Director of IT

Position Description
The Director of Information Technology at ERT will serve as the primary owner of day-to-day IT operations and management within the company. This role will have a high degree of visibility throughout the organization including to the executive team, business units, and other corporate infrastructure teams. The Director of IT will report directly to the CFO and will serve as the internal liaison with outsourced managed service providers (MSPs), ensuring all IT services are delivered in alignment with contractual obligations, compliance requirements, and business objectives. The individual will also be responsible for the overall success of the IT function at ERT and will oversee MSP accountability, translate technical concepts and issues to executives, and handle internal IT escalation, project management, IT governance, and cybersecurity risk management. The position requires a strong mix of technical expertise, vendor management, governance, and executive reporting skills.

Key Responsibilities

Overall IT Functional Ownership: As the lead internal resource for IT at ERT, this role will be responsible for the overall success of the IT function - including:

• Team design, resourcing, vendor and technology selection and budgetary management.
• Inventorying IT-relevant scope and needs for a ~600 person organization, of which ~40-50 staff have company laptops (as opposed to government furnished equipment) and ensuring that the function is appropriately resourced internally and externally in a cost-effective manner.
• Designing functional charters and roles and responsibility constructs that match the enterprise needs at all points throughout the company's growth story.
• Advise executive leadership on risks, opportunities and issues within IT and regularly report on progress of projects / initiatives.
• Developing and executing on broader IT roadmaps and recommendations / best practice from MSP's, ERT's Board and other stakeholders.
• Implementing key IT initiatives and other requirements relevant to national security and defense end markets (i.e. CMMC, CUI protections, etc.).
• Driving AI adoption and other productivity enhancement workstreams across the organization, particularly within corporate infrastructure functions.
• Participating in due diligence and integration planning for M&A opportunities.

MSP Oversight & Accountability

• Serve as the primary liaison with MSP, ensuring service delivery aligns with contractual obligations and SLAs.
• Conduct regular service reviews and escalate issues as needed, including SLA non-compliance.
• Monitor and validate MSP's performance in endpoint detection, response actions, and follow-up; monthly phishing simulation campaigns and security awareness LMS programs.
• Analyze campaign results monthly (click rates, repeat offenders, departmental trends) and produce executive reports outlining risks and training gaps.
• Lead targeted remediation training for repeat offenders.
• Review vulnerability scan results, penetration testing schedules, and remediation progress.
• Enforce MSP's deliverables, including annual Security Risk Assessment reports.
• Collaborate with MSP and the executive team to develop and maintain the IT roadmap and IT budget.
• Lead monthly Account Manager and IT Advisor meetings.

Internal Support & Help Desk Escalation

• Act as the internal escalation point for IT-related issues to ensure timely resolution of day-to-day IT problems.
• Drive service improvement initiatives with MSP.
• Collaborate with department heads to assess and address technology needs.
• Pilot-test and roll out system updates after hours, mitigating user disruption.

Project Management & Systems Oversight

• Lead and coordinate technology projects (e.g., ERP upgrades, office moves, SaaS deployments).
• Maintain working knowledge of core business systems (Unanet, Microsoft 365, G Suite, cloud tools, etc.) to ensure performance and availability.
• Own IT onboarding/offboarding processes and manage system access controls.
• Manage and oversee the company's website, hosting, and related services.
  

IT Asset & Licensing Management

• Maintain accurate inventory of all company hardware and software licenses.
• Oversee procurement, lifecycle management, and decommissioning of IT assets.
• Manage vendor contracts, renewals, and identify cost optimization opportunities.
• Ensure each employee has appropriate equipment and licensing.

IT Governance, Strategy & Planning

• Align IT initiatives with company goals and compliance frameworks (SOX, SEC cybersecurity rules, etc.).
• Own IT SOX controls over user access and change management.
• Develop, maintain, and enforce IT policies and procedures (acceptable use, incident response, data retention, access control).
• Maintain a comprehensive IT roadmap.

Cybersecurity & Risk Management

• Partner with the vCISO and MSP to implement cybersecurity best practices.
• Monitor compliance with security protocols, including MFA enforcement, patching, and vulnerability management.
• Coordinate and support annual security risk assessments and drive remediation efforts.
• Review quarterly penetration test results (performed by MSP) and ensure remediation is completed.
• Manage IT's role in incident response and business continuity planning.
• Escalate security incidents promptly and appropriately.

Key Competencies

• Accountability: Holds MSPs and vendors to their obligations, ensuring measurable results.
• Leadership: Guides IT initiatives and projects while engaging cross-functional teams.
• Analytical Thinking: Identifies trends, risks, and training gaps from technical data.
• Communication: Provides clear executive-level reporting and Board-level presentations.
• Strategic Planning: Develops IT roadmaps aligned with corporate strategy and compliance.
  

Requirements

• 7+ years of IT management, governance, or MSP/vendor oversight experience
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft 365, cloud platforms, ERP systems, and IT infrastructure
• Experience with IT compliance frameworks (SOX, SEC rules, NIST, CMMC, HIPAA preferred)
• Proven ability to manage vendors, contracts, budgets, and IT roadmaps
• Strong analytical skills for reporting on security awareness and vulnerability metrics.
• Excellent communication and executive presentation skills.
• PMP, CISSP, CISM, or ITIL certification(s) preferred.
• Experience managing and securing IT systems that support national security missions requiring up to a Top Secret clearance level
• Active Secret clearance with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance; Active Top Secret clearance preferable.

Education
BS in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, or related field, equivalent.

Salary
The salary range for this role is $120,000 - $140,000/year. This range is a good faith estimate based on similar roles across the organization. ERT uses several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the position's scope and expected duties, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.

Benefits
All full-time employees are eligible to participate in our flexible benefits package, which includes:

• Medical, Rx, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• 11 Paid Federal Government Holidays
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Professional Membership Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Competitive compensation plan
• Discretionary variable incentive bonuses based on factors such as individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company's performance
• Publication and Conference Presentation Awards with bonuses

ERT is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and Equal Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.