Division Director - IT Division

An exciting opportunity is available to join Gewalt Hamilton Associates (GHA), an employee-owned, multi-faceted civil engineering and land surveying company that has built a reputation of civil engineering with a personal approach. We are seeking a IT Division Director to join our growing IT team in Vernon Hills, IL.

How you will make an impact:

The Division Director will report to the President/COO and s responsible for the overall leadership, strategy, and day-to-day oversight of the firm’s information technology function across three locations and approximately 160 employees. This role will own the IT budget and multi-year roadmap; manage and optimize Managed Service Provider (MSP) and consultant relationships; oversee cybersecurity strategy and risk management; and ensure reliable, secure delivery of end-user services, infrastructure, and core business applications that support an engineering practice. The IT Director will also assess current capabilities and build an internal IT team as needed. This role is an exempt, salary, position. We offer a hybrid work environment. 

Responsibilities:

• Develop, maintain, and execute a multi-year IT strategy and roadmap aligned with firm goals, growth plans, and risk tolerance. 

• Establish IT governance practices, standards, and policies (e.g., access control, endpoint standards, patching, acceptable use) that balance security with usability. 

• Own the IT budget, including annual planning, forecasting, variance management, and cost optimization. 

• Evaluate the current IT spend and vendor commitments; identify opportunities to improve value, reduce risk, and control costs. 

• Manage software licensing and renewals (including Microsoft 365/Entra ID and engineering software such as Autodesk, Bentley, and Bluebeam), ensuring compliance and cost-effective utilization. 

• Evaluate current MSP relationships, service quality, SLAs, and contract alignment; recommend improvements, renegotiation, or provider changes as appropriate. 

• Manage third-party consultants and vendors, including selection, onboarding, performance management, and contract negotiation/renewals. 

• Own the firm’s cybersecurity strategy, roadmap, and operating model; oversee the contracts and implementations required to support that strategy. 

• Ensure reliable, secure operations of core platforms including Microsoft 365 and Entra ID, and other cloud services used by the firm. 

• Own backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning for critical systems and data. 

• Assess current IT operating model and determine the appropriate mix of internal staff, MSP services, and specialized consultants. 

Why GHA?

Join our dynamic team and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your personal and professional growth. We offer generous Paid Time Off (PTO), seven paid holidays, and additional floating holidays. New parents can take advantage of our Parental Leave, while our Educational Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement programs empower you to continue your education and advance your career. Our health and well-being are our priority, which is why we provide robust health insurance options, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with FSA and HSA spending accounts. Secure your future with our 401k Profit Sharing, Bonus Programs, and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). For added peace of mind, we offer Voluntary Life and AD&D insurance, Short-term and Long-term Disability coverage, and Legal insurance. With our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and much more, we are committed to supporting you every step of the way. Join us and be a part of a team that values and invests in you!

What you will bring to Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc.

Education:

• Must have a high school diploma or GED.

Experience:

• 7+ years of progressive IT experience, including leadership responsibility for vendors, budgets, and service delivery. 
• Valid Illinois Driver's License and registered insured personal vehicle.
• Experience in an engineering, AEC, or professional services environment supporting design/production workflows and related applications preferred.

• Familiarity with Autodesk, Bentley, and Bluebeam administration and licensing preferred.

• Experience overseeing VDI environments (e.g., Nutanix-based VDI) including capacity planning, performance management, and lifecycle planning with a service provider preferred.

• Working knowledge of modern endpoint management and security tooling (e.g., MDM/UEM, EDR/MDR), and security frameworks (e.g., NIST CSF) preferred.

• Service management and project delivery experience (e.g., ITIL-aligned practices, formal project management methodologies) is a plus.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated experience managing MSP relationships, contracts, SLAs, escalations, and measurable service improvements. 

• Experience developing IT budgets, forecasting costs, and presenting recommendations to executive leadership. 

• Strong understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals (identity and access management, endpoint security, vulnerability management, incident response) and experience leading security initiatives. 

• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 and Entra ID (identity, access, collaboration, and administration concepts). 

• Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical stakeholders and to translate business needs into prioritized work. 

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives in a distributed, multi-site environment. 

ADA SPECIFICATIONS
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be honored to enable individuals with different abilities to perform the essential functions.

• May require occasional bending and lifting up to 50 pounds.
• May require periodic travel up to 30%. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY:
GHA provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.