligned with CREC's strategic priorities.
• Develop and maintain technology governance practices, disaster recovery plans, business continuity strategies, and cybersecurity protocols.
• Monitor and evaluate technology performance metrics and customer service outcomes to drive continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with agency leaders to identify technology needs and opportunities that support organizational goals and service delivery.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend emerging technologies and innovative solutions that advance CREC's mission.

Innovation, AI and Digital Transformation

• Develop and lead CREC's enterprise strategy for innovation, artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation.
• Identify opportunities to leverage AI and emerging technologies to improve efficiency, effectiveness, service delivery, decision-making, and educational outcomes.
• Partner with agency leaders to redesign workflows, modernize business processes, and improve productivity through technology-enabled solutions.
• Evaluate, pilot, and scale innovative technologies that create value for CREC and its member districts.
• Establish frameworks and practices that promote the ethical, responsible, secure, and effective use of artificial intelligence.
• Monitor developments in AI, automation, cybersecurity, data analytics, and emerging technologies and assess their implications for CREC.
• Serve as executive sponsor and strategic advisor to CREC's AI Ethics and Innovation Committee and related technology governance groups.
• Work collaboratively with committee members and agency leaders to translate recommendations into actionable implementation plans.
• Foster a culture of innovation, experimentation, and continuous learning across the organization.
• Identify opportunities to expand technology-enabled services and supports for member districts.