Director of Technology

Founded in Chicago in 1876, Sacred Heart Schools at Sheridan Road (Hardey Preparatory for Boys and Academy of the Sacred Heart for Girls) are independent, Catholic, single-gender elementary schools committed to academic excellence within the context of a Christian, faith-based community.  The educational mission is deeply rooted in the 200-year tradition of the Society of the Sacred Heart and shared with the Network of Sacred Heart Schools located in 30 countries, including 22 schools in the United States.  The essence of this tradition is the total development of each child: spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical. Our girls and boys are taught in single-gender classrooms but follow a similar curriculum and share in many activities.  With a total enrollment of approximately 700 students, the schools are organized into three academic divisions each led by a division head.

Principal Responsibilities:

1. Drive the ongoing development and evolution of the Schools’ technology vision and implementation in collaboration with the leadership team, various committees and key functional personnel.

2. Review resources and organization of technology team to promote a service-oriented culture

3. Lead the technology team including hiring, mentoring, developing, and retaining quality staff as needed

4. Evaluate and establish technology best practices, policies, and procedures across the school’s many departments, including IT planning and the budgeting process

5. Oversee and maintain a robust and secure network infrastructure that supports the integration of technology in the academic program, and throughout all areas of the Schools.  

6. Oversee and manage the growing number and use of devices for students and employees including the Schools’ 1:1 program and other strategic initiatives.

7. Manage and support the school’s student information system (Blackbaud)

8. Manage cyber-security and IT disaster recovery for the school

9. Serve as a trusted technology partner for key departments, including partnering with Communications to strengthen the school’s websites and digital communication tools

10. Ensure that IT systems, projects, and third-party vendors are managed successfully

11. Act as a liaison between business departments of the school, brokering consensus on technology planning solutions

12. Facilitate regular communication with the school community regarding technology plans, projects, policies, and procedures

13. Oversee telecommunications services for the school

14. Stay current in developments, materials, and community resources of educational technology.

15. Oversee research, purchasing, tracking and implementation of necessary IT hardware and software.  

16. Assist involved personnel with research and grant writing in the field of technology.

17. Develop the use of SHS Network website (Sofie.org) and other external use of networking capabilities.

18. Other duties as assigned by the Chief Financial Officer or Head of Schools.

Qualities & Qualifications:

1. A commitment to Sacred Heart’s mission and value

2. Demonstrated ability to think strategically and create vision, while executing effectively

3. Minimum of 5 years of experience leading the development, installation and maintenance of information systems, preferably in an education, non-profit, or public-sector environment.

4. Strong leader who actively promotes professional development and mentors the technology team to foster individual growth and align skillsets with the school’s needs

5. Extensive experience managing IT teams, with a proven track record of providing functional and progressive value to organizations through operational analysis, planning, service excellence and project integration management 

6. Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative work orientation, and proven performance results

7. Has integrity and is a consensus builder among staff, faculty, and students

8. Excellent organization, decision making, and project management skills and experience

9. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to effectively elicit information and convey technology content to technical and non-technical audiences 

10. Strong background in working with Microsoft platforms (server & workstation) and applications preferably in the education space