Chief Information Officer (EMS Band 4)

About the role

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Chief Information Officer (EMS Band 4) within the Executive Leadership Team. This position serves as a key member of the Department’s Executive Leadership Team and plays a critical role in advancing the agency’s mission to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations.

Responsibilities

• Planning, leading, organizing, and directing Ecology’s statewide enterprise technology strategy, modernization initiatives, cybersecurity program, cloud transformation, data and analytics platforms, and digital service delivery.
• Establishing and executing a long-term enterprise technology vision that aligns with Ecology’s environmental mission, statewide policy direction, and emerging industry practices.
• Guiding agency-wide modernization efforts, including cloud adoption, enterprise architecture, application modernization, automation, responsible AI, and sustainable technology practices.
• Maintaining the agency’s technology investment portfolio, enterprise operating and capital budgets, and modernization resources while ensuring transparent fiscal stewardship.
• Ensuring enterprise cybersecurity, digital risk management, operational resilience, and compliance with statewide and federal requirements.
• Hiring, mentoring, and developing technology leaders and teams while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, innovative, and high-performing technology workforce.
• Representing Ecology on statewide technology issues with WaTech, OFM, OCIO, Tribes, local governments, federal partners, universities, and regulated entities.

Qualifications

• Nine years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:
  • Enterprise Technology Leadership - Successful track record providing strategic vision and direction, executive oversight, and operational accountability delivering tools and solutions to support evidence-based decision making aligned with organizational mission and priorities.
  • Modernization & Digital Transformation - Proven track record leading cross-functional teams using AGILE methodology and Product Owner roles to align business goals with IT execution to accomplish complex modernization or digital transformation initiatives involving cloud adoption, enterprise system renewal, automation, or operational redesign.
  • Data, AI, and Emerging Technology Governance - Proven track record of governing or implementing data platforms, analytics, automation, or AI technologies in a responsible, ethical, and transparent manner.
  • Cybersecurity & Resilience Leadership - Experience overseeing cybersecurity programs, managing digital risk, and supporting incident response or continuity of operations to protect systems and data.
  • Enterprise Governance & Compliance - Demonstrated experience managing centralized and distributed technology functions to establish and maintain organizational governance structures, policy frameworks, and compliance processes that ensure transparency, accountability, and operational alignment.
  • Fiscal Stewardship & Technology Investment Management - Significant experience overseeing divisional-level technology budgets, portfolio management of third-party IT service providers, vendor contracts, and investment decisions to ensure measurable ROI and business sustainability.
  • Workforce & Organizational Leadership - Successful track record leading diverse, multidisciplinary teams; mentoring leaders; and building work cultures that support inclusivity, collaboration, innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
  • Change Leadership & Organizational Transformation - Proven track record guiding organizations through significant change, adopting new technologies, and enhancing workforce readiness for modernization to achieve business strategy and goals.
  • Communication, Collaboration & Partner Engagement - Demonstrated ability to build trusted partnerships and translate complex technology, cybersecurity, and operational topics into clear, plain-talked language for executives, policymakers, oversight committees, and staff.
  • Out-of-State Travel - Progressive experience working within regional or national organizational structures with central IT partnering with external private sector organizations and strategic business partners that may include statewide entities: Tribal governments, federal agencies, or interagency councils on technology or policy matters.
  • Risk-Based Decision-Making - Demonstrated ability to evaluate technology, cybersecurity, fiscal, and operational risks to make sound, evidence-based executive decisions that protect mission delivery and public trust.
• Education involving a major study in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, Public Administration, Engineering, Environmental Science, Data Science, or a related field.
• Examples Of How To Qualify: 9 years of experience. 8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits. 7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree). 6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits. 5 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree. 3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or higher.

Special Requirements/Conditions Of Employment

• Must possess a valid driver's license or provide alternate reliable transportation for travel within the state of Washington.
• Regular travel is required between Ecology headquarters, regional offices, and partner agency locations (WaTech, OFM, and others).
• Out-of-state travel may occasionally be required for executive meetings, conferences, or training related to leadership, cybersecurity, or modernization.
• This position is designated critical to Ecology's Continuity of Operations (COOP) plan and may be required to work extended hours during emergencies, system outages, or disaster recovery events.
• The CIO must remain available to coordinate with WaTech, state emergency management, and executive leadership during high-impact incidents.
• Confidentiality and Security: Must maintain strict confidentiality regarding sensitive information, including security incidents, personnel data, and protected environmental or regulatory data.
• Expected to maintain current knowledge of emerging technologies, cybersecurity frameworks, public-sector governance, and leadership practices.

Desired Qualifications

• Strategic Foresight & Emerging Technology Scanning - Ability to monitor evolving technology landscapes, industry trends, and environmental-tech innovations to anticipate future opportunities and threats.
• Public-Sector Legislative Navigation - Ability to understand legislative cycles, funding mechanisms, and policy influences to optimize timing and support for major modernization initiatives.
• Advanced Procurement & Contract Negotiation - Ability to negotiate complex technology contracts and manage vendor relationships to secure favorable terms and reduce long-term risk.
• Human-Centered Design Mindset - Ability to apply user research, design thinking, and usability testing to inform product development and improve user experiences.