Chief Information Officer

NC Community College System; Raleigh (NC); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) seeks a strategic CIO to lead enterprise technology and digital enablement across the System. Reporting to the System President, the CIO will craft and execute a multi‑year technology strategy enabling 58 colleges to advance student success, workforce development, and institutional effectiveness.

The role oversees architecture, cybersecurity, infrastructure, data platforms, AI enablement, and technology governance while driving

Qualifications

• Progressive leadership experience in complex enterprise technology environments.
• Senior‑level responsibility for technology strategy, operations, budgets, vendors and major initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing enterprise technology strategies and modernization roadmaps.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data platforms, integration, AI and automation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a multi‑year enterprise technology strategy and roadmap.
• Lead enterprise architecture and integration to improve interoperability and security.
• Provide executive leadership for major platforms (ERP, SIS, CRM, LMS, etc.) and data analytics.
• Strengthen governance, risk management, and collaboration across 58 NC community colleges.

Skills

Enterprise technology strategy

Executive leadership

Enterprise architecture

Cybersecurity

Cloud & infrastructure

Vendor & contract management

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Team development

Strategic communication

Education

Associate degree in IT/CS/engineering/business/public administration or related field

Job description

The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) seeks a strategic, collaborative, and forwardlooking Chief Information Officer (CIO) to provide executive leadership for enterprise technology and digital enablement across the System.

Reporting to the System President and serving as a member of the executive leadership team, the CIO will develop and execute an enterprise technology strategy that supports the System Office and enables North Carolina's 58 community colleges to advance student success, workforce development, institutional effectiveness, and operational excellence.

The CIO will provide executive leadership for enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, infrastructure and cloud services, enterprise applications, systems integration, data platforms, artificial intelligence enablement, technology governance, vendor management, and IT service delivery.

The CIO will also serve as a key convener of technology leadership across North Carolina's community colleges, building partnerships that promote collaboration, interoperability, shared capabilities, innovation, cybersecurity, and effective technology investment while recognizing the operational responsibilities and needs of individual colleges.

This is an opportunity to help shape the future technology ecosystem of one of the nation's largest community college systems.

The CIO's mission: Build and sustain the secure, connected, data-enabled technology ecosystem that makes enterprise transformation and student success possible.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

Enterprise Technology Strategy & Leadership — Develop and execute a multi-year enterprise technology strategy and roadmap aligned with NCCCS strategic priorities. Advise the President and executive leadership on technology opportunities, investments, emerging capabilities, risks, technical debt, and long-term sustainability. Translate business and student needs into enterprise technology capabilities.

Enterprise Architecture & Integration — Establish an enterprise architecture that promotes interoperability, security, scalability, accessibility, reuse, and sustainability. Develop architecture and technology standards for applications, integration and APIs, identity, cloud, data, security, artificial intelligence, automation, and digital experience. Reduce unnecessary fragmentation and improve connectivity across the technology ecosystem.

Enterprise Applications & Digital Platforms — Provide executive technology leadership for major enterprise platforms and capabilities, including ERP, SIS, CRM, LMS, ILS, data and analytics, digital credentials, digital wallet, identity management, integration, and emerging technologies. Establish lifecycle and modernization strategies that enable these capabilities to operate as an increasingly connected digital ecosystem.

Cybersecurity & Resilience — Lead the System's enterprise cybersecurity and technology-risk strategy. Strengthen security governance, identity and access management, threat detection and response, vulnerability management, incident response, disaster recovery, business continuity, third-party risk, and security awareness. Collaborate with colleges and appropriate state partners to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities across the System.

Data Infrastructure and Integration— Lead the technical foundation for enterprise data, including data architecture, platforms, integration, engineering, security, analytics technology, and appropriate AI capabilities. Partner with System Effectiveness, business leaders, and colleges to increase the availability, quality, security, and usability of information for decision making.

Artificial Intelligence & Automation — Establish the technology foundation and technical governance necessary for responsible adoption of generative AI, artificial intelligence, and automation. Partner with transformation and business leaders to identify opportunities to improve student services, employee productivity, institutional performance, and operational effectiveness.

