Information Technology Director/Manager

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What they do: Information technology (IT) managers are responsible for planning and implementing the overall policies and goals for an organization’s information technology department. They analyze the information technology needs of their organizations in order to determine staffing and equipment requirements for IT departments. IT managers supervise the work of other IT staff, including network and database administrators, support specialists, and programmers, and are also responsible for day-to-day management of an organization’s information systems, including databases, operating systems, and networks. They may oversee such activities as hardware and software installations and upgrades, programming and systems design, development of networks, and implementation of Internet and intranet sites. IT managers may also be responsible for the budgetary aspects of running an IT department, and for negotiating with vendors to purchase equipment and services.

Skills: IT Managers must have the technical knowledge to understand and supervise the work of subordinate IT staff and the ability to explain the work to individuals who lack a technical background. Employers generally prefer that IT managers have previous experience in either consulting or business management, and some prefer that candidates possess a graduate degree, such as an MBA with a technology focus. As with any management position, strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills are essential.

Employment: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that the median annual earnings of IT managers in May 2004 were $92,570, with the middle 50 percent earning between $71,650 and $118,330. IT managers are typically employed in larger organizations that have complex information technology needs and systems. The industry employing the largest number of IT managers is software publishing, followed by computer systems design and related services.


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