Chief Information Officer

City of Lincoln/Lancaster County•Lincoln, NE

About The Position

The City of Lincoln and Lancaster County seek a collaborative, forward-looking Chief Information Officer to lead the next phase of technology transformation across both local governments. The CIO directs the Lincoln-Lancaster County Information Services Department and reports to the Mayor's Office. The department is responsible for IT operations for the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County. The CIO will build on an established strategic direction, strengthened cybersecurity capabilities, modernized service-delivery structures, renewed technology governance, and ongoing application-modernization work. The role works directly with City and County leadership, elected officials, department directors, public-safety partners, Information Services employees, vendors, and community partners to turn organizational priorities into secure, practical, and sustainable technology services. The CIO will guide enterprise technology strategy and operations, major modernization initiatives, cybersecurity, service delivery, software development, infrastructure, data, procurement, architecture, and vendor relationships. The role also promotes responsible AI use through policy, collaboration, education, and governance; supports the long-term replacement of critical legacy public-safety technology; and ensures transparent, fiscally disciplined management of budgets, contracts, standards, and technology investments. The successful candidate will foster a healthy, accountable, and inclusive workplace. The CIO is expected to communicate candidly and promptly, support employee development and succession planning, sustain workloads, recognize existing expertise, and lead and retain a multidisciplinary workforce while balancing day-to-day operational needs with organizational change.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
Ten years of managerial experience, preferably in an IT leadership role, including expertise in business process digitization, technology implementation, and cross-functional team management.
Any equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the desirable knowledge, abilities, and skills will be considered.

Nice To Haves

Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technology, cybersecurity, risk, and financial matters to audiences without a technical background.
Experience leading technology strategy and operations in a complex, multi-stakeholder organization.
Demonstrated success leading organizational change while maintaining reliable day-to-day services.
Experience developing leaders, building effective teams, and creating opportunities for employee growth.
Executive-level experience with cybersecurity, risk management, business continuity, and critical infrastructure.
Experience modernizing legacy applications or platforms while managing operational, financial, and organizational risk.
Experience establishing enterprise governance, technology standards, portfolio management, or centralized technology-procurement practices.
Ability to work effectively with elected officials, executive leadership, department directors, public-safety agencies, and community stakeholders.
Experience using performance measures, service data, or organizational KPIs to guide priorities and communicate results.
Knowledge of responsible artificial-intelligence adoption, governance, security, and workforce enablement.
Public-sector experience is valued; candidates with relevant experience in other complex, service-oriented environments are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Establish and communicate an enterprise technology strategy aligned with City and County priorities.
Ensure the security, resilience, continuity, and responsible stewardship of critical technology and information assets.
Build trusted relationships with elected officials, executive leaders, department directors, public-safety agencies, employees, vendors, and community partners.
Translate complex technical, cybersecurity, financial, and operational issues into clear choices for nontechnical decision-makers.
Lead, develop, and retain a multidisciplinary Information Services workforce while strengthening leadership capacity and succession readiness.
Oversee major modernization initiatives, enterprise architecture, service delivery, software development, infrastructure, data, cybersecurity, procurement, and vendor partnerships.
Establish measurable outcomes and use service, financial, operational, and customer-focused information to evaluate progress.
Promote responsible experimentation and adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while managing security, privacy, legal, ethical, and operational risk.
Develop and administer budgets, contracts, policies, standards, and technology investments with transparency and fiscal discipline.
Maintain effective governance practices that give City and County stakeholders meaningful visibility into technology priorities, risks, investments, and results.
Continue development of a formal cybersecurity function, including expanded internal expertise, modern monitoring capabilities, and 24/7 extended detection and response.
Mature a tiered customer-support model to improve accountability, responsiveness, and support for critical public services.
Advance modern, AI-augmented software-development practices while supporting and developing internal technical talent.
Guide long-term replacement of critical legacy public-safety technology with a modern, sustainable platform.
Strengthen technology procurement, architecture, security review, asset visibility, and enterprise standards.
Maintain productive technology-governance relationships with City and County administration and elected officials.
Support employee growth, succession planning, workload sustainability, candid and timely communication, and recognition of departmental expertise.

Benefits

Pay increases after completion of the six-month new employee probationary period and annually thereafter based on performance.
20 days of vacation leave.
Approximately 12 days of sick leave annually, accruing upon hire.
11 paid holidays and 2 personal convenience days.
Medical, dental, and vision benefits for the employee and family beginning the first of the month following hire.
30 days of Paid Parental Leave.
Employee Assistance Programs offering work/life services, wellness coaching, short-term counseling, legal assistance, and financial coaching.
Up to 3 days of Funeral and Bereavement Leave.
$70,000 of Life Insurance.
401(a) Retirement Plan: if the employee contributes 7%, the City contributes 9%.
Employer-provided Post Employment Health Plan for eligible medical expenses occurring after City employment ends.
Optional medical and/or dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts.
Optional Allstate Voluntary Plans.
Optional Supplemental Term Life.
Optional Deferred Compensation Plans.