Chief Information Officer - City of Boston

Position summary: The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is the City’s most senior IT leader, and is responsible for deploying technology across an array of departments and services to improve government operations and positively impact quality of life for Boston residents.

Reports to: Mayor Martin J. Walsh

Position description:

The Chief information Officer (CIO) is a cabinet-level position appointed by the Mayor which oversees the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), the City’s primary IT organization. With approximately 150 employees and an annual budget of ~$50M (operating and capital), DoIT provides an effective foundation of technology that serves more than 40 departments and millions of direct constituent interactions. Boston is considered a global leader in municipal technology. The CIO will effectively drive process and technology change in a dynamic and complex operating environment.

The CIO provides IT solutions to assist departments in achieving organizational goals. The CIO ensures appropriate technologies are used to support and advance the priorities of the Mayor’s Office, Cabinet Chiefs, Department Heads, and other City leadership.

The CIO sets the strategic direction for DoIT, and supervises and leads diverse staff in the five main divisions of DoIT to achieve organizational goals and objectives.

• Infrastructure -- Manage a secure, modern, and resilient foundation of IT infrastructure including networks, servers, data centers, cloud operations, and end-user equipment.
  
  
• Enterprise Applications -- Equip City employees with the tools they need to deliver exceptional service by supporting the 70+ applications that span ERP to permitting/licensing to CRM.
  
  
• Digital Engagement and Service Delivery -- Support the millions of digital interactions constituents have with City government each year by creating web and mobile experiences that are friendly, accessible, and useful.
  
  
• Data and Analytics -- Improve the quality of government service delivery through the collection, analysis, and sharing of data, and the application of data to operations and business process design.
  
  
• Broadband and Digital Equity -- Help build a City where all residents have the tools, skills, and connectivity to get online. Promote competition and investment in the private broadband infrastructure that serves Boston.

In addition, the CIO and the administrative team are responsible for DoIT’s daily operations including procurement, personnel management, budgeting, recruiting, and staff development.

The CIO is an important part of the City’s leadership team. In collaboration with other City departments, the CIO implements the Mayor’s strategic goals and increases organizational performance with relation to technology. The CIO is expected to plan and execute an ambitious agenda to support the City’s policy and operational priorities.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop and execute a cloud migration strategy to move key services and infrastructure into more secure, resilient, and scalable cloud environments.
• Grow the City’s cybersecurity practice to keep important infrastructure and services protected from existing and emerging threats.
• Complete the rollout of an internal identity and access management system to support convenient, secure access to digital services by City employees.
• Find opportunities to roll-out new or replacement enterprise applications that can improve end user experience and enhance City operations through technology-driven business process transformation.
• Expand the City’s fiber optic network to include all public schools and many public housing facilities.
• Build and extend the use of CRM and identity management technology to support more personalized constituent interactions and improved departmental operations.
• Enhance boston.gov, the City’s award winning website, to increase the availability and quality of digital transactions.
• Assist with the use of video, social media, and other communications to improve the way that the City communicates with constituents and listens to community feedback.
• Oversee growth and development of the City’s data-driven performance management program designed to measure departments’ activities and set targets for improvement.
• Apply predictive modeling, machine learning, and other advanced analytics techniques to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of service delivery across departments.
• Manage the relationship with the City’s cable TV franchisees (Verizon, RCN, and Comcast), supporting expansions, renewals, and responding to changes in the industry or regulatory environment.
• Develop policies and frameworks for investment in current and next generation wireless broadband technologies by private service providers, while also protecting the public interest and advancing the goals of increased competition and affordability.
• Oversee the activities of a diverse staff to ensure IT solutions to a variety of business needs are provided in a timely manner to support departments achieving their goals.
• Perform related work as required.

Education and Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of professional experience in information technology, with six years of direct personnel management, at least four of which are in a senior leadership role.
• A bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) in information systems management, computer science, business management, public administration, or related field is required. A master's degree (or equivalent experience) is preferred.
• Strong technology skills with demonstrated strength in key aspects of modern IT. Must possess the technical skill necessary to lead a highly technical team, set strategic direction, and make well-informed investment decisions.
• Experience working in a large or midsize organization. Experience in public sector and/or unionized environment is desirable. Demonstrated knowledge of human resources practices and principles and collective bargaining agreements.
• Demonstrated leadership, change management, and communication skills.
• Track record of results in:
  • Successful technology implementation
  • Digitization of legacy business processes
  • Managing cybersecurity and other types of IT risk
  • Project management
  • Vendor selection and management
  • Building a skilled, diverse workforce
• Creative and visionary.
• Strong ability to solve public policy problems identified by City leadership.
• Experience with financial oversight preferred.

Knowledge of:

• Theory, principles, practices and techniques of public administration, including budgeting and financial planning, financial management, human resources, purchasing, risk management, operations management, and other general operational support services.
• Federal, state and local laws, regulations and court decisions applicable to information technology.
• Municipal fiscal, budgetary, and financial operations of government.
• Broadband policy issues and the evolving broadband technology landscape.
• Cloud computing, network infrastructure, application hosting/management, cybersecurity and resilience, data analytics, and web and mobile application development.
• Agile approaches as well as traditional IT governance and management practices.
• Research methods and statistical and financial analysis techniques.
• Principles and practices of sound business communications.
• Principles and practices of effective management and supervision.

Ability to:

• Effectively drive process and technology change in a dynamic and complex operating environment.
• Engage and support diverse business stakeholders.
• Plan, direct, manage and integrate a broad program of centralized management, finance, human resources, and administrative services.
• Define complex management, finance, budget and administrative issues; perform difficult and complex analyses and research; evaluate alternatives and develop sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Analyze, interpret and explain proposed legislation and programs in terms of their implications and impacts on City programs, operations and sources of revenue.
• Operate flexibly within shifting political and operational constraints.
• Exercise sound, expert independent judgment within general policy guidelines.
• Balance long-term and short-term goals; identify and set priorities.
• Build relationships with internal and external partners.
• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Identify and eliminate barriers to success with existing resources.
• Represent the City effectively in negotiations and other dealings on a variety of difficult, complex, sensitive and confidential issues.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Mayor, City Commissioners, department directors, managers, elected and appointed officials of other governmental agencies, City employees, business and community leaders, the media, and City residents encountered in the course of work.
• Exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.   

This leadership role requires strong analytical and technical abilities and demands fast, but carefully thought-out decisions. The job centers around developing new ideas, systems and technology, and also analyzing and improving established ones. A high level of expertise is expected. Successful candidate will have a style that is purposeful and directed at getting things done quickly.

Boston Residency is Required.

Salary: $110,000-$155,000

*Salary range adjustment currently under consideration by City Compensation Advisory Committee.