IT Director – Baltimore, MD

About BISM:

BISM empowers the blind community through employment, education, and training. We employ approximately 480 Associates across twelve facilities in Maryland, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, and North Carolina, where we manufacture high-quality products and deliver federal and commercial services, and our programs serve more than 2,000 blind individuals each year. Our culture is close-knit and mission-driven, and we value work-life balance.

Position Summary:

The IT Director is a full-time, exempt position in the Information Technology department, based in Baltimore, Maryland, with the potential for a hybrid work arrangement. The role supervises four staff members and oversees several external technology partners. The reporting relationship is to be determined. The annual salary range is $115,000–$125,000, commensurate with experience.The Information Technology (IT) Director serves as BISM’s senior technology leader, responsible for the vision, strategy, and execution of technology across the organization. As a member of the Strategic Leadership Team, the IT Director partners with executive and operational leaders to ensure technology investments serve BISM’s mission, its people, and its operational goals.

This is a leadership role first. The IT Director leads a small internal IT team and works alongside trusted technology partners who provide strategic advisory support, specialized expertise, and added capacity for major projects. Success depends less on deep technical specialization and more on sound judgment, clear communication, and the ability to build trust with a wide range of stakeholders, from plant-floor Associates to the Board.

BISM operates in a Microsoft-centric environment, including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 Business Central, Power BI, Power Automate, and Entra ID. The IT Director keeps this ecosystem secure, reliable, and accessible, with a particular commitment to ensuring technology works well for employees who are blind or have low vision.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide senior-level leadership and strategic direction for the IT function, aligning technology initiatives with BISM’s Strategic Plan and organizational priorities.
• Serve as a member of the Strategic Leadership Team, contributing to organization-wide decision-making, long-range planning, and cross-functional strategy, keeping BISM’s mission at the forefront.
• Own the IT roadmap, including planning, prioritization, and continuous improvement of infrastructure, systems, and digital capabilities.
• Lead modernization of network, cloud, telecommunications, and business systems to support scalability and efficiency, engaging partners for specialized expertise and project capacity where appropriate.
• Represent IT to the Strategic Leadership Team and, as appropriate, the Board, communicating strategy, risks, and performance in clear, non-technical terms.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a small IT team, building a productive, accountable, service-oriented culture.
• Bring out the best in team members with varied working styles and personalities, balancing clear expectations with patience, empathy, and respect.
• Support professional development and succession planning so the team grows in capability and resilience.

Stakeholder Partnership & Communication

• Act as a trusted business partner to departmental leaders, proactively identifying ways technology can improve productivity, communication, accessibility, and operational outcomes.
• Build strong working relationships across a diverse organization, including manufacturing, retail, federal services, rehabilitation programs, and administrative teams, adapting communication style to each audience.
• Navigate differing priorities and perspectives with tact, listening first and building consensus around decisions.
• Lead change thoughtfully, ensuring new systems and processes come with clear communication, training, and support.

Technology Operations & Microsoft Environment

• Oversee all IT operations and service delivery, including Help Desk, ensuring responsive, high-quality, and accessible support for all Associates.
• Oversee BISM’s Microsoft 365 environment, including Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Entra ID (identity and access), and related security and device management services.
• Guide the use and continued optimization of Business Central (ERP), Dynamics, Power BI, and Power Automate, partnering with business owners to improve reporting, workflows, and data quality.
• Ensure systems supporting manufacturing, retail/point of sale, and eCommerce operations are reliable, integrated, and well supported.

Cybersecurity, Compliance & CMMC

• Oversee a practical, right-sized cybersecurity program, including risk management, threat prevention, vulnerability management, and incident response, in coordination with security partners.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, data protection standards, contractual obligations, and internal policies, including service level agreements.
• Maintain a working understanding of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements as they relate to BISM’s federal work, and lead the engagement of qualified partners for readiness, gap assessment, remediation, and certification support.

Accessibility & Inclusion

• Champion accessible and inclusive technology so BISM’s systems effectively support its mission workforce, including employees who are blind or have low vision.
• Serve as an active member of BISM’s accessibility committee, bringing a technology perspective to its work.
• Apply an accessibility lens to technology decisions, including software selection, vendor evaluation, system rollouts, and training.

Vendors, Budget & Performance

• Own vendor and partner strategy, including selection, contract negotiation, performance management, and optimization of IT investments.
• Make effective use of advisory and managed-service partners to extend the team’s capacity and expertise, while maintaining clear ownership and accountability.
• Develop and manage the IT budget with responsible stewardship of resources, balancing day-to-day needs with strategic priorities.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure IT effectiveness, service quality, and business impact.
• Evaluate and guide the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, with appropriate governance, training, and data security safeguards.

Qualifications:

Required

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building trust with senior leaders, frontline staff, and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage diverse stakeholders and competing priorities with diplomacy, sound judgment, and a service mindset.
• Proven experience leading and motivating IT staff, including individuals with varied working styles and personalities.
• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen, with the ability to translate organizational goals into practical technology solutions.
• Genuine commitment to BISM’s mission and to decision-making that puts the people we serve first.
• 7+ years of progressive IT experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• Experience in a Microsoft-centric environment, including Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Entra ID) and the Power Platform (Power BI, Power Automate). Deep hands-on engineering expertise is not required.
• Experience with ERP and business systems, ideally Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
• Experience overseeing cybersecurity practices and managing external partners and vendors.
• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred

• Familiarity with accessible and assistive technology and inclusive design principles; experience supporting employees who are blind or have low vision.
• Working knowledge of CMMC, NIST SP 800-171, or other federal contractor cybersecurity requirements.
• Experience in a mission-driven or nonprofit organization, particularly one with manufacturing, retail, or federal contracting operations.
• Experience with point of sale (POS) systems in retail environments, and with CRM and eCommerce platforms, including integration and optimization.
• Experience evaluating and implementing AI tools with appropriate training, governance, and data security protocols.
• Experience overseeing websites and digital platforms.
• Experience leading organizational change and technology adoption.

What We Offer

• A meaningful leadership role in an organization with a clear, lasting mission.
• Comprehensive benefits, including medical, prescription, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) with employer match, and paid time off.
• A culture that values work-life balance.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Support from experienced technology partners for strategy, specialized expertise, and major projects.

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status. If you need an accommodation to apply, please contact Human Resources at (410) 737-2600.