Deputy Commissioner for Technology

Title: Deputy Commissioner for Technology

State Role Title: Info Technology Manager III

Hiring Range: Up to $250,000 (Commensurate with experience)

Pay Band: 8

Agency: Department of Social Services

Location: DSS HOME OFFICE

Agency Website: https://dss.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

At the Virginia Department of Social Services, we put people at the center of everything we do. We believe that every Virginian can live a life of dignity and that all voices, ideas and experiences contribute greatly to our pursuit of excellence. Inspired by continuous improvement, we commit ourselves to listening, learning and cultivating environments of trust, respect and positive engagement. Together, we are mission-driven, eager to achieve, and passionate about bringing the best of who we are to those we serve. We design and deliver high-quality human services that help Virginians achieve safety, independence and overall well-being. We are a $2 billion agency – one of the largest in the Commonwealth of Virginia – partnering with 120 local departments of social services and 31 community action agencies, along with faith-based and non-profit organizations, to promote the well-being of children, adults, and families statewide. We proudly serve alongside 1,650 (state) and 12,200 (local) human services professionals throughout the Social Services System, who ensure that thousands of Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens have easy access to the services and benefits available to them.

The Virginia Department of Social Services is excited to share that we are looking for a Deputy Commissioner For Technology to help join and lead our team!

Reporting to the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), the Deputy Commissioner for Technology (DCT) serves as the agency’s senior technology executive and principal advisor on enterprise technology strategy, operations, modernization, and innovation. The DCT provides visionary leadership and strategic operational direction for enterprise-wide Information Technology (IT) integration and transformation, ensuring that technology investments, services, and resources are aligned with the agency’s mission, organizational goals, and service delivery priorities.

The DCT directs and oversees all activities of the Technology Services Division (TSD), ensuring the secure, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective operation of the agency’s technology environment, including applications, infrastructure, cybersecurity, analytics, customer support, governance, procurement, and business enablement services. The DCT is responsible for both maintaining stable enterprise operations and advancing strategic modernization initiatives, including platform transformation, responsible AI adoption, enhanced digital service delivery, and workforce development to support the agency’s future technology needs.

The DCT develops and executes the agency’s enterprise technology roadmap and modernization strategy, leveraging emerging technologies and integrated solutions to improve internal operations, enhance customer-facing services, strengthen cybersecurity and data integrity, and support program innovation and service delivery outcomes. The DCT identifies and prioritizes technology initiatives, assesses technology needs, risks, and opportunities, and recommends innovative technology solutions that advance organizational effectiveness and operational excellence.

The DCT provides executive oversight and leadership for all TSD service areas, including IT Business Administration (asset management, budget, procurement, and vendor management), Service Center operations, Network and Infrastructure Operations, Cybersecurity, Enterprise Applications, Business System Enablement, Analytics, Governance, and Technology Innovation. The DCT ensures the effective management of technology assets, contracts, vendor relationships, budgets, and procurement activities, while monitoring performance, compliance, and service delivery outcomes.

The DCT serves as a member of the Executive Team and a trusted advisor to agency leadership, program offices, Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS), VITA, technology vendors, and other stakeholders, leading a unified technology organization that supports the Commissioner, Executive Team, program leadership, and 120 LDSS agencies across the Commonwealth. Through strong partnerships and technology leadership, the DCT drives innovation and modernization initiatives that align technology strategies and solutions with business and operational needs while supporting more than 13,000 users.

Minimum Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of enterprise information technology management, including infrastructure, networking, cloud services, user experience design, enterprise architecture, applications, data analytics, systems integration, and service delivery operations.
• Proven ability to lead IT organizations through transformative change, shifting from legacy systems and traditional processes to agile, data-driven operations powered by artificial intelligence machine learning and automation.
• Knowledge of IT governance frameworks, operational standards, and best practices, cybersecurity frameworks, disaster recovery, business continuity, risk management, and technology compliance requirements.

• • Extensive experience establishing and communicating an enterprise-level technology vision and strategic goals, while leading, coaching, and managing high-performing IT teams to successfully achieve organizational objectives.

• Extensive Information Technology knowledge and experience to include senior-level IT leadership roles, leading and managing large scale, complex teams, projects, budgets and cross-functional work plans.
• Experience fostering a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and adaptability to integrate AI tools that accelerate service delivery, enhance decision-making, and improve citizen outcomes; Aligning modernization efforts with organizational strategy, ensuring ethical AI adoption and sustainable workforce transition.
• Experience leading strategic technology planning, digital transformation, emerging technologies, modernization initiatives, and change management within large, complex organizations.
• Considerable experience leading project management teams and leveraging blended methodologies to accelerate project delivery.

Additional Considerations

• Experience with Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) project management standards, protocols, procedures and tools.
• Knowledge of Human Services programs and the operations of local departments of social services.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

The selected candidate is required to file a Statement of Economic Interests form pursuant to the Code of Virginia § 2.2-3114, as a condition of employment. The filing must be completed on or before the first day of employment and annually thereafter on or before February 1. The selected candidate is required to complete the Statement of Economic Interest training within 2-months of becoming a state filer and at least once during each consecutive period of two calendar years commencing on the first odd-numbered year thereafter. For more information, please visit http://ethics.dls.virginia.gov/.

Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. Employment verification will be conducted to include current/previous supervisory employment reference checks.

VDSS will record information from each new employee’s Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) into the Federal E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

This position may be eligible for telework opportunities; availability, hours, and duration will be in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Teleworking policy on a case-by-case basis.

Contact Information

Name: VDSS – Division of Human Resources

Phone: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov

Email: dssrecruitment@dss.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.