Director of Information Technology

Salary : $102,470.00 - $153,706.00 Annually

Location : Richland WA, WA

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 202200235

Department: Information Technology

Opening Date: 05/23/2025

Closing Date: Continuous

FLSA: Exempt

Nature of the Position

**FIRST REVIEW OF APPLICANTS: 5/30/2025**

Position Range: $102,470 - $153,706.

Hiring Range: $115,279 - $140897.

Most applicants' offers will fall within this hiring range based on qualifications, experience, and alignment with the role's needs.

OUR MISSION AND VALUES

Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) provides exceptional and cost-effective transportation services that consistently exceed customer expectations while promoting the principles and practices of livable communities and sustainable development. We value customer service, collaboration, diversity, fiscal accountability, innovation, sustainability, and safety. Employees and representatives of BFT are expected to uphold our values and mission.

NATURE OF POSITION

The Director of Information Technology will lead and modernize the technology strategy for Ben Franklin Transit, driving innovation through AI solutions, ensuring robust cybersecurity frameworks, enhancing transit technology systems, and managing strategic relationships with external IT partners. This leadership role ensures the agency's IT infrastructure supports safe, efficient, and sustainable public transportation throughout the region.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities/KSA

Develop and execute a forward-looking IT strategy aligned with the agency's mission and regional transportation goals.

Identify and implement emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), to optimize transit operations, maintenance, customer service, and planning.

Serve as the principal advisor to agency leadership on all IT initiatives, innovations, and risks.

Oversee implementation and modernization of operational technology, including Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), fare collection systems, fleet telematics, and real-time passenger information systems.

Lead integration of IT systems with regional and state transit partners, supporting seamless multimodal transportation.

Design and maintain a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, ensuring regulatory compliance (e.g., NIST, FTA guidelines).

Manage risk assessments, incident response planning, and vulnerability mitigation across all agency systems.

Champion the agency's data-driven culture by implementing AI-driven analytics platforms, predictive maintenance tools, and intelligent scheduling algorithms.

Oversee data governance, quality assurance, and ethical AI usage frameworks.

Lead the management of IT contracts and relationships with external IT partners, including software vendors, managed services providers, and cloud platforms.

Ensure SLAs, KPIs, and cost-effectiveness benchmarks are met.

Build and lead a high-performing IT team with skills in cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI, and transportation technology.

Develop and manage the department's annual budget and long-term capital improvement plans. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Strong knowledge of current and emerging technologies including AI/ML, IoT, cloud computing, and cybersecurity frameworks.

Demonstrated success managing enterprise-level IT systems in a mission-critical environment.

Excellent communication, strategic planning, and organizational leadership skills.

Ability to build relationships across departments and agencies and lead through influence and innovation. Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field required.

Master's degree or MBA preferred.

Minimum 10 years of progressive IT leadership experience, including 5 years in a senior management role.

Experience in a public transportation, government, or complex infrastructure organization strongly preferred.

Proven expertise in AI implementation, transit technology, cybersecurity, and vendor management. Other

Collaboration: Shares time and knowledge with others; adjusts priorities as circumstances dictate; follows through on commitments, accepts responsibility for actions, resolves interpersonal conflicts constructively.

Diversity: Demonstrates an awareness and respect of cultural and individual values. Treats all people with dignity, courtesy and respect.

Fiscal Accountability: Actively contributes to the productivity of the agency; demonstrates good stewardship of company time and resources; displays high standards of ethical conduct.

Customer Service: Anticipates the needs of internal and external customers; delivers quality work products and services within expected timeframes. Considers and responds appropriately to people in various situations.

Innovation: Considers new approaches to situations; encourages ideas and improvements.

Sustainability: Actively encourages environmental benefits and the conservation of natural resources.

Safety: Adheres to safety-related laws, regulations, standards, and practices; performs work in a safe manner; encourages and supports others to be safe while at work. BFT IS AN EEO EMPLOYER

The benefits listed below are those currently enjoyed by the full-time Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) Exempt Non-Represented employees. It is important to remember that over the course of time these benefits may change - they are not permanent.

Paid Holidays

8 per year

New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day.

Paid Time Off (PTO)

GL hours for regular, full-time, and part-time exempt employees shall accrue according to length of service at the rates indicated below: PTO hours accrue based upon the actual number of regular hours worked.

Accrual Rates:

Retirement Plan

All Ben Franklin Transit employees are members of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Ben Franklin Transit and the employee both contribute toward the plan. PERS provides regular retirement and disability retirement benefits. BFT employees also participate in the Social Security Program. Rates effective as of 9/1/2024. Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans

Ben Franklin Transit offers two voluntary retirement savings plans. The first option is through Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) and is a 457 self-funded plan. The second option is Administered by Mission Square Retirement and is also a 457 self-funded plan. You may enroll in both, one, or neither.

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Ben Franklin Transit offers Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance. BFT currently pays 95% of insurance premiums for the employee and 80% for their dependents.

HRA Veba

Ben Franklin Transit provides this employer funded health reimbursement arrangement that can be used for medical expenses.

Life Insurance

Ben Franklin Transit currently pays the entire premium for life insurance coverage ($35,000) for basic life and ($5,000) for accidental death and dismemberment. Employees may purchase Supplemental Life Insurance for employee, spouse and/or dependents through MetLife.

Long Term Disability

Ben Franklin Transit offers long-term disability for employees through WA Health Care Authority Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program.

Wellness Program

The Wellness Program has been established to encourage employee health and fitness, both at work and at home.

Employee Assistance

An Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) is provided by Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to assist you and your family members. Our EAP provides counseling and treatment in such areas as stress, drug and alcohol abuse and family counseling.

Other Benefits Offered

Flexible Spending Account (Pre-Tax Deduction for Medical/Dental and Day Care)

Aflac Supplemental Insurance

Tuition Assistance

Bereavement Leave

01

Please note that all answers must be truthful and supported by the contents in the application. Ben Franklin Transit will verify the validity of each answer. Please select "Yes" to acknowledge.

Yes

No

02

Do you have a valid Driver's License?

Yes

No

03

Please select the option that best describes your level of education.

Some High School

High School Diploma / G.E.D equivalent

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Master's Degree

04

How many years of relevant experience as it relates to the essential functions of this position do you have?

No experience

0-1 years experience

1-2 years experience

2-3 years experience

3-4 years experience

4-5 years experience

5-6 years experience

6-7 years experience

7-8 years experience

8-9 years experience

9 or more years experience

05

Describe your experience to support the years of experience you indicated in the question above. If no experience, please put N/A.

Required Question