Chief Information Officer / Associate Vice President of Information Services and Security

Central Washington University

Chief Information Officer / Associate Vice President of Information Services and Security

Central Washington University (CWU) invites expressions of interest, nominations and applications for the Chief Information Officer / Associate Vice President of Information Services and Security (CIO). The University seeks a unique and talented individual who will serve as a forward-looking and transformational leader who embraces a culture where technology is aligned to support the University’s academic mission and drives technology innovation across campus.

Located in historic Ellensburg, CWU is a comprehensive, four-year public institution offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a range of disciplines that are housed in four academic colleges. The mission of CWU is to prepare students for responsible citizenship, responsible stewardship of the earth, and enlightened and productive lives. The University enrolls approximately 12,000 students in more than 145 majors and has a faculty-student ratio of 20.1. Externally sponsored grants and contracts funded during academic year 2017-18 totaled more than $14.3 million. With its robust focus on inclusivity and diversity, more than a third of first-year students were people of color in fall 2018. CWU enrolls and graduates the largest percentage of Hispanic students of any public baccalaureate institution in the State. For more information about CWU, please visit http://www.cwu.edu/.

Information Services Division

The Information Services division is made up of four major departments—Enterprise Applications, Networks and Operations, Service Delivery and Security Services—and serves as the University’s centralized IT organization. The division is responsible for providing technology services for the entire institution, including eight centers and instructional sites across the State of Washington. As such, it sets and defines the operating model, and provides strategic leadership, direction and management of the institution's information technology resources. The division also provides information security oversight and operates the institution’s core technology infrastructure, such as the enterprise network, institutional datacenter, and technology innovation centers. For more information regarding Information Services, please visit http://www.cwu.edu/its/.

Position Summary

The CIO provides leadership, vision and oversight for the University’s information technology and security infrastructure services provided to CWU’s students, faculty and staff totaling 15,000 people. The University uses a distributed model, providing central technology services coupled with decentralized technology stakeholders, to deliver local IT support to departments and divisions. The CIO directs planning and implementation of information technology that supports business operations and academic requirements while ensuring the security of data and information used by those systems in compliance with federal and state laws and requirements, university policies and procedures, and industry best practices.

The CIO reports to the Vice President for Operations and serves on the President’s Advisory Team (PAT), which advises and guides the President and university on institutional goals. The CIO provides executive direction and strategic vision for the university's information technology assets, infrastructure, and services. Direct reports to the CIO include the Director of Enterprise Applications, the Director of Networks and Operations, the Director of Service Delivery, and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). In total the CIO oversees a budget of $9 million and motivates a team of 110+ talented full-time and student employees. The CIO is expected to drive institutional technology strategy independently and with minimal oversight.

Required Qualifications

Qualified candidates for the Chief Information Officer / Associate Vice President of Information Services and Security position must possess a bachelor's degree and relevant experience in a senior IT leadership position in a large complex organization in addition to:

  • At least ten years of progressively responsible experience;
  • A track record of implementing appropriate and successful strategies to ensure cost-effective delivery of efficient and reliable IT services;
  • Strong financial planning and political skills to lead in a resource-constrained environment;
  • Exemplary communication skills and an ability to inspire and educate audiences with and without technical expertise;
  • Demonstrated success in managing by influence, inspiring trust, organizing people into effective teams, and motivating them to work hard and well together;
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and implement cultural change related to technology in a shared-governance environment;
  • Knowledge of current information security protocols and standards;
  • Experience in interpreting and effectively applying federal and state laws and regulations to organizational operations and policies;
  • Experience with contemporary hardware, software, and network architectures;
  • applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the aforementioned list of qualifications, the most competitive candidates for the position will also possess:

  • An advanced degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or other related field;
  • Previous experience as a CIO in higher education or a large complex organization;
  • Experience in higher education with demonstrated understanding of policy and regulatory requirements in a student-centered learning environment;
  • Extensive working experience leading diverse technology business units, such as application development, network architecture, telecommunications, information security, service management, and systems infrastructure.

Application Process

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. Applicants must submit a current resume or curriculum vitae and a cover letter describing relevant experience and interest in the position. Nomination letters should include the name, position, address and telephone number of the nominee. All applications and nominations will be handled in confidence. Applications and letters of nomination should be submitted by email to:

Alberto Pimentel, Managing Partner

Email:  apsearch@storbeckpimentel.com

Refer to code “CWU-CIO” in the subject line

Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates

6512 Painter Avenue

Whittier, CA  90601

562-360-1353 (FAX)

CWU is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Veteran/Disability Employer