Cary is a thriving community in the heart of the Triangle area of North Carolina, between Raleigh and the renowned Research Triangle Park. The Triangle area has repeatedly ranked among the top regions in the country to live or work, to find a home or start a business, to raise a family or retire.
Cary's accolades are numerous. Money Magazine previously named Cary, N.C. the hottest town in the East and one of the Best Small Cities in America. CNN Money ranked the Town one of the best cities to launch a startup company, and Forbes named it the fourth best city for job growth. The Raleigh-Cary MSA has been recognized as one of the top places in the country creating tech jobs, according to Forbes.
On the whole, Caryites are a hard-working group with one of the highest median household incomes in the state. And being no further than 20 minutes from major universities such as Duke, North Carolina State, and the University of North Carolina, it's no wonder that education is an important part of Cary life. More than two-thirds of adults hold a college degree. About 97 percent of citizens have access to the Internet in this, the Technology Town of North Carolina.
CARY COMMUNITY
Cary, North Carolina, is a thriving, forward-looking, and diverse community nationally recognized for its exceptional quality of life and top-tier municipal services. More than 190,000 residents within 61 square miles call Cary home, making it the seventh-largest municipality in North Carolina.
Conveniently located between Raleigh, the state capital, and Research Triangle Park, the largest research and technology hub in the United States, Cary offers unparalleled access to innovation, education, and opportunity. Within a two-hour drive, residents enjoy both the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains and the pristine beaches of the Atlantic coast.
Cary maintains a sound financial foundation and high-quality services thanks to prudent planning and conservative fiscal management. The town holds an AAA credit rating from all major rating agencies, reflecting its strong fiscal health, stable tax rates, and capacity for strategic investment.
Cary consistently out performs national averages in home values, job creation, household income, and population growth. The community benefits from an educated workforce, excellent public schools, universities, major healthcare facilities, and a strong regional economy.
The community also benefits from being part of one of the nation’s most dynamic technology regions, home to global companies such as SAS, IBM, and Lenovo, as well as leading universities including North Carolina State University, Duke University, and the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill. This unique ecosystem strengthens Cary’s ability to attract talent, build partnerships, and remain at the forefront of technological advancement.
Cary is also recognized as a leader in innovation and technology. Guided by the Cary 2040 Imagine Cary Community Plan, the town strategically invests in smart- city initiatives and digital infrastructure to enhance quality of life for residents.
Through its Smart and Connected Communities Program, Cary uses data and technology to enhance services like traffic management, environmental monitoring, and public safety. The Town also partners with leading organizations to expand its digital infrastructure and deliver award-winning projects such as the sensor networks in the Downtown Cary Park.
With its vibrant community, commitment to innovation, and unparalleled quality of life, Cary offers residents and leaders alike the opportunity to work and live inspired.
CARY GOVERNANCE
Guided by the vision and values of the 2040 Imagine Cary Community Plan, Cary is known for its long-standing commitment to operational excellence and innovation in local government. Every day, we work to enrich lives by creating exceptional experiences and delivering services that help our community thrive and prosper. Our success is built on strong partnerships between citizens, council, staff, and businesses, who all have a shared belief that local government can be a trusted, forward-thinking partner.
At Cary, we don’t just follow best practices, we set them. We lead with professionalism, collaboration, and a mindset of continuous improvement. We embrace change, challenge assumptions, and learn as we go. When we succeed, our community sees a government that listens, adapts, and delivers.
Cary’s culture of collaboration and innovation, known as “OneCary,” fosters an environment where leaders and teams are empowered to bring forward new ideas and solutions. Our OneCary culture is grounded in adaptive leadership and guided by values that shape everything we do. These values reflect our commitment to a workplace where everyone is empowered to contribute fully. Together, we create public value that brings people together and enhances lives.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Cary’s award-winning Information Technology Department (IT) is the engine behind the Town’s digital transformation—fueling innovation, fortifying security, and crafting seamless, user-first solutions that empower every department to deliver exceptional and impactful service to our community. From cutting- edge solutions to everyday essentials, our services span a wide spectrum designed to empower, connect, and transform.
The department’s success is built on the dedication, professionalism, and innovation of 30 full-time employees, supported by embedded contract and temporary staff. It is further strengthened by a Council and management team that sets the standard for excellence, along with exceptional collaborative partnerships with our community. Cary consistently leads the charge in the smart cities movement, pioneering innovative technologies and data-driven strategies that redefine how communities connect, grow, and thrive. Standing at the cutting edge of technology has resulted in several prestigious awards and recognition across the globe for leadership and innovation. Cary IT is lauded for outstanding execution of technology in the Downtown Cary Park for our use of LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) and our visionary leadership and creative use of technology to enhance government operations, citizen experience, and business value.
