IRM Roles

The IRM ensures that all information resources are acquired appropriately, implemented effectively, and comply with regulations and agency policies. The IRM must be part of the agency's executive management team and report directly to a person with a title functionally equivalent to executive director or deputy executive director (Texas Government Code 2054, Subchapter D).

Job descriptions and duties are determined by the individual agencies and universities; however, the IRM’s functions include:

• Planning IR investments, operations, and support
• Managing IR human and financial resources
• Organizing agency information resources for efficient and effective services
• Reporting on the IR investment and benefits to executive management, the Legislature, and DIR, including:
  • Biennial Operating Plan
  • Information Resources Strategic Plan
• Security incident reporting

The basic responsibilities of an agency IRM should include:

• Coordinating the daily business demands on IR operations
• Overseeing management of major projects through implementation
• Adopting IR standards, policies, practices, and procedures that address
  • Strategic planning
  • Business/technology performance metrics and performance monitoring
  • Annual assessment of selected IR activities
  • Risk management
  • Disaster recovery
  • Security
  • Procurement practices
  • Process improvement
  • Staffing, including performance management/improvement and training
• Leveraging information technology (IT) resources to meet business needs
• Disseminating IR data and knowledge
• Promoting utilization of IT resources internally and externally
• Communicating with agency stakeholders to exchange appropriate information

Initial Education Requirement

An IRM should hold a degree from an accredited four-year college or university, preferably with major coursework in information systems, computer science, data processing, business, or a related field.

An individual appointed the IRM of a state agency or university before September 1, 1992, is exempt from the requirements regarding initial education, per Sec. 2054.076 (d) of the Information Resources Management Act.

Preferred Skills

Preferred skills for an IRM include:

• A working knowledge of the IR technical environment of the agency and the state, including telecommunications;
• IR contract administration and management, preferably extensive multi-vendor oversight experience;
• A working knowledge of IR legislative requirements for state government;
• Demonstrated skills in decision-making, project management, and IR personnel management
• IR strategic and operational planning and knowledge of the state of IR technology; and
• Managerial skills which address integrity, leadership, communications, supervision of technical staff, risk management, and vendor-customer-client relations.