What does a systems director do?
A systems director is in charge of spearheading the implementation and development of systems and networks within a company, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, allocating budgets, identifying company needs, and developing strategies to optimize operations. They may also manage the workforce and resolve any issues as needed. Furthermore, as a systems director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workers to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations, creating new ones as needed.
Systems director responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real systems director resumes:
- Manage installation and administration of HP-UX, AIX, Unix, and Linux servers.
- Implement and manage a VoIP phone system to streamline communications between branch locations and reduce operating costs by $60k.
- Manage budgets associate with payroll, equipment and other costs associate with examinations.
- Lead projects with responsibilities for the architecture, implementation and administration of data warehouse and repository technical environments.
- Ensure availability by installing SAN arrays replicating in real time.
- Integrate multiple CRM applications into a single platform for access worldwide.
- Ensure organization meet regulatory standards of CMS, FDA, AOPO, AATB, HIPAA.
- Complete 3/2009-Achieved cost reduction of $150k by bringing payroll and tax processing in-house with above implementations.
- Implement LAN technologies and standardize the PC software application suite to support end-user self- sufficiency and software compliance.
- Design, install and implement VOIP solution that cut long distance costs from office to office by approx.
- Create marketing strategy with a focus on the installer value proposition resulting in over 5,000 CRM contacts for electronic marketing activities.
- Train corporate secretaries and provide PC instructional support.
- Award national demonstration projects addressing cultural and linguistic competency, cardiac care excellence, and Medicaid enrollment.
- Provide secure remote access to continuum of care information to physicians and other caregivers utilizing VPN connectivity.
- Use both Salesforce and customer access administrator perspectives as a team member in other company-wide technology update projects currently underway.
Systems director skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Systems Directors are proficient in Patients, Oversight, and Health System. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Business skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Systems Directors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 10%
Developed network of Patient Advocates successfully resolving 5,000+ patients / family concerns annually.
- Oversight, 8%
Provided oversight and training for of-counsel attorneys.
- Health System, 7%
Reduced blood utilization by $350k through collaboration with local blood providers to advance evidence-based transfusion trigger across entire health system.
- Patient Care, 6%
Improved patient care and physician satisfaction.
- Project Management, 6%
Developed a new web-based project management application based on features present in the legacy application as well as new business requirements.
- Process Improvement, 4%
Served as internal expert on process improvement tools and techniques, continually monitored alignment activities with System strategic and operational priorities.
Common skills that a systems director uses to do their job include "patients," "oversight," and "health system." You can find details on the most important systems director responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a systems director to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "it managers must analyze problems and consider and select the best ways to solve them." Additionally, a systems director resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "tracked, trended and analyzed patient care and service data and presented information to performance improvement committees monthly. "
Business skills. Another essential skill to perform systems director duties is business skills. Systems directors responsibilities require that "it managers must develop and implement strategic plans to reach the goals of their organizations." Systems directors also use business skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "collaborate with hospital campus leaders, service line leaders and physicians to support patient care needs and meet business objectives. "
Communication skills. systems directors are also known for communication skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to systems director responsibilities, because "it managers must explain their work to top executives and give clear instructions to their subordinates." A systems director resume example shows how communication skills is used in the workplace: "developed a system of staff communication that ensured proper implementation of protocols and comprehensive patient care. "
Leadership skills. systems director responsibilities often require "leadership skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "it managers must lead and motivate it teams or departments so that workers are efficient and effective." This resume example shows what systems directors do with leadership skills on a typical day: "provided ongoing leadership in the objectives of achieving and maintaining iso registration to the iso 9001:2008, as 9100c standards. "
Organizational skills. A commonly-found skill in systems director job descriptions, "organizational skills" is essential to what systems directors do. Systems director responsibilities rely on this skill because "some it managers must coordinate the work of several different it departments to make the organization run efficiently." You can also see how systems director duties rely on organizational skills in this resume example: "tracked metrics to monitor infection control, service excellence scores, and additional organizational core metrics. "
The three companies that hire the most systems directors are:
- B. Braun Medical13 systems directors jobs
- The Aerospace Corporation8 systems directors jobs
- Intel7 systems directors jobs
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Compare different systems directors
Systems director vs. Chief information officer
A chief information officer, also known as CIO, is responsible for the technological development within the company or organization. Primarily overseeing all information technology-related operations, a chief information officer takes the lead in setting the department's budget, developing strategies that will improve computer systems, and implementing policies to attain significant growth in profit and client base. Furthermore, a chief information officer is in charge of managing the workforce behind computer systems, ensuring their efficiency in accomplishing tasks and projects.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between systems directors and chief information officer. For instance, systems director responsibilities require skills such as "patients," "oversight," "health system," and "patient care." Whereas a chief information officer is skilled in "cio," "network infrastructure," "architecture," and "portfolio." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Chief information officers really shine in the agriculture industry with an average salary of $154,502. Comparatively, systems directors tend to make the most money in the media industry with an average salary of $132,468.The education levels that chief information officers earn slightly differ from systems directors. In particular, chief information officers are 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a systems director. Additionally, they're 1.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Systems director vs. Director of technology and services
A director of technology and services is responsible for monitoring the operations in the technical side of an organization and managing the efficiency of network systems to ensure the stability and efficiency of business functions. Directors of technology and services oversee the safety and security of networks across the organization to prevent unauthorized access and leakage of data statistics. They also perform regular quality checks on the systems, improving users' interface, and upgrading network infrastructure to achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, systems director responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "oversight," "health system," and "patient care." Meanwhile, a director of technology and services has duties that require skills in areas such as "technical service," "healthcare," "cloud," and "technical support." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Directors of technology and services may earn a lower salary than systems directors, but directors of technology and services earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $124,051. On the other hand, systems directors receive higher pay in the media industry, where they earn an average salary of $132,468.directors of technology and services earn similar levels of education than systems directors in general. They're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Systems director vs. Director of information management
A director of information management is an information technology expert in charge of spearheading the efforts to manage and develop information systems. Their responsibilities revolve around setting goals and objectives, handling budgets, identifying the company's needs, and performing research and analysis to determine the best practices to optimize business operations. They must also keep up with the latest trends in technology and data security for continuous innovations. Furthermore, as a director of information management, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a systems director is likely to be skilled in "health system," "database," "patient safety," and "acute care," while a typical director of information management is skilled in "portfolio," "infrastructure," "risk management," and "transcription."
Directors of information management earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $137,507. Comparatively, systems directors have the highest earning potential in the media industry, with an average salary of $132,468.When it comes to education, directors of information management tend to earn similar degree levels compared to systems directors. In fact, they're 1.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Systems director vs. Director of software development
A director of software development is primarily in charge of overseeing the workflow and the workforce involved in the entire software development process. Their responsibilities also include creating strategies for optimal performance, coordinating with different teams and departments to identify strengths and weaknesses, implementing training and workshop programs, and liaising with external agencies, including key clients. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage the team to reach new heights.
Types of systems director
Updated January 8, 2025
