Senior Director of Technology & Data Systems

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Technology & Data Systems serves as the organizations executive technology leader and is responsible for developing and executing PCC Community Wellness Centers technology strategy in support of organizational growth, operational excellence, quality patient care, cybersecurity, and data-driven decision making.

This position provides strategic and operational oversight of all information technology systems, enterprise applications, electronic health records (Athenahealth), clinical applications, data analytics, cybersecurity, infrastructure, telecommunications, vendor partnerships, and technology innovation across multiple health center locations.

The Senior Director partners closely with Executive Leadership, Clinical Operations, Revenue Cycle, Finance, Human Resources, Compliance, Quality, and Population Health to ensure technology investments support PCCs mission as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), while maintaining compliance with HRSA, HIPAA, HITECH, Joint Commission, FTCA, and other regulatory requirements.

This is a hybrid leadership position requiring a regular on-site presence (minimum three to four days per week) to support clinical operations, technology initiatives, executive collaboration, and staff engagement across PCC Community Wellness Centers multiple locations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Technology Strategy & Executive Leadership

• Develop and execute PCCs multi-year technology roadmap aligned with organizational strategic goals.
• Serve as the organizations senior technology advisor to the Executive Leadership Team.
• Recommend emerging technologies that improve patient care, operational efficiency, provider experience, and financial performance.
• Lead digital transformation initiatives across all PCC locations.
• Present technology initiatives, budgets, and strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
• Develop technology governance standards and enterprise technology policies.

Information Technology Operations

• Direct all IT operations including infrastructure, networks, telecommunications, end-user support, cloud technologies, hardware, software, printing, wireless connectivity, and disaster recovery.
• Oversee PCCs Managed IT Services vendor and serve as the executive liaison for all contracted technology services.
• Establish IT service level expectations and monitor vendor performance.
• Oversee system uptime, business continuity, disaster recovery testing, and operational resilience.
• Direct technology support for new clinic openings, expansions, renovations, and organizational growth.

Enterprise Applications & Clinical Systems

• Provide executive oversight of Athenahealth and all enterprise clinical applications.
• Lead optimization of EHR workflows, templates, interfaces, clinical decision support, and provider efficiency initiatives.
• Oversee clinical application analysts and EHR support staff.
• Ensure effective integration of laboratory, radiology, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, HIE, immunization registry, and other third-party interfaces.
• Partner with clinical leadership to improve provider workflow and patient experience through technology.

Data Analytics & Business Intelligence

• Develop enterprise data governance standards.
• Lead development of organizational dashboards, KPI reporting, and executive analytics.
• Partner with Finance, Quality, Population Health, and Revenue Cycle to improve reporting capabilities.
• Ensure data integrity across enterprise systems.
• Support UDS reporting, HRSA reporting, quality measures, value-based care initiatives, and operational analytics.
• Oversee business intelligence platforms and reporting tools.

Cybersecurity & Information Security

• Lead PCCs cybersecurity program.
• Develop and maintain cybersecurity policies, risk management strategies, and incident response procedures.
• Conduct annual security risk assessments.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA Security Rule requirements.
• Oversee vulnerability management, penetration testing, endpoint security, multi-factor authentication, identity management, and disaster recovery planning.
• Partner with Compliance on privacy investigations and security incidents.

Vendor & Contract Management

• Lead all technology vendor relationships.
• Negotiate contracts, licensing agreements, renewals, and service level agreements.
• Evaluate vendor performance and technology investments.
• Manage software licensing and hardware lifecycle planning.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the annual IT operating and capital budgets.
• Forecast technology expenditures.
• Evaluate ROI on technology investments.
• Identify opportunities for operational efficiencies and cost savings.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate IT and Clinical Applications staff.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, and customer service.
• Conduct regular team meetings and professional development activities.
• Establish departmental goals and performance metrics.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure technology compliance with: HIPAA, HITECH, HRSA, Joint Commission, FTCA, CMS, Illinois Department of Public Health, cybersecurity best practices and support both internal/external audits.
• Develop and maintain IT policies and procedures.

