Description
Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community."
Job Title: Chief Information Officer (CIO) Olympia
Agency: Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
Location: Olympia, Washington - This hybrid role combines remote work with an expectation of regular in-person engagement to support leadership collaboration, key meetings, and other organizational needs.
Reports To: Chief Administrative Officer
At DCYF, our technology and data capabilities are essential to advancing our mission: to work alongside Washington’s vulnerable children, youth, and families to foster safety, stability, and better outcomes by strengthening opportunities, connections, and community. We are seeking a visionary, values-driven Chief Information Officer (CIO) to help lead this mission through secure, modern, and human-centered technology. This is a rare opportunity to shape the digital future of a large, complex agency by advancing an enterprise technology strategy grounded in equity, reliability, and innovation. As a core member of the agency’s leadership team, the CIO will influence how systems, data, and digital tools enable thousands of employees and partners to deliver meaningful services. If you are inspired by building technology ecosystems that are resilient, integrated, and responsive to community needs, this role offers both significant responsibility and the opportunity for lasting impact.
Some Of What You Will Get To Do
The CIO plays a crucial strategic and operational role in managing the agency's Information Technology (IT) and digital transformation efforts. The CIO works closely with the Department's executives and staff in developing and executing a comprehensive IT strategy aligned with the Department’s overall mission and goals with a focus on measurable results and accountability. The CIO collaborates with business partners to understand divisional goals, aligning technology initiatives with strategic objectives, and ensuring seamless delivery and operation of systems and support services.
Strategic Leadership & Vision
- Provide vision, establish common goals, build consensus, actively listen, and motivate large groups to achieve objectives; develop and implement IT Strategy and overall roadmap aligned with DCYF’s mission, goals and federal/state regulation.
- Proactively collaborate with agency leaders to understand business needs and translate them into technology solutions. Anticipate and adjust an IT portfolio to directly support the agency’s needs and mission.
IT Operations & Service Delivery
- Lead all aspects of the IT Division including the operation of IT systems, networks, cloud services, AI strategy, help desk and enterprise applications to ensure reliability, security, and support of the Department's mission, goals, and objectives.
- Plan and communicate agency-wide software updates, patch management, and hardware lifecycle planning to minimize operational disruptions and maintain system integrity. Ensure IT system development lifecycle management is applied.
- Ensure the successful development, deployment, and maintenance of both consumer off-the-shelf solutions and software developed in-house.
Cybersecurity, Risk & Governance
- Oversee development and implementation of IT policies, standards, procedures and governance frameworks, as well as cybersecurity and disaster management plans, policies and protocols.
Financial Management, Budget & Procurement
- Draft, review and approve fund requests and supply explanatory materials in collaboration with agency leaders; ensure necessary consultations and notification of all relevant parties occurs.
- Maintain the IT budget, procurement and contracts; oversee vendor performance.
Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborate with other government agencies, private sector partners, non-profits and key contributors; participate in cross-agency IT initiatives including federal/state digital innovation efforts.
- Advocate, advise, strategize, negotiate, listen and collaborate with a variety of individuals and groups internal and external to the agency; facilitate meaningful communication with non-technical policy makers and stakeholders.
Required Education, Experience, And Competencies
- Fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible and multi-dimensional experience in managing people and programs within information technologies.
Required Competencies
- Models and champions our culture and values: Demonstrated abilities to earn the trust, respect and confidence of colleagues, employees, partners, and customers through honesty, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions.
- Cultivates a Shared Strategic Vision: Describes an inspiring, long-term vision with deep meaning for the organization or team.
- Develops People: Brings great people with the right skills and the right motivation into the organization and enables them to do their best work every day.
- Drives Results: Creates and nurtures a performance-based culture of continuous improvement. Is passionate about data informed decision-making, scientific problem solving, customer responsiveness and satisfaction, and maximizing resources across the organization.
- Fosters Learning: Fosters a climate that supports creativity, innovation and hypothesis testing. Supports and invests in employee learning and development.
- Builds Relationships: Builds and maintains internal and external relationships that creates positive customer satisfaction with the services offered by the Department.
- Conveys clear, timely and persuasive messages that positively influence the thoughts and actions of others.
- Embraces inclusivity and transparency in decision making. Actively contributes to a work environment that embraces building and sustaining relationships and partnerships with key contributors, recognizing the value of culture, ethnicity, gender and other individual differences, to enhance the attainment of department goals.
- Leads and Navigates Change: Navigates the organization through complex and changing environments and engages staff to seek creative solutions and drive change. Attends to the human side of change.
- Embraces and Embeds Inclusion in Decision-making: Reaches out to leverage diverse points of view, talents and capabilities. Accountable for the impacts of their approach, decisions and actions on themselves, coworkers, stakeholders and those we serve.
- Accepts responsibility for the quality and timeliness of the IT Division’s work.
- Fosters teamwork and collaboration while developing people. Builds trusting cooperative relationships and meaningful connections. Understands/builds networks and collaboration.
Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, And Competencies
- Previous experience in an Executive Leadership position within a State Agencies IT Department.
- Previous experience developing and implementing IT policies, standards and procedures.
- Previous experience identifying legal requirements and government reporting regulations affecting IT functions.
- Previous experience ensuring IT policies, procedures, and reporting is compliant.
This position is a member of the DCYF Leadership Table (LT), providing strategic leadership and direction for the agency. As a member of the LT, we commit to living into the agreements below. We demonstrate this by intentionally practicing them every day and by supporting each other and holding each other to account for including them in our work.
- Hold ourselves to the highest standards and embrace our Mission, Vision and Values, our Operating Principles, and agency policies.
- Model the behavior we want to see in others.
- Serve as subject matter experts, and approach decisions wearing our “Agency Hat,” in addition to our “Division Hat.”
- Collaborate and partner to make better decisions together.
- Own and speak with one voice on our collective decisions and directives, even when those decisions are not unanimous.
- Invest in each other's success; give constructive feedback, back each other up, and challenge each other to be our best.
- Communicate effectively with our staff and our community partners to help move our teams, our work and our agency forward.
- Foster and sustain strong external community partner relationships and ongoing engagement.
- Recognize the importance of succession planning; Develop upcoming leaders, including identifying a “trusted second,” and promote leadership qualities across our teams.
How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile on careers.wa.gov and attach the following documents:
- Current resume detailing experience and education.
- Letter of Interest.
Supplemental Information
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.
This position is exempt from Washington’s civil service rules. Exempt employment is considered “at will,” and there are no contractual employment rights.
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.
If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Steven Loduha (Talent Acquisition Manager) at
steven.loduha@dcyf.wa.gov
If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.
Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read About Our Benefits
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement And Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information
.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for
exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
