Chief Information Officer (CIO) - Poarch Band of Creek Indians

Job Announcement: HR2024:47
Position Title: Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Advertising: Publicly
Department: Information Technology (I.T)
Division: Tribal Chair’s Office
Immediate Supervisor: Chief of Staff
Department Director: Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Employment Status: Exempt
Position Type: Regular Full–Time
Mandatory Reporter: No
Background Check Required: Yes (data-sensitive)**
Opening Date: Monday, March 25, 2024
Closing Date: Open Until Filled

Preference shall be given in accordance with the Title 33 (Tribal Employment Rights) of the Tribal Code/DFWP.

Overall Objectives of Position
Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Chief Information Officer (CIO) establishes the strategic direction of the organization’s information technology resources and leads the planning and implementation of high availability enterprise systems that support both distributed and centralized operations. The CIO must be a technology visionary, responsible for anticipating and maintaining future technology needs while delivering optimal return on investment and driving innovation. The CIO will also develop diverse and collaborative cross-functioning, high- performance teams that are inspired by our purpose, committed to our mission, and clearly demonstrate a “customer obsessed” approach to our internal IT clients and end-users. This individual will collaborate directly with the executive management team and stakeholders in other departments and tribal entities to identify, recommend, develop, implement, and support integrated cost-effective technology solutions for all aspects of Tribal Government, with a focus on end-user functionality as well as the performance and financial gains derived from using a common set of technology solutions whenever possible. In addition, the CIO will develop and manage application portfolios across the enterprise and ensure attainment of IT service level agreements for the user community within the organization. This job description is not an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of this position. The CIO is expected to perform all duties and responsibilities necessary to meet the goals and objectives of applicable programs.
As a high-profile member of the team the CIO is expected to set a strong leadership example and to live the Purpose and Values of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

Primary Responsibilities of the Chief Information Officer (CIO)

• Participates as a key member in the strategic and operational governance processes of the Tribal Government. Proactively maintains positive relationships with the Chief of Staff, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Tribal Council. Actively maintains relationships with key external partners and vendors, to include the CIOs at all tribal enterprises. Uses those relationships to effectively influence key decision makers in their technology programming and selection/adoption of technology tools.
• Develops meaningful business relationships across the organization with varied departments and levels of leadership from line level staff to Divisional Directors. Communicates effectively with line level staff and stays well-aware of end-user goals and challenges such that IT solutions and tools stay ahead of organizational needs.
• Leads IT strategic and operational planning to achieve organizational goals by fostering innovation, prioritizing IT initiatives, and coordinating the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future IT systems across the tribal government. Liaises with other tribal enterprises to share best practices, ensure compatibility of systems, drive scalable efficiencies, and leverage opportunities. Works directly with internal clients when applications and IT solutions are being negotiated with vendors to ensure appropriate pricing, implementation plans/timelines, successful integrations, and successful end-user adoption.
• Establishes IT departmental goals, objectives, and operating procedures. Delivers key metrics on a regular cadence to stakeholders. Understands who the internal customers are and outwardly manifests a customer obsessed culture, keen on Voice of Customer and end-user experience.
• Establishes lines of control for current and proposed information systems and ensures the operation adheres to relevant laws and regulations.
• Directs development and execution of an enterprise-wide disaster recovery and operational continuity plan.
• Identifies opportunities for the appropriate and cost-effective investment of financial resources into innovative IT systems and resources, including staffing, sourcing, purchasing, and in-house development.
• Takes ownership for the succession planning, mentoring and career development of IT staff. Personally, oversees the engagement of staff and ensures PBCI is the employer of choice overall, and within the IT department specifically.
• Develops, tracks, and controls the information technology annual operating and capital budgets, partners with other departmental leaders to ensure they are leveraging IT tools and resources to maximize their labor and other costs.
• Acts as a key partner to other departments when they are evaluating technology solutions. Ensures all technology solutions brought into the organization are scalable, and integrated with each other, such that all leaders have full access to all the information required to succeed in their goals and objectives. Continually looks for ways department leaders can further utilize current tools or capture time/labor savings through automation. Ensures all technology solutions are viewed from an enterprise- wide lens.
• Plays a key role in assisting department heads in negotiating price and terms on technology solutions, ensures Divisions and Departments grow with scalable and compatible IT processes and systems. Reviews hardware and software acquisition and maintenance contracts and pursues master agreements to capitalize on enterprise-wide economies of scale.
• Assesses and make recommendations on the improvement or re-imagining of the IT organization, continually pushing for improved data and experiences. Displays a high bias for action, and an aversion to “what we have always done.”
• Keeps current with trends and issues in the IT industry, including current and emerging technologies and prices. Advises, counsels, and educates executives and management on their competitive or financial impact. Develops relationships with like organizations to stay abreast of IT innovations and options. Is a strong advocate for change and continually pushed the against the technology status quo.
•  Promotes and oversee strategic relationships between internal IT resources and external entities, including government, vendors, and partner organizations. Ensures appropriate vendor management is in place for all IT systems and partners.
• Supervises recruitment, development, retention, and the organization of all IT staff in accordance with Tribal Government budgetary objectives and personnel policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned by appropriate person.

