Chief Information Officer

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is hiring a Chief Information Officer (CIO) in its Administrative Services Division. The CIO is the commission’s highest-level information technology position and reports to the Operations Director. The role provides direction and guidance on IT matters, including strategic planning, enterprise architecture and shared services, security planning, and disaster recovery planning. It oversees the commission’s information services portfolio and ensures technology services and systems support business requirements and commission applications. The CIO supervises the Information Services section and its enterprise services, servers, applications, network infrastructure, IT security, helpdesk, data governance, artificial intelligence modernization, GIS services, and desktop support. The position advises commission leadership and staff, chairs the Information Technology Steering Committee, serves on the extended leadership team, and participates in the state CIO Forum. This is a hybrid position: the incumbent must reside in Washington and be available to work in person at the Lacey headquarters as needed, including for legislative session and activities. Occasional statewide travel for meetings and training may be required.

Requirements

One of the following: a bachelor’s degree or higher in computer science, information technology, or a related field and at least six years of senior-level IT management experience managing large, high-risk IT projects, including leading and managing senior IT resources; an associate’s degree in computer science or a related field and at least eight years of such experience; or at least 10 years of such experience.
Ability to take action to learn and grow, including recognizing strengths and weaknesses and using learning to improve government programs and processes for people in Washington.
Ability to take action to meet others’ needs, including being flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and responsive to the unique needs of people served and worked with.
Demonstrated alignment with UTC core competencies: accountability; DEI knowledge, understanding, and commitment; self-awareness and commitment to growth; cultivating mutually beneficial and trusting strategic partnerships; inclusive excellence and allyship; measuring success and improvement; and customer focus.
Must reside in Washington state and be available to report to the Lacey headquarters as needed.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in computer science or information technology.
Expert knowledge of software development practices, processes, and procedures.
Expert knowledge of state contracting and procurement laws, policies, requirements, and best practices.
Expert knowledge of project management principles and practices.
Expert knowledge of enterprise information management systems and technology, including networking, server environments, hardware and software upgrades, disaster recovery planning, and software release and configuration management.
Experience configuring and maintaining network infrastructure.
Experience with SharePoint, Exchange, SQL Server, Microsoft Windows Server operating systems, and Active Directory account administration.
Experience budgeting, planning, and allocating resources to support an organization’s mission and business priorities.
Experience leading IT infrastructure and architecture planning and applying enterprise-level IT best practices.
Experience managing diverse project teams composed of IT staff, business users, and vendors.
Experience applying current IT security and system standards.
Experience communicating complex issues effectively and adapting communication to audience needs.
Experience addressing conflict and leading teams to resolution.
Prior experience performing state or government CIO duties.
Experience successfully planning and leading enterprise-level business process transformation projects.
Experience in strategic planning.

Responsibilities

Manage and oversee the commission’s Information Services portfolio and support its information technology services.
Plan, develop, and direct long-range IT strategy.
Manage the commission’s enterprise systems architecture and ensure systems and services support business requirements and commission applications.
Consult with stakeholders on the strategic direction of IT architecture and services, and inform decision-making and planning.
Make enterprise architecture decisions and develop strategies for IT infrastructure supporting operations and application development.
Consult and assist in developing commission strategic business plans.
Supervise the Information Services section, including enterprise services, servers, applications, network infrastructure, IT security, helpdesk, data governance, AI modernization, GIS services, and desktop support.
Recruit, hire, mentor, and discipline staff; assign and evaluate work to ensure objectives and key results are met.
Advise commission leadership and staff on IT policies and procedures.
Develop, maintain, and implement the commission’s IT security program in compliance with OCIO IT Security Standards.
Manage and coordinate the commission’s IT security program, security and disaster recovery plans, security audits, and disaster recovery exercises.
Chair the commission’s Information Technology Steering Committee and develop and implement IT strategies and initiatives.
Serve as a member of the commission’s extended leadership team and participate in developing and implementing state IT direction and policies through the state CIO Forum.