Chief Information Officer

This position is designated as Key Personnel under the EBCI Tribal Option Monitoring Policy and may be subject to additional screening, including fingerprint-based record checks through the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, and ongoing monthly compliance monitoring as required.

About the Role

This position serves as the Chief Information Officer and supervises and directs the IT Department and staff, including but not limited to: Network Administrator, Database Administrator, Telecommunications, and Help Desk. The CIO works closely with the Chief Information Security Officer and is part of the Executive Team of the Cherokee Indian Hospital, particularly in defining the role of technology. The Director provides vision and leadership by championing key technology initiatives that transform how CIHA provides healthcare with its partners, employees, and stakeholders. The CIO ensures the hospital has an adequate security framework, policies, processes, technology, and auditing to safeguard information management systems and data. This role is responsible for all of the hospital’s technological needs, including the development, maintenance, and support of its core IT infrastructure, enterprise and department-specific applications, and hospital programs.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the design and implementation of new applications and changes to existing computer systems and software.
• Evaluates and procures new hardware and software to meet organizational needs.
• Reviews and recommends vendor proposals and contracts.
• Develops the annual IT budget and monitors expenditures.
• Manages the day-to-day activities of the IT team and institutes controls to ensure smooth and effective service to internal and external customers.
• Develops and maintains the department’s information system security, including telecommunication systems and core network infrastructure.
• Assumes full management responsibility for the Information Technology Department, including its development, personnel, and operational activities.
• Makes decisions on funding priorities, staffing requests, major technology issues, and new operational initiatives in consultation with the CEO, COO, CFO, and the EBCI Tribal Option Director.
• Enhances IT responsiveness and hospital performance by optimizing critical IT management processes and providing real-time visibility to infrastructure performance.
• Researches and recommends strategic and tactical plans regarding information technology systems, telecommunications, and technology initiatives to the executive team.
• Institutionalizes knowledge and methods to enable continuous improvement, performance gains, and consistency.
• Recommends, maintains, and enforces approved policies, standards, practices, and processing operations to safeguard information resources.
• Establishes appropriate service and staffing levels as well as future needs.
• Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures, allocating resources accordingly.
• Defines and implements solutions to maintain the increasing information security needs of the department.
• Positions the department’s IT assets for the future.
• Builds strong relationships with key partners to assist in implementing IT projects.
• Acts as the EBCI Tribal Option CIO with overall responsibility for TO technology infrastructure and cybersecurity strategy and operations.
• Ensures TO compliance with all NIST security policies and standards as mandated by NC DHHS, including but not limited to the NIST 800-53 security framework requirements.
• Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of information technology.
• Performs all other duties as requested by the CEO for which the employee is capable.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in an information technology field or equivalent experience is preferred.
• Eight years of senior-level management experience with an organization that has a complex information technology operation, preferably in a healthcare setting.
• Twelve to eighteen months would be necessary to become proficient in most phases of the job.

Skills

• Considerable knowledge of operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive information technology department.
• Knowledge of in-house developed and commercial off-the-shelf software applications, networking, and data management strategies.
• Skilled strategic and visionary thinker.
• Ability to effectively manage vendor contracts and relationships, including recommending and approving major contracts for information technology services.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, and implement recommendations in support of CIH goals.
• Ability to implement software and system upgrades or change projects.
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing, including public speaking.
• Knowledge of project management and implementation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to create a culture conducive to selecting, developing, retaining, evaluating, and motivating skilled and cohesive teams.
• Knowledge of Microsoft software applications and other software applications.
• Experience with designing, integrating, and implementing cloud-based architectures.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft enterprise and server operating systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of information systems technology and extensive knowledge of hardware and software, with the ability to keep abreast of new technologies.
• Experience managing and leading high-performing teams.
• Demonstrated experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment and being a liaison with senior leaders.
• Working knowledge of telecommunications, network, and PC operating systems.
• Strong technical knowledge of current network hardware, protocols, and standards.
• Extensive server and desktop applications support experience.
• Demonstrated experience in IT infrastructure planning and development.
• Ability to present ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language.
• Proven analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities.
• Exceptional customer service orientation.

Supervision and Work Environment

• Works under the CEO and the Board of Directors to make proposals and recommendations, providing requested information and analyzing outcomes of actions approved by the Board.
• Functions independently to ensure compliance with guidelines, regulations, and policies.
• A very high degree of accuracy is required; consequences of error could result in risk to the organization, including loss of technology such as electronic health records, email, internet, department-specific applications, and telephone service.
• Ensures computers, servers, email, network, communications, and other information systems components provide intended services, maintaining network connectivity at all times.
• Works actively to ensure redundancy and high availability of critical systems.
• Requires close concentration and attention to detail for sustained periods, with frequent interruptions necessitating varied responses.
• Sedentary work involving sitting most of the time, occasionally exerting up to 10 pounds of force.
• Works in a normal business environment.
• Has full authority and responsibility for not less than five teams within the Information Technology division: Network/Telecom, Systems Administration, Business Applications, Clinical Applications, and Help Desk (including AV and Nurse Call).
• Responsible for the direct supervision of approximately five management-level employees overseeing the entire Information Technology division.

Contacts and Confidentiality

• Requires a wide range of contact with others, including daily communication with subordinate staff, frequent contact with executive staff, the Board of Directors, Tribal leaders, and Local/State/Federal officials.
• Contact includes professionals hired by CIHA, such as physicians, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, consultants, and auditors, requiring a high degree of diplomacy and professionalism.
• This position has the highest degree of access to the organization’s confidential data and information; failure to protect that information could result in fines, penalties, and loss of assets and customer loyalty.

Customer Service

• Consistently demonstrates superior customer service skills to patients/customers by aligning with CIHA’s guiding principles and core values.
• Ensures excellent customer service is provided to all patients/customers by seeking opportunities to be of service.