Chief Information Officer (Program Manager Sr. IV

Introduction

The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world-class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee State and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland. This is a Management Service position and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority.

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* State salary guidelines may apply for current state employees

Nancy S. Grasmick Education Building 200 West Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21201

Hybrid schedule may be available (up to 3 telework days permitted each week)

The Chief Information Officer (CIO) is a pivotal leadership role responsible for the comprehensive management and strategic oversight of MSDE's Office of Information Technology (OIT) operations. This includes maintaining a robust network infrastructure, cybersecurity standards, and optimizing the accessibility of all digital products and services. The CIO will lead the OIT department to deliver secure, reliable, efficient, and cost-saving technology solutions to support the organization’s goals and enhance user experience.

Key responsibilities encompass overseeing IT project management, ensuring all projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget. Some of the primary job functions of the CIO include:
Ensuring rigorous data privacy protocols and maintain compliance with both federal and state regulations;
Collaborating with State of Maryland's Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and local school districts to support state initiatives and provide guidance on cybersecurity and data privacy;
Conducting and coordinating legislative analysis to anticipate and prepare for changes in the regulatory landscape that may impact the organization’s IT policies and procedures and developing and implementing strategies to safeguard the organization’s digital assets against cyber threats and ensure that all digital products meet accessibility standards. The CIO will also play a crucial role in fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the IT department.

They will develop and maintain an IT governance framework to align IT strategy with business objectives, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in IT operations. The ideal candidate must possess extensive experience in managing large-scale IT operations, in-depth understanding of network infrastructure, and a proven track record in cybersecurity and compliance management. Strong leadership and management skills, strategic thinking/systems thinker, backed by the ability to navigate complex regulatory environments are essential for success in this role.

Plan, organize, and direct the work of the Office of Information Technology (OIT) staff, providing leadership in the development and implementation of a department-wide information technology (IT) plan that is aligned with the Maryland State Department of Education’s (MSDE) strategic plan and is consistent with Statewide directives and initiatives. This includes responsibility for all aspects of MSDE’s IT systems, including planning, developing, directing, coordinating, and maintaining instructional and administrative IT systems.

Collaborate with members of the Executive Team to assess their Divisional IT requirements and allocate the necessary resources to assist each Division in accomplishing its critical mission. Direct the development and implementation of Department-wide information technology policies, legislation, and compliance initiatives for the Maryland State Department of Education and coordinate with the Department’s Information Technology Steering Committees and the local school districts.

Provide leadership in developing Department-wide standards for all phases of information technology and project management and provide direction to Divisions/Offices on technology issues involving upgrading systems and equipment, integrating existing systems with new systems, inter-divisional…