Chief Information Officer

Please Note:

This recruitment will remain open until filled with a first review of applicants the week of May 4, 2026.  The hiring authority reserves the right and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision at any time. We encourage all to apply as early as possible. The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates' qualifications within the starting salary range of $175,000 - $195,000 annually.  

Please note that there is career salary growth beyond this starting range for the successful candidate.

Hybrid:
Our physical office is in Olympia, WA. We offer flexible work schedules and locations. This is a hybrid position that allows teleworking. However, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs frequently.

Who we are:

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our mission is to make our state a better place by connecting people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature. Our team includes budget advisors, researchers, and other experts, all dedicated public servants working towards an equitable future for every Washingtonian.

Within OFM, our IT Services Division is committed to strengthening our workforce, delivering exceptional customer service, and modernizing technology by fostering open communication, engaging employees, and growing talent. We partner strategically with customers to drive operational excellence, while advancing IT systems to meet evolving business and industry needs. In this role, you'll lead how technology supports our agency's mission-making services more reliable, accessible, and equitable for people across Washington.

The Opportunity:

As the Chief Information Officer (CIO), you'll set the direction for enterprise technology while making sure day-to-day systems run smoothly and securely. You'll be part of the executive leadership team, helping shape overall agency strategy and leading major modernization efforts, including adopting enterprise systems, improving access to data, and reducing reliance on legacy systems.

You'll work closely with leaders across the agency to understand needs, balance competing priorities, and deliver practical solutions. A key part of the role is building strong governance so decisions are clear, transparent, and aligned with what matters most.

You'll lead a team of roughly 150 IT professionals and lead a workplace where people feel included, respected, and able to do their best work. You'll also manage a technology budget of approximately $77 million, balancing the need for tools, staffing, vendors, and long-term investments.

This role is about modernization, we need your acumen when it comes to integrating AI and other technology solutions in ways that align with our organizational goals and standards. Our CIO leads IT strategy, operations, budget, contracts, and compliance, with a strong emphasis on clear communication and cross-functional collaboration. The CIO values continuous learning, staying current with industry standards and best practices, and driving modernization efforts.

This role isn't just about systems, more importantly, it's about people. It's an opportunity to influence statewide innovation, advance equity through data, and lead a high-performing team delivering critical services that matter.

What you'll work on:

* Provide strategic and operational leadership for the organization's technology vision, ensuring that IT strategy, objectives, and roadmaps are fully aligned with enterprise goals and integrated into broader strategic planning.

* Foster strong relationships with community partners while guiding investment decisions through careful analysis of cost, value, and risk.

* Drive innovation by evaluating and adopting emerging technologies, leading enterprise-wide initiatives such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation, and enabling business transformation through modern, scalable solutions.

* Participate in IT Enterprise Governance in the development of IT policy, standards, strategy, and services.

* Oversee the design, governance, and performance of the organization's technology ecosystem-including infrastructure, systems, vendors, and service providers-to deliver reliable, secure, and cost-effective IT services.

* Provide leadership, coaching and direction to the IT leadership team and staff. Partner with HR in the recruitment, development and retention of the IT workforce.

* Coordinate with Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) and other enterprise service providers to ensure that purchased services are effectively integrated and managed to support operations in a reliable and cost-effective manner.

* Develop and control annual revenue and operating expenditure budget.

* Serve on enterprise planning and policy making committees to drive the development of technology standards, governance processes and performance metrics.

* Direct and organize all…