Director, Automation & Systems Integration

About the Role
Hearst Technology Services is seeking a forward-thinking and highly technical Director of Automation & Systems Integration to lead the transformation of our asset management and automation capabilities. This role goes far beyond traditional IT asset management—it is about building the foundation for a fully automated, AI-enabled future where disparate systems integrate seamlessly, data flows automatically, and manual reconciliations are eliminated.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on technologist with proven experience in integrations, automation, and modern infrastructure engineering. They will manage a small existing asset management team, but their focus will be on designing and delivering next-generation solutions: connecting critical data sources to our CMDB, developing live integrations, enabling AI-driven automation, and ultimately shaping the roadmap for automation and digital workforce capabilities.

This is a rare opportunity to build the future of IT operations at scale—ideal for an engineer with identity, cloud, or network background who is ready to expand into AI and automation leadership.
Key Responsibilities Systems Integration & Automation

• Design, build, and maintain integrations between CMDB, identity systems, security tools, cloud services, and network portals.
• Evaluate failed/inefficient integrations, perform retrospectives, and recommend scalable solutions.
• Create a technical roadmap for achieving live, automated data flows across the enterprise.

AI & Automation Roadmap

• Drive the adoption of AI tools and autonomous agents for IT operations.
• Partner with our automation team to leverage toolkits and establish best practices.
• Position the team for a future where asset management and governance are fully automated.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Manage and mentor a team of three asset management professionals, guiding them toward higher-value, AI-driven work.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, identity, cloud, and network engineering leaders (primarily Charlotte-based).
• Engage senior executives in Charlotte and New York, providing updates and recommendations on automation initiatives.

Strategic Delivery

• Provide quick wins in asset management automation while building toward long-term AI-enabled capabilities.
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize input from engineering and security teams to ensure the CMDB reflects meaningful, actionable data.
• Own retrospectives on failed initiatives and propose cost-efficient, technically sound alternatives.

Qualifications Technical Expertise:

• Identity Engineering: SailPoint, Okta, or equivalent modern identity systems.
• Cloud Engineering: Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud with experience in integrations and automation.
• Network Engineering: Strong experience with portals, device integrations, and providers (Cisco, Meraki, Palo Alto, etc.).

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing and implementing integrations across enterprise systems.
• Deep technical knowledge of automation concepts, APIs, and system interoperability.
• Strong understanding of data normalization, deduplication, and synchronization.
• Ability to create and execute a technical roadmap.
• Curiosity and aptitude for AI and emerging automation technologies.

Preferred:

• Leadership or team management experience (small team).
• Experience with ServiceNow CMDB or equivalent platforms.
• Strong business acumen: balancing cost, efficiency, and risk in technical decisions.

This position is based in Charlotte, NC with a minimum of three (3) days per week in the office. Hearst is one of the nation's largest global, diversified information, services and media companies.

Hearst has been innovating for more than a century, leading with purpose, integrity and a culture of care, with a mission to inform audiences and improve lives.

The company's diverse portfolio includes global financial services leader Fitch Group; Hearst Health, a group of medical information and services businesses; Hearst Transportation, which includes CAMP Systems International, a major provider of software-as-a-service solutions for managing maintenance of jets and helicopters; ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and ESPN; 35 television stations; 24 daily and 52 weekly newspapers; digital services businesses; and more than 200 magazines around the world.

Hearst is always moving forward, investing in healthcare solutions to improve patient outcomes and technology that curbs emissions; providing vital analysis, data and software to the global financial services industry; delivering important service and investigative journalism; and inspiring audiences with sports and entertainment programming.

With a commitment to maintaining the highest quality in its products and services, Hearst is dedicated to serving the communities it operates in, both civically and philanthropically.

Hearst is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.