IT DIRECTOR

About The Role

Clayton Early Learning is seeking a transformational Director of Information Technology to lead its technology strategy and operations. This role is critical in driving innovation, strengthening cybersecurity, optimizing organizational workflows, and empowering teams with the right tools to succeed. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Director will balance visionary leadership with hands-on management to ensure Clayton's technology ecosystem is secure, resilient, user-centered, and future-ready. The right candidate will blend deep technical expertise with a service-oriented mindset and a passion for continuous improvement.

As Clayton grows, a key focus of this role will be leading network configuration and expansion efforts to support multiple sites, improve connectivity, and ensure high-performing, reliable systems across all locations.

Who We Are

Clayton Early Learning is a leading nonprofit dedicated to advancing early childhood education and improving family outcomes through high-quality programming, comprehensive research and evaluation, and community-driven initiatives. We directly serve over 500 children annually through our school, home-based programs, and community sites, while our external coaching, professional development, policy and advocacy, and quality assessment teams impact hundreds more educators and families across the state and nationally. As a proud member of the Educare Learning Network, we are deeply committed to the whole-child, whole-family approach, with high quality early childhood education as the foundation of our work. Our unique location on a 20-acre historic campus in Denver provides many opportunities to serve our families beyond the classroom and school walls.

We know that our future rests in the hands of the youngest generation and that the experiences of inclusion and belonging they have in early childhood make a lasting impression that remains well into their adult lives. Our team of almost 200 dedicated professionals works in a supportive environment of collaboration, innovation, and personal growth. The atmosphere is not just about work; it's about building a community where individuals are valued, supported, and empowered to reach their fullest potential. At Clayton, we believe that a great place to work isn't just about the job but the people who create success together.

What We Want You To Do

STRATEGIC AND TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

• Design and scale secure, high-performing network and systems infrastructure to support a growing multi-site organization with evolving staffing, programming, and service delivery needs.
• Build, maintain, and optimize a resilient hybrid environment leveraging Microsoft Azure and other modern cloud technologies.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement technologies that streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and align with organizational priorities.
• Guide technology-related change management initiatives, ensuring smooth adoption, staff training, and long-term sustainability of new systems.
• Manage IT security protocols, data governance, backups, recovery systems, and incident response planning.
• Analyze organizational data and technology usage to inform strategic planning, improve performance, and ensure systems are scalable and future-ready.
• Oversee IT budgeting, vendor partnerships, and procurement processes to ensure efficient, mission-aligned use of resources.
  
  

TEAM LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE

• Create and nurture a customer service-driven IT culture, delivering accessible, responsive, and user-centered support across the organization.
• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing IT team, promoting a culture of innovation, continuous learning, and accountability.
• Build strong relationships across departments, translating technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for staff at all levels.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Chief of Staff.
  
  

Essential Skills And Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of network configuration, monitoring, and scaling for growing organizations.
• Expertise in Microsoft Azure and cloud-based IT management.
• Strong understanding of tools that improve productivity, automate workflows, and enhance organizational collaboration.
• Deep commitment to customer service principles and creating positive user experiences.
• Proven success in leading change management initiatives related to new technology rollouts.
• Exceptional communication skills; able to make complex ideas accessible and actionable for non-technical audiences.
• Strategic thinker who also thrives in hands-on technical environments.
• Skilled in cybersecurity, compliance standards, and data privacy regulations relevant to education and nonprofits.
• Solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to anticipate future needs and adapt quickly.
  
  

Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. 

What You Must Have

• Minimum education: Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, systems management, or a related field is required. Relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a formal degree.
• Work experience: 4-5 years of progressively responsible experience in information technology, with a minimum of 3 years in a supervisor or leadership role. Experience in nonprofit or educational settings is strongly preferred.
• Special professional/job related requirements: Successful completion of a fingerprinted background check, PPD-TB test, and compliance with other regulatory requirements as applicable.
• Certifications (preferred but not required): Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP Enterprise), Azure Network Engineer, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Background Check: Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, including CBI/FBI fingerprinting. MVR and a national sex offender registry check
• Other: Driver's license, bilingual preferred
  
  

The Perks

• 16+ paid company holidays
• Accrued vacation time, starting at 10 days per year up to 30 days per year, based on years of service
• Paid sick time
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage
• Life, AD&D insurance
• Mental health support through our medical coverage and our employee assistance program (EAP)
• Long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) with 5% employer match after 1 year of employment
• FSA plans
• College 529 investment plans
• Identify theft and protection plans
  
  

Compensation

• $110,000k-$125,000k Annually
  
  

Clayton's Core Values: 

At Clayton Early Learning, we believe that our core values help to drive actions and create habits that allow our belief in the unlimited potential of young children to become a reality. We seek candidates who demonstrate our core values and are motivated by a values-driven environment.

• Collaboration builds trust and relationships and brings new ideas, skills, and knowledge to help us do better work.
• Community fosters belonging, resiliency, stability, and strength. We are committed to creating a caring, trauma-informed, professional community at Clayton and to being a positive member of the many communities we partner with and serve.
• Fun reduces stress, keeps us motivated, builds connections, and models for our children the joy that can come with learning and working together.
• Growth allows us to develop as professionals and to provide the best services we can to the children, families, and educators we serve.
• Stewardship enables us to have the greatest impact we can with the resources we have.
  
  

Clayton Early Learning is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of physical or mental disability, race, creed, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, marriage to a co-worker, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, legal off-duty conduct, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Salary: $110000 - $125000 per year

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