Innovation & Emerging Technologies

• Evaluate and implement AI solutions that improve operational efficiency while maintaining regulatory compliance.
• Identify automation opportunities across clinical and administrative workflows.
• Lead enterprise system upgrades and modernization initiatives.
• Explore interoperability opportunities through APIs, FHIR, and healthcare data exchange.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in executive committees and organizational leadership meetings.
• Serve as technology lead during emergency preparedness and business continuity events.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional Essential Responsibilities

Technology Strategy & Innovation

• Develop and execute PCCs enterprise technology strategy aligned with organizational goals, clinical operations, and future growth.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), automation, cloud solutions, and digital health tools to improve operational efficiency and patient care.
• Develop technology roadmaps and multi-year capital plans that support organizational priorities.
• Partner with executive leadership to identify technology opportunities that improve quality, access, patient engagement, and workforce productivity.
• Lead organizational technology governance and establish standards for technology adoption and lifecycle management.

Technology Operations & Troubleshooting

• Provide executive oversight of all technology operations, ensuring timely resolution of critical infrastructure, network, hardware, software, and application issues.
• Establish IT service standards, escalation procedures, and performance metrics to ensure exceptional customer service.
• Oversee enterprise help desk operations and ensure timely resolution of technology incidents.
• Direct root cause analysis for recurring technology issues and implement long-term corrective solutions.
• Ensure high system availability, reliability, and business continuity across all PCC locations.

Enterprise Systems, Data Architecture & Integration

• Develop and oversee PCCs enterprise data architecture to ensure secure, scalable, and efficient management of organizational data.
• Establish data governance standards, including data quality, integrity, accessibility, retention, and security.
• Oversee system integrations between Athenahealth, HRIS, phone systems, financial systems, laboratory interfaces, imaging, dental applications, business intelligence platforms, and other enterprise applications.
• Lead interoperability initiatives utilizing APIs, HL7, FHIR, and health information exchange (HIE) technologies.
• Ensure organizational reporting infrastructure supports operational, financial, quality, compliance, and executive reporting needs.
• Partner with clinical and operational leaders to optimize workflows through technology and data integration.

Technology Impact & Change Management

• Evaluate the operational, financial, and clinical impact of technology initiatives before implementation.
• Lead organizational change management efforts related to new technology implementations and major system upgrades.
• Assess business risks associated with technology changes and develop mitigation strategies.
• Measure adoption, user satisfaction, and organizational outcomes following technology deployments.
• Develop communication and training strategies to support successful implementation of new technologies.

Telecommunications & Unified Communications

• Provide executive oversight of PCCs enterprise telecommunications environment, including VoIP phone systems, contact center technologies, mobile devices, messaging platforms, and unified communications.
• Ensure reliable communication systems that support patient access, clinical operations, and business continuity.
• Evaluate opportunities to improve patient communication technologies, including call routing, appointment reminders, text messaging, and patient engagement platforms.
• Manage vendor relationships and contracts related to telecommunications infrastructure.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Healthcare Informatics, or related field required.
• Master's degree in information systems, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related discipline preferred.

Experience

• 8-10 years of progressive Information Technology leadership experience.
• Minimum 5 years leading technology teams in healthcare.
• FQHC, hospital, or ambulatory healthcare experience strongly preferred.
• Experience overseeing enterprise EHR platforms (Athenahealth preferred).
• Experience managing Managed Service Providers (MSPs).
• Experience leading cybersecurity initiatives.
• Experience managing technology budgets exceeding $1 million preferred.
• Experience leading multi-site healthcare technology operations.

Preferred Certifications

• CHCIO, CHISL, PMP, CISSP, CISM, CompTIA Security+, Microsoft certifications, ITIL Foundation

Knowledge & Skills

• Healthcare information systems
• Population health technologies
• Revenue cycle systems
• Clinical workflows
• Data governance
• Business intelligence
• Microsoft 365
• Azure/Cloud technologies
• Networking
• Virtualization
• Cybersecurity
• Vendor management
• Project management
• Budget management
• Strategic planning
• Executive communication
• Change management
• Healthcare regulatory compliance

Physical Requirements

Requires in office presence with periodic travel between PCC locations. Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 pounds and operate standard office equipment.