Assistant Chief Information Officer

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Silver Spring (MD); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seeks a senior IT leader to serve as principal adviser on information resources and systems management within NMFS. The role reports to leadership and guides IT planning, policy, and governance to align with departmental and NOAA priorities.

The incumbent will oversee cross-organizational IT initiatives, ensure security compliance, and drive modernization efforts across information resources and services.

Qualifications

• Experience managing IT resources in a federal agency or large organization.
• Knowledge of IT capital planning, budgeting, and project management.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Leads NMFS in effective management of information resources; promotes IT standards and cost-efficient use of IT.
• Shapes IT planning and investment processes with FITARA oversight and NMFS priorities.
• Develops and enforces policies, guidance, and standards for IT hardware, software, and security.
• Advises NMFS leadership to promote innovative uses of technology and access to information resources.
• Ensures information and records are properly managed and protected; oversees IT processes for timeliness and cost effectiveness.

Job description

Open: September 29, 2026 — Closes: October 13, 2026

Summary

The position is located within the National Marine and Fisheries Service, whose mission is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat, supporting the broader strategic goals of the Department and NOAA. In this role, the incumbent serves as the principal adviser to leadership on overall information resources/systems management. The position reports directly to the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations.

Major Duties

1. Leads NMFS in the effective management of information resources by advocating cross-organizational program process improvements; ensuring program processes are modified to take full advantage of IT solutions; developing and promoting standards based IT; enabling cost-efficient and effective use of IT; and exercising principles of effective IT capital planning and investment analysis.
2. Promotes and shapes an effective strategic and operational IT planning and investment process that includes responsibility for ensuring appropriate FITARA oversight and approval of IT investments in coordination with NMFS Portfolio managers. Integrates the budget process, implements priorities established by NMFS and fully integrates NOAA's and the Department's strategic plans. The ACIO will encourage and enforce viable IT strategies/operations through participation in the program systems planning process as an agent for change, and will support the strategic information resources plan. The incumbent will ensure that IT projects included in the IT strategic and operating plans support the business needs of NMFS and are prepared in accordance with Departmental and OMB guidance.
3. Develops, issues, monitors and enforces compliance with policies, guidance and standards applicable to all IT hardware, software and telecommunications in the NMFS. Of particular importance is the responsibility for overseeing and ensuring compliance with IT security policy, procedures, and services across the NMFS.
4. Advises NMFS leadership, in partnership with other senior managers, to promote innovative uses of technology and facilitate management access to needed information resources.
5. Provides oversight to ensure information and records are properly managed; i.e., information is collected only as needed, protected from those who would destroy or abuse it, readily accessible to those who need it, and quickly disseminated to those who plan to use or contributed to it.
6. Works with NMFS management to ensure the conduct of IT processes is timely, cost effective, in accordance with all applicable statutes, regulations and policies, and provides the best available capability consistent with requirements and within available budget resources.
7. Supports research, development and engineering efforts needed to define IT alternatives that can improve operations and customer service, as well as keeping current with user requirements and customer satisfaction concerning products and services.
8. Promotes shared development for common Federal processes, interoperability, and sharing of information by participating as a member of the CIO Council.