CEN Chief Technology Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

The Connecticut Education Network (CEN) is Connecticut's trusted, mission‑driven Research and Education (R&E) network, delivering high‑performance Internet connectivity and secure shared services to community anchor institutions statewide. For more than 25 years, CEN has supported education, research, healthcare, government, libraries, cultural arts, and open access organizations by providing resilient, scalable, and secure Internet and network service platform. Built on trust, partnership, collaboration, and high-quality service, CEN works closely with its members and peer research and education networks nationwide to drive unparalleled value for the communities we serve.

JOB SUMMARY

The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is a part of the CEN leadership team responsible for matching strategic direction to operational excellence, and continuous advancement of CEN's statewide network, platform, and security services. As a member of the leadership team, the CTO leads highly skilled engineering, operations, and systems teams, ensuring reliable day-to-day service delivery while shaping and executing long-term technology strategy aligned with CEN's mission to serve Connecticut's community anchor institutions connecting people and strategies.

CEN is a small and nimble team, and this role exercises broad managerial discretion and authority with organization‑wide impact on personnel, financial resources, and technology strategy in support of CEN and the University's mission. The ideal candidate will have a strong mission-oriented mindset, excellent leadership and supervisory skills, a deep understanding of advanced networking and information security technologies, and a dedication to service.

SALARY/COMPENSATION

* $140,000 - $175,000 Annually; 40 Hour Work Week

* Final salary will be based on the successful candidate's background and experience.

BENEFITS INCLUDE

* Defined contribution with employer match or defined benefit program retirement options

* Excellent and affordable healthcare options

* 22 paid vacation days per year, in addition to paid sick leave and 13 paid holidays

* Employee and dependent tuition waivers

* A highly desirable work environment and work-life balance

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership & Governance

* Define and execute CEN's multi-year technology strategy and architecture roadmap.

* Align technology investments with organizational mission and financial objectives.

* Collaborate with leadership and committees on policy, governance, and direction.

* Strategically collaborate with partner R&E entities in-state, regionally, and nationally.

* Provide executive-level TCO, ROI, and risk analyses.

Supervision & Talent Development

* Recruit, hire, mentor, manage, evaluate, and retain technical staff.

* Establish and maintain organizational structures, roles, and performance standards.

* Foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture.

* Encourage professional growth and development within the team.

* Manage subcontracted and staff augmented roles.

Network, Platform & Security Operations

* Provide operational oversight of CEN's statewide service provider class network.

* Ensure 24x7x365 operational excellence and escalation oversight for the NOC.

* Oversee capacity planning, resiliency, and lifecycle management.

* Lead cloud integration, peering, caching, and interconnection partnerships.

* Oversee cybersecurity architecture and threat mitigation.

* Oversee IAM to ensure secure, least‑privilege, and auditable access across environments.

Financial & Operational Management

* Manage and forecast enterprise/service provider level capital and operating budgets.

* Track KPIs related to availability, performance, and member impact.

* Ensure disciplined project management, communication, and resource stewardship.

* Exercise decision‑making authority with organization‑wide impact for technical services.

* Mange technical contracts, KPIs, and ensure alignment with CEN value proposition.

Service Development & Innovation

* Lead or participate in development of new and enhanced member services.

* Lead technical development and responses to requests for proposals, quotes, etc.

* Sponsor major technology and…