Cary is committed to using technology, not just as a tool, but as a strategic driver of community engagement, sustainability, and operational excellence. The IT department ensures the security and continuity of operations through cybersecurity measures, data backup and recovery solutions, and technical support. By adopting innovative technologies and delivering reliable support, the department ensures efficient operations and continuous improvement in service delivery for all Town functions.
Through thoughtful cloud adoption, robust platforms, and smart data management, we’re equipping our workforce with the tools to thrive. The IT Department will continue Cary’s digital transformation focusing on operational excellence, emerging technologies, and creative experimentation. Through cross- organizational collaboration and a systematic approach to testing new concepts, we’re shaping a smarter, more connected future.
Typical Tasks
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR
In collaboration with the Town Manager’s Office, the Information Technology Director serves as a key contributing member of Cary’s management team and leads the overall operations of the IT Department. The IT Director aligns technology strategy with organizational goals—ensuring that all IT systems, services, and innovations effectively support the mission, operations, and growth of Cary allowing us to remain at the top of the arc!
The ideal candidate is a forward-thinking leader who builds trust, delivers exceptional operational results, drives innovation, and empowers staff at all levels. They will balance strategic vision with deep technical expertise to deliver high-impact solutions to both employees and the community. Proactive and adaptable, they tackle challenges head-on, assess operations for both efficiency and effectiveness, and ensure technology creates measurable value for residents and staff—always evolving to keep Cary moving forward.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Participate as a key member of the Town’s management team offering leadership and collaboration on initiatives spanning all aspects of local government.
- Provide leadership in hiring, training, supervising, evaluating, and, when necessary, disciplining department employees, in alignment with town culture.
- Collaboratively develop and implement technology strategies and roadmaps that support Cary’s long-term vision, operational needs and fiscal realities; Serve as a trusted advisor on technology policy, investment, and service delivery; Monitor emerging technologies, experiment with new solutions, and adapt quickly to create a better future; Partner with the executive leadership to develop IT governance framework, budget, and business plans that reflect organizational priorities.
- Partner with Cary leadership and directors to identify needs, recommend solutions, and ensure current and future technology aligns with both internal and external operational needs; Clearly communicate technology priorities, risks, and benefits to stakeholders; Build collaborative relationships across departments, and encouraging joint problem-solving.
- Manage day-to-day IT operations, including applications, networks, cloud services, and end-user support; Ensure reliable, secure, and efficient systems that enable staff to work smarter; Lead technology service delivery, migrations and modernization projects that anticipate the needs of both citizens and employees.
- Provide executive leadership to a diverse technology services organization, establishing performance standards and operational excellence across IT functions; Maintain a workplace where all employees feel valued, empowered, and able to lead from where they are; Mentor and develop IT staff, encouraging innovation, strengthening collaboration, and cross-functional teamwork; Partner with other department leaders to deliver solutions and improve service delivery.
- Collaborate with the security team to safeguard Cary’s systems, data, and community trust; Partner with Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to review and ensure timely updates occur to the Cary’s Business Continuity of Operations and Disaster Recovery planning; Proactively manage risks and ensure compliance with regulatory and security standards.
- Negotiate contracts and manage vendor relationships to ensure best value and alignment with Cary’s mission; Leverage partnerships with technology providers, regional partners, and community stakeholders to expand capabilities.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
DESIRED ATTRIBUTES:
- Operational Excellence and Service Delivery: Ability to lead technology service delivery, migrations and modernization that anticipates the needs of both citizens and employees.
- Strategic Vision & Execution: Ability to strategize, prioritize the most important work, and align technology solutions with organizational goals and community priorities.
- Leadership Development: Ability to develop future leaders and champion professional development while guiding the team and organization through change.
- Cross-Functional Relationship Building: Desire to create strong working relationships with Town Council, management team, staff, and community partners.
- Technical Communication: Ability to translate complex technical issues to non experts — working across departments.
- Change Adaptability: Ability to maintain flexibility and comfort with uncertainty.
- Difficult Conversation Navigation: Ability and willingness to have productive, difficult conversations with staff and other departments.
Minimum and Preferred Qualifications
REQUIRED AND PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
The selected candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degrees in related fields and professional certifications such as ITIL (service management), PMP (project management), TOGAF (enterprise architecture), CISSP or CISM (cybersecurity), or Cloud Architect credentials in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud are a plus. Candidates must have a minimum 10 years of progressive IT experience, including at least 7 years in leadership roles.
Preference will be given to candidates with experience in government, public sector, or complex enterprise environments.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Requires possession of a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record and successful completion of drug testing and background check (which may include criminal history check, motor vehicle records check, education verification, and credit history review) and satisfactory reference checks before employment.
COMPENSATION PACKAGE
Cary offers the best benefits to support our diverse workforce. A competitive salary is offered based on qualifications and experience, with opportunities for growth tied to high performance. Cary’s comprehensive total compensation package supports our employees’ whole selves, reflects our commitment to their value, and sets us apart as an employer of choice.
Cary ensures equal employment opportunities (EEO) are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information.
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