Chief Information Officer

Chief Information Officer

Please Note: This recruitment will remain open until filled with a first review of applicants the week of May 4, 2026. The hiring authority reserves the right and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision at any time. We encourage all to apply as early as possible. The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates' qualifications within the starting salary range of $175,000 - $195,000 annually. Please note that there is career salary growth beyond this starting range for the successful candidate.

Hybrid: Our physical office is in Olympia, WA. We offer flexible work schedules and locations. This is a hybrid position that allows teleworking. However, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs frequently.

Who we are:

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our mission is to make our state a better place by connecting people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature. Our team includes budget advisors, researchers, and other experts, all dedicated public servants working towards an equitable future for every Washingtonian.

Within OFM, our IT Services Division is committed to strengthening our workforce, delivering exceptional customer service, and modernizing technology by fostering open communication, engaging employees, and growing talent. We partner strategically with customers to drive operational excellence, while advancing IT systems to meet evolving business and industry needs. In this role, you'll lead how technology supports our agency's mission—making services more reliable, accessible, and equitable for people across Washington.

The Opportunity:

As the Chief Information Officer (CIO), you'll set the direction for enterprise technology while making sure day-to-day systems run smoothly and securely. You'll be part of the executive leadership team, helping shape overall agency strategy and leading major modernization efforts, including adopting enterprise systems, improving access to data, and reducing reliance on legacy systems.

You'll work closely with leaders across the agency to understand needs, balance competing priorities, and deliver practical solutions. A key part of the role is building strong governance so decisions are clear, transparent, and aligned with what matters most.

You'll lead a team of roughly 150 IT professionals and lead a workplace where people feel included, respected, and able to do their best work. You'll also manage a technology budget of approximately $77 million, balancing the need for tools, staffing, vendors, and long-term investments.

This role is about modernization, we need your acumen when it comes to integrating AI and other technology solutions in ways that align with our organizational goals and standards. Our CIO leads IT strategy, operations, budget, contracts, and compliance, with a strong emphasis on clear communication and cross-functional collaboration. The CIO values continuous learning, staying current with industry standards and best practices, and driving modernization efforts.

This role isn't just about systems, more importantly, it's about people. It's an opportunity to influence statewide innovation, advance equity through data, and lead a high-performing team delivering critical services that matter.

Duties

What you'll work on:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the organization's technology vision, ensuring that IT strategy, objectives, and roadmaps are fully aligned with enterprise goals and integrated into broader strategic planning.
• Foster strong relationships with community partners while guiding investment decisions through careful analysis of cost, value, and risk.
• Drive innovation by evaluating and adopting emerging technologies, leading enterprise-wide initiatives such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation, and enabling business transformation through modern, scalable solutions.
• Participate in IT Enterprise Governance in the development of IT policy, standards, strategy, and services.
• Oversee the design, governance, and performance of the organization's technology ecosystem—including infrastructure, systems, vendors, and service providers—to deliver reliable, secure, and cost-effective IT services.
• Provide leadership, coaching and direction to the IT leadership team and staff. Partner with HR in the recruitment, development and retention of the IT workforce.
• Coordinate with Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) and other enterprise service providers to ensure that purchased services are effectively integrated and managed to support operations in a reliable and cost-effective manner.
• Develop and control annual revenue and operating expenditure budget.
• Serve on enterprise planning and policymaking committees to drive the development of technology standards, governance processes and performance metrics.
• Direct and organize all IT-related projects using project management methodologies, knowledge management, vendor management, asset procurements and setting hardware and software standards.
• Engage with One Washington Program leadership towards the successful implementation of a new ERP solution to replace legacy enterprise administrative systems. Partner on future operating model after implementation.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Experience with the following:

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in information technology.
• Chief Information Officer or related role bringing experience leading large-scale, complex organizations and managing budgets.
• Enterprise Technology Strategy & Execution
  • Proven ability to define, operationalize, and continuously evolve an enterprise-wide technology strategy spanning applications, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data—resulting in measurable improvements to organizational performance, resilience, and service delivery.
• Large-Scale Transformation Leadership
  • Experience leading complex, enterprise-wide modernization efforts (e.g., ERP, cloud adoption, legacy system replacement) that deliver sustained business value, improve user experience, and reduce technical debt.
• Executive Influence & Governance
  • Demonstrated success advising executive leadership and governing bodies on technology investment, risk, and policy—establishing clear, transparent decision-making frameworks that balance innovation, compliance, and operational stability.
• Financial Stewardship & Investment Strategy
  • Experience overseeing and optimizing large, complex technology portfolios and budgets, making data-informed decisions that align resources to priorities, manage risk, and maximize long-term value.
• Operational Excellence in IT Service Delivery
  • Experience ensuring reliable, secure, and cost-effective IT operations through strong oversight of infrastructure, vendors, and service delivery models, with a focus on performance, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Business & Customer Alignment
  • Deep understanding of organizational operations, with the ability to translate business needs into scalable technology solutions that improve accessibility, equity, and customer outcomes. Demonstrated ability to learn and grow and meet the needs of others.
• People & Organizational Leadership
  • Experience leading and developing large, multidisciplinary teams through change—building an inclusive, high-performing culture with clear expectations, accountability, and growth opportunities.
• Equity-Centered Leadership
  • Proven commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through organizational practices, decision-making, and the equitable delivery of technology and data services.
• Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Management
  • Ability to effectively navigate and influence a complex network of internal stakeholders, external partners, and enterprise service providers to deliver integrated, enterprise-aligned solutions.
• Learning Agility & Adaptive Leadership
  • Demonstrated capacity to anticipate and respond to emerging trends, technologies, and risks—continuously evolving strategy and capabilities in a dynamic environment.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in computer science, information systems, business administration or a closely related field.
• Experience with Agile Development and program or portfolio management approaches.
• Understanding of product-oriented operating models and cross-functional team structures supporting technology delivery.
• Experience leading enterprise system implementations or modernization efforts, including ERP platforms—preferably Workday or similar business transformation platforms.
• Experience managing complex budgets within a public sector environment.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don't let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about