The Queensland state government has started looking for a high-level technology chieftain to lead its whole of government Technology Transformation Program (TTP).

The project was initiated back in October 2006 by Queensland ICT Minister Robert Schwarten as a wide-ranging package of reforms to overhaul the use of information and communications technology within the state's public sector and save taxpayers at least $135 million a year.

The initiative is seeing, among other things, the state's IT infrastructure, networks and datacentres consolidated, government-owned IT services firm CITEC re-positioned to provide shared IT services to the public sector, and a mammoth project begun to establish whole of government email, identity and directory services.

A rationalisation of business applications is also believed to be on the cards.

In a job advertisement recently posted online, the state's Department of Public Works said it wanted a program director to lead the project and ensure TTP delivered within agreed parameters such as scope, cost, quality and timeframe.

The position will be a four-year appointment ending in 2011, with the state taking applications until 1 September. The new program director is expected to work closely with the Queensland state CIO. Government staffer Alan Chapman is currently acting in the role since previous CIO Peter Grant resigned in December last year to lead Microsoft's Queensland operation.