Chief Information Officer- Director VIII

Brief Job Description:

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) provides agency-wide vision, leadership, and strategic direction for Information Technology Services (ITS), ensuring technology solutions support DFPS's mission of protecting vulnerable children, adults, and families throughout Texas. The CIO has a direct impact on statewide child welfare, adult protective services, prevention programs, and agency operations by ensuring DFPS employees have secure, reliable, and innovative technology systems that support critical services for Texas families. This position leads the modernization of technology solutions, strengthens cybersecurity, and drives strategic initiatives that improve outcomes across the agency

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

• Direct enterprise information technology programs, infrastructure, cybersecurity, application development, modernization initiatives, and technology service delivery.
• Provide ITS subject matter expertise, consultation and guidance to executive leadership team, partnering with agency leadership to develop strategic priorities, drive innovation, and improve operational effectiveness.
• Collaborates with executive leadership and ITS leadership to oversee and develop standards for ITS on reviewing processes, correcting inefficiencies, and adapting to change.
• Oversee multi-million-dollar technology budgets, legislative appropriations requests, contracts, and resource planning to ensure requirements of funding sources are met for agency programs and operations.
• Lead large-scale technology initiatives and business transformation efforts that strengthen agency operations, improve service delivery, and support data-driven decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal laws, information technology standards, cybersecurity requirements, and agency policies.
• Represents ITS and the agency at business meetings, advisory groups, hearings, legislative sessions and meetings, seminars, conferences, workgroups, court proceedings, task forces and committees on technology-related matters. Represents DFPS on technology initiatives before legislative and governmental stakeholders, provides expert consultation on policy issues
• Leads the implementation of legislative and regulatory changes impacting agency technology services.
• Serve as the agency's designated Information Resources Manager (IRM) and primary liaison to the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), providing oversight of technology governance and strategic investments.
• Build, lead, and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to state government agencies and public social services.
• Knowledge of technology operations, system or software development, project or program management.
• Knowledge and the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Knowledge of DFPS programs and practices.
• Knowledge of program planning and implementation.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Knowledge of the operation of all types of news media, their requirements and approach to subject matter.
• Knowledge of applicable legal and confidentiality requirements.
• Knowledge of related state and federal laws, regulations, policies, rules, and requirements.
• Knowledge of process improvement or quality assurance systems.
• Knowledge of Texas legislative processes, initiatives, and public accountability systems.
• Knowledge of strategic planning, budget management, human resource management, project management.
• Knowledge of the principles of leadership and how to effectively interact with various leadership styles.
• Knowledge of state agency and program administration principles and requirements.

Skill in:

• Skill in establishing plans and setting objectives and goals that support an overall business strategy.
• Skill in written and verbal communications, and interpreting and relaying technical information to a non-technical audience,
• Skill in revising and editing written communications.
• Skill in supervising staff.
• Skill in gathering and analyzing information.
• Skill in developing PowerPoint presentations.
• Skill in public speaking.
• Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and implementing solutions.
• Skill in working collaboratively and cooperatively with diverse groups.
• Skill in managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Skill in demonstrating leadership.
• Skill in the use of computers, spreadsheets, databases, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Skill in program management.

Ability to:

• Ability to direct and organize program activities and/or business functions.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives that support the strategic plan.
• Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
• Ability to develop and evaluate policies and procedures.
• Ability to make presentations and testify at hearings.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to represent the agency effectively with key stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to organize and build high-performing teams.
• Ability to make independent judgments.
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of diplomacy, tact, and discretion.
• Ability to effectively direct the work of others.
• Ability to manage resources and establish priorities.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of agency staff, legislators and their staff, and external agencies and organizations.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

N/A

Initial Screening Criteria:

Required Experience: Seven years (7) of experience working in the oversight and direction of an agency technology or business program, preferably overseeing information technology, information security, or other technology related processes and procedures. At least five (5) years of the required experience must have been in a management or lead capacity overseeing a large program or team with a complex scope of responsibilities.

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in a related field.