IDEA Public Schools is searching for a Chief Information Officer (CIO) who will report directly to the Deputy Superintendent of Operations and sit on the Executive Team. As an innovative and forward-thinking educational organization, we are seeking a visionary and inspirational CIO who will drive the strategic direction of the Information Systems & Technology (IST) area and lead its group of high-functioning team of technical and subject matter experts. The IST area creates value for end users, students, staff, and families, and empowers their decision-making with seamless integrations, process design, customized solutions, data insight generation, collaboration, and best-in-class customer service. The CIO will partner with cross-functional teams to ensure the effective integration of technology into our educational and operational ecosystem, the provision of reliable, secure, and robust infrastructure, and to build a truly data-driven culture of rigor and insight. A successful candidate will have an expansive mindset about a futuristic approach to technology and data, a people-first approach to innovation, value co-creation, and problem solving, and a proven track record of scaling complex information systems and solutions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

The CIO will manage the Vice Presidents of each division (Data Accountability and Compliance, Enterprise Applications, Information Technology, Technology Operations), the Director of Project Management Office, a Chief of Staff, and an Executive Assistant.

Location:

This is a full-time position based in Texas, with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectations:

While this is a remote position, there will be in-person meetings across various regions. Candidates must be willing to travel up to 40% of the time during key implementation phases and go-live support periods.

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

Essential Duties:

Technology Vision, Strategy, and Innovation:

Set and champion a bold, future-focused enterprise technology vision that advances IDEA’s mission, long-term strategy, and student outcomes, translating vision into executable, multi-year roadmaps
Continuously assess emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, data platforms, and digital learning tools, to identify opportunities that enhance instructional impact, operational effectiveness, and staff experience
Lead the development of an organization-wide strategy for responsible and impactful use of AI in classrooms and operations, balancing innovation, equity, ethics, and compliance
Provide executive oversight of network and information security to adapt to new technologies and threats and to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data across the organization

Executive Leadership and Organizational Management:

Provide visionary, people-centered leadership to the Information Systems & Technology area—including Data Accountability and Compliance, Enterprise Applications, Information Technology, Project Management Office, and Technology Operations—driving excellence in strategy execution, service delivery, and innovation
Build and sustain a high-performing leadership team through coaching, clear accountability, succession planning, and investment in leadership development
Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovation-oriented culture that values partnership, professional growth, and shared ownership across teams and functions
Serve as a trusted advisor and key member of the Executive Team, providing strategic counsel, clear recommendations, and transparent reporting to the CEO/Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, and Boards of Directors
Build strong cross-functional relationships to co-create solutions that meet the needs of students, educators, staff, and families
Position IST as a strategic enabler and trusted partner across the organization

Service Delivery, Infrastructure, and Operational Excellence:

Lead the design and implementation of a scalable, customer-centered technology service model in ServiceNow, grounded in IT Service Management (ITSM) and ITIL best practices
Ensure the delivery of reliable, secure, and resilient technology infrastructure and enterprise systems that support teaching, learning, and operations across a large, multi-state organization
Drive continuous improvement in service quality, responsiveness, and user experience through data, automation, and process optimization

Data Enablement, Governance, and Decision Support:

Partner closely with the Vice President of Enterprise Data and Strategy to establish and maintain robust enterprise data governance, ensuring data integrity, privacy, security, and regulatory compliance across multiple entities and authorizers.
Enable a truly data-driven organization by streamlining systems and services and supporting the development of high-value analytical tools that provide visibility, insight, and actionable intelligence for leaders and field-level staff
Champion the use of data and analytics to improve student achievement, operational performance, and strategic decision-making
Ensure organizational compliance with state reporting requirements through strong systems, processes, and accountability

Change Management, Performance, and Continuous Improvement:

Manage the IST Project Management Office and lead large-scale organizational change initiatives associated with enterprise systems, data platforms, and new ways of working, ensuring high adoption, capability building, and sustained impact
Lead the current implementation and change management for the adoption of our new ERP (Workday)
Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess progress, identify risks and gaps, and guide strategic adjustments across the IST portfolio
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and innovation grounded in evidence, feedback, and shared accountability

Financial Stewardship and Executive Governance:

Provide strong financial leadership for the technology function, ensuring disciplined budgeting, transparent resource allocation, and long-term sustainability across devices, infrastructure, and enterprise software investments
Direct enterprise-wide RFP and discovery processes for major technology and software investments, partnering with Finance to evaluate total cost of ownership, long-term value, and organizational impact
Oversee strategic enterprise technology vendor and contractor relationships to ensure high-quality delivery, strong performance, accountability, and alignment with organizational priorities, and to drive long-term strategy and operational excellence
Drive ongoing optimization of total cost of ownership (TCO) while maintaining high standards for system reliability, scalability, and security
Uphold the highest standards of integrity, fiduciary responsibility, and governance in all technology-related decisions and investments

Additional Skills:

Building strong, non-transactional business partnerships with internal and external stakeholders through trust, empathy, vulnerability, and credibility, and developing organizational and political intelligence
Oversee and prioritize multiple long-term projects at once, often under pressure with competing priorities and tight turnarounds while maintaining composure, ensuring quality, and achieving result
Lead with a people-first customer service and experience perspective, solutions-orientation, and curiosity, particularly in spaces that the CIO does not directly manage or impact
Building, inspiring, motivating, engaging, coaching, and maintaining high-performing teams and fostering cross-functional and innovative collaboration in a hybrid—mostly virtual—environment
Work in a highly regulated environment and ensure compliance with data privacy and federal, state, and local laws and statutes

Required experience:

Bachelor’s Degree required; Master’s degree preferred
At least 15 years of professional experience
At least 8 years overseeing technology functions, preferably in the education sector or a large-scale, multi-state organization
At least 8 years of direct people management experience, including coaching and leadership development across multiple layers
At least 8 years of demonstrated record of results for large-scale complex information system management and organizational change management in a high-pressure environment
At least 8 years of budget (P&L) management and business operations experience

Preferred Education and Experience:

Master’s degree preferred
ITIL 4 Foundation (highly preferred)
Experience in the public education or non-profit sectors preferred

Physical Requirements:

This is a sedentary position.
The ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period.
The employee may be regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, telephone, and keyboard.

IDEA Public Schools jobs

Chief Information Officer

Chief Information Officer