Court Director of Information Technology (Open and Promotional)

Position Overview

The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo is seeking a highly qualified candidate for the position of Court Information Technology Director. Located in Location: Redwood City, at the heart of Silicon Valley, this role offers an exceptional opportunity for an IT professional to help advance the Court's mission to provide equal access to justice while maintaining public trust and confidence. Working as a key member of the six-member Court executive team, the Director will provide strategic leadership and oversight of all technology functions to support judicial operations, administrative functions, public access, and security requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Strategic Planning – Develop and implement the Court’s multi-year IT strategic plan in alignment with judicial and administrative goals; provide leadership to IT staff in areas such as hiring, training, and performance management.
• Technology Operations & Infrastructure – Direct the design, implementation, and maintenance of Court IT systems, including servers, networks, storage, and cloud services, ensuring high availability and performance.
• Cybersecurity & Risk Management – Develop and enforce IT security policies, disaster recovery plans, and business continuity strategies; conduct risk assessments and coordinate incident response.
• Systems Administration & Application Management – Oversee installation, configuration, maintenance, and upgrades of applications while ensuring data integrity and compliance with vendor-supported systems.
• Project & Vendor Management – Plan and manage large-scale technology projects, coordinate with external vendors and county/state IT departments, and negotiate service agreements and contracts.
• Courtroom & Public Facing Technology – Oversee audiovisual systems, teleconferencing, remote-appearance platforms, and e-filing systems to ensure reliable public access and effective courtroom operations.
• Policy, Compliance, and Documentation – Develop IT policies, standards, and internal controls; prepare reports, technology assessments, and budget documents for executive leadership.
• Budget & Administrative Management – Develop and manage the Court’s technology budget and procurement processes to ensure efficient and cost-effective allocation of IT resources.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in information sciences, business, criminal justice, public administration, or a related discipline.
• Experience Required: Four years of increasingly responsible experience in information services management in a large, complex organization, including at least two years in a senior-level administrative or management position.
• Demonstrated expertise in technology governance, cybersecurity, systems administration, and project management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a Court environment is strongly preferred.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to drive technology transformation and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with executive leadership and communicate complex technical issues to non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong track record in managing large-scale technology implementations and vendor relationships.

Benefits & Perks

• Benefits: Comprehensive and competitive benefits package including fully paid medical, dental, and vision coverage; wellness and professional development programs; participation in Social Security and the CalPERS pension system with optional deferred compensation; generous leave programs with vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays; tuition reimbursement; and longevity pay.