Agency Chief Information Officer

  • Washington State Department of Ecology
  • Lacey, WA
  • Apr 29, 2022
Full time Information Systems Technology Executive Government Information Technology

Job Description

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Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  


Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Washington State Department of Ecology has an exciting opportunity for an executive-level Information Solutions strategist and proven technology team leader who is looking to leverage their experience and passion for technology services to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations.

As the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Ecology, this position is highly visible and reports directly to the Director of Ecology to achieve our mission by aligning and directing the agency's Information Technology (IT) capability and capacity to achieve our business strategies.

This position plays a significant role within the agency's executive leadership team and serves as the chair of Ecology's IT Governance Committee, working with key business and operational stakeholders across the agency. It also plays a critical role within the State IT enterprise, representing Ecology on State IT boards, and working closely with the Office of the Chief Information Officer, State of Washington Technology Services (WaTech), Office of Financial Management, local and federal agencies, Tribal entities, private vendors, legislative staff, and other state agencies for all things related to information technology. 

This is a fast-paced and challenging position for a proven information services integration leader. It is an opportunity to provide leadership to a successful IT senior-level management team that develops and executes strategic plans around agency-wide information services and initiatives ensuring a service-oriented experience with internal customers. This executive will lead a team of more than 110 employees, plus additional IT contractors.

This position is located in our headquarters office in Lacey, Washington.

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements and health-screening questions before entry. 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of May 13, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before May 12, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people.
Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

  • A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
  • An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
  • Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
  • A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
  • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) 
are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

 Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. 
We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

Duties

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What you will be doing:

Director of the Information Technology Services Office (ITSO)
 
The Chief Information Officer is responsible for 110+ full-time employees and has six (6) direct reports, the highest of which are Senior IT Managers overseeing business services, architecture design, infrastructure, operations, and project management and planning. This position is the appointing authority for all new hires, approves all personnel actions and oversees the performance management direction. This position is responsible for the:

  • Development of biennial spending plans based on strategic priorities.
  • Development of a cost allocation biennial budget based on spending plans and strategic priorities.
  • $33 million biennial operating budget.


In addition, the CIO has significant responsibilities in purchasing and contracts through delegated authority up to $500,000 on Information Technology contracts, purchases, maintenance agreements, telephone equipment purchases, WaTech and Department of Enterprise Services IT related Service Level Agreements.

Serves as the Chief Technology / Information Officer

This position has the responsibility for IT governance, leadership, development and implementation of the agency's information technology direction, plans, policies and standards. Specifically, this position is responsible for:

  • Policy and direction for IT related services.
  • Ensuring agency IT work is done according to policies, standards, and best practices.
  • Assuring agency and program applications and related investments receive architecture reviews to facilitate cross-media data integration, consistency and reuse of application components thereby ensuring application investments align with agency and state strategic priorities.
  • Ensuring agency IT staff are developing applications using a consistent methodology, standards and best practices.
  • Measuring and evaluating the performance of computer and network systems, including the design and implementation of new methods, policies and procedures for the best use of resources (people, software, and hardware).


 

Who are we looking for? 

We are searching for an innovator with impeccable leadership skills that is ready to team with a large group of dedicated professionals committed to meeting the evolving information technology needs of a large agency. A leader with heart who can communicate and influence change, modeling the highest standards of ethics, follow-through, and accountability. Key attributes of who we are searching for include: 

  • Strong communication and problem solving skills
  • Collaborative and inclusive approach
  • Commitment to the highest quality products and information technology services 
  • Ability to leverage the creativity and innovation of others to deliver services, problem solve and improve processes.

 

A Key Member of Ecology's Executive Management Team
 
This position is a key member of the agency's Executive Management Team, with responsibility for:  

  • Managing the agency's strategic planning and direction for Ecology's IT related services.
  • Developing and implementing Ecology's statewide Information Services policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards pertaining to Ecology's IT infrastructure, application, and data architecture.
  • Representing the agency with WaTech, Office of the CIO, OFM, other state agencies, federal agencies, local governments, tribal entities, private vendors, and legislative staff on agency IT related matters.
  • Representing the agency in IT consults, investment plans, and architecture reviews with Office of the CIO and WaTech to ensure that network, desktop, and infrastructure investments are consistent with statewide strategic direction.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Eleven (11) years of experience and/or education: 

Experience: with increasing responsibilities for managing and supporting professional information technology services and solutions that span multiple functional areas (application development and maintenance, GIS, server operations, infrastructure, IT security, enterprise architecture, network/desktop services, project management, etc.). which includes the following:

Five (5) years of professional level supervisory responsibility, including experience-managing supervisors.

  • Providing direction to mid-level managers and supervisors which included coaching, training, recruitment, evaluation, and performance.
  • Providing oversight of a program's diverse functions combining and directing all aspects to meet overall program objectives.

A minimum of five (5) years of budget management experience. 

A minimum of three (3) years of strategic planning experience (annual or biennial based business plan) including the ability to conceptualize and articulate the future direction of a program.

Please note: Experience in each of the areas may have been gained concurrently.

Education: in Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Technology or Governance, Environmental Science, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEMor other related fields.

 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:  

Possible Combinations | College credit hours or degree | Years of required experience - as listed above

Combination 1 | No college credit hours or degree. | 11 years of experience

Combination 2 | 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits. | 10 years of experience

Combination 3 | 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree). |  9 years of experience

Combination 4 | 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits. |  8 years of experience

Combination 5 | A Bachelor's Degree. |  7 years of experience

Combination 6 | A Master’s Degree or higher. |  5 years of experience

 

Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below. 

  • Project Management certification and/or organization skills and understanding of the unique aspects of sponsoring a project and supporting enterprise wide projects.
  • Change Management certification and knowledge/experience leading work with understanding the human element of organizational change.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information


Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.


Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

  • Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
  • If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
  • If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
  • If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

  • A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
  • A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
  • Three professional references.


Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

  • Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
  • Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 


Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: 
 
Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Heather Bartlett at: Heather.Bartlett@ecy.wa.govPlease do not contact Heather to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email 
careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Occupations

General-Other: IT-Software Development, Telecommunications Administration-Management, Business Unit Management, General-Other: Business-Strategic Management, President-Top Executive

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Salary

$130,000.00 - $149,292.00 Annually

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