Day-to-day Responsibilities

• Same as above.

Education/License/Certification and Experience Requirements

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field required.
• Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, or related field required.
• Five (5) years of recent experience in an Executive IT role leading the entirety of the IT function for an organization and leading leaders of others at the Director or above level required.
• Ten (10) years of recent and progressively responsible experience managing or directing and IT operation, to include leading leaders of others required.
• Fifteen (15) years of recent and progressively responsible experience in IT required.

Skills Required

• Experience in strategic planning and execution, executive communication and influencing. Proven ability to re-imagine the current state and bring a customer obsessed approach to information technology.
• Considerable knowledge of business theory, business processes, management, budgeting, and business office operations. Proven ability to take that knowledge and develop relevant dashboards for internal customers that assist them in effectively and efficiently managing their operations. Proven ability to take user feedback and user needs to develop value-added applications that solve niche end-user obstacles.
• Substantial exposure to data processing, hardware platforms, enterprise software applications, and outsourced systems. Solid understanding of computer systems characteristics, features, and integration capabilities. Proven success selecting and effectively implementing enterprise-wide information tools, as measured by timely and on-budget completely integrated applications that meet internal customers’ expectations across the enterprise.
• Experience with systems design and development from business/operational requirements analysis through to day-to-day management. Proven ability to reimagine current systems and organizations. Proven experience in IT planning, organization, and development.
• Superior understanding of the organization’s goals and objectives and how digital revolution can unlock key business improvements. Demonstrated ability to apply IT in solving business/organizational problems. Can clearly articulate and then deliver the business benefits of unlocking technology and digital constraints.
• In-depth knowledge of applicable laws and regulations as they relate to IT and data security.
• Strong understanding of human resource management principles, practices, and procedures. Proven ability to create and lead high-performing teams in a mission driven organization. Proven ability to tie performance to business goals, drive team engagement, and build internal succession planning. Proven ability to leverage relevant business metrics when measuring the success of IT staff.
• Must be in good physical condition with the ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, and twist for an extended period as well as climb, lift, hold, and move objects weighing a minimum of twenty-five (25) pounds.
• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills as demonstrated by excellent executive influencing skills. Proven ability to tell the story.

Additional Requirements

• Must be available at any time in the event of an outage impacting the organization.
• Ability to work odd and irregular hours, as needed.
• Must successfully pass the required criminal and character background check.
• Ability to travel as recommended to meet the goals and objectives of applicable programs.
• Ability to adequately and successfully perform all duties and responsibilities of this position.
• Must be able to commute daily to the Tribal Government Offices on the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ Reservation.

Every applicant must complete an application provided by Human Resources. A resume will not be accepted in the place of an application.

**Please note ALL individuals selected for employment are required to complete a background investigation. Individuals being placed in positions designed as child-sensitive or data-sensitive must successfully complete a background check prior to employment.

INDIAN PREFERENCE, SPOUSAL PREFERENCE, OR FIRST GENERATION:

In the event more than one applicant meets the requirements, as stated in a job description, preference shall be given in the following order: (1) Tribal Member (2) First Generation Descendant of a Tribal Member (3) Spouse of Tribal Member (4) Indian (5) Non-Indian

In the event that a position of employment is funded in whole or in part my any federal grant and/or contract or other public funding, preference shall be given in the following order: (1) Indian (2) Non-Indian

In order to receive preference, the appropriate documentation must be submitted.