Technology Governance & Investment — Establish transparent governance for technology prioritization, architecture review, investment planning, technical risk, vendor selection, lifecycle management, and total cost of ownership. Ensure significant technology investments align with System priorities and enterprise architecture.

College Technology Collaboration — Build strong relationships with CIOs and technology leaders throughout North Carolina's 58 community colleges. Develop forums and governance mechanisms that encourage collaboration, shared practices, cybersecurity coordination, appropriate standards, joint purchasing opportunities, shared capabilities, innovation, and professional development.

Student-Centered Digital Experience — Partner with academic, student-services, workforce, transformation, and other college leaders to simplify the digital student life cycle across Explore → Apply → Enroll → Learn → Engage → Complete → Transfer → Career. Champion integration and interoperability that reduce fragmented experiences for students and employees.

Technology Operations & Service Delivery — Ensure enterprise technology services are secure, reliable, resilient, scalable, and cost-effective. Establish service measures and promote a culture of customer service, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Financial, Vendor & Resource Management — Develop and manage technology budgets and multi-year investment plans. Provide executive oversight of major technology vendors, contracts, strategic partnerships, service levels, and technology expenditures. Identify opportunities to improve purchasing leverage, reduce unnecessary duplication, and increase value from technology investments.

Technology Organization & Talent — Build and lead a high-performing technology organization with capabilities in enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, applications, cloud, integration, data, AI, service management, and program delivery. Develop talent, succession plans, professional-development opportunities, and future technology leaders.

Executive Leadership and Enterprise Transformation — As a member of the executive leadership team, the VP for Technology/CIO collaborates closely with the System President, Chief of Staff, Vice President of Enterprise Transformation & Innovation, VP/Chief Financial Officer, VP for Programs and Student Services, VP for Workforce Development, VP for Human Resources, VP for System Effectiveness, and other Agency and system executives to advance the System's strategic priorities. Executive leaders collectively share responsibility for defining agency strategy, prioritizing investments, leading organizational change, and achieving enterprise outcomes while maintaining executive accountability within their division. Here is the framework:

• The CIO provides leadership for technology strategy, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, infrastructure, platforms, integration, data technology, and technology delivery.
• The Vice President of Enterprise Transformation & Innovation provides leadership for enterprise transformation strategy, portfolio alignment, cross-functional change, process transformation, organizational adoption, and benefits realization.
• Functional executives retain accountability for their respective business operations, services, and outcomes.

MEASURES OF SUCCESS

Success in this role will be measured by the CIO's ability to provide strategic technology leadership that enables the System's mission, advances institutional priorities, and delivers secure, reliable, innovative, and sustainable technology services.

Measures of success may include:

• Strengthened cybersecurity, resilience, and risk management capabilities;
• Reliability, availability, performance, and continuous improvement of enterprise technology services;
• Modernization and optimization of enterprise applications, infrastructure, and digital platforms;
• Increased interoperability, data accessibility, and integration across the System;
• Successful delivery of strategic technology initiatives and transformation priorities;
• Demonstrated value and return on technology investments;
• Enhanced student, employee, and stakeholder digital experiences;
• Effective governance and responsible adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automation;
• Strong partnerships and satisfaction among colleges, System Office divisions, and other stakeholders; and
• Development, engagement, and performance of a high-performing technology organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree from an accredited institution in information technology, computer science, engineering, business, public administration, or a related field with documented continued professional development through relevant and current industry certifications, training, and executive education.
• Significant progressive leadership experience in complex enterprise technology environments.
• Senior-level responsibility for technology strategy, operations, personnel, budgets, vendors, and major technology initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing enterprise technology strategies and modernization roadmaps.
• Experience leading enterprise applications, infrastructure/cloud, cybersecurity, integration, data, and technology operations.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex technology modernization initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, cloud computing, data platforms, integration, artificial intelligence, automation, and emerging technologies.
• Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong financial, vendor, contract, and technology investment-management capabilities.
• Exceptional executive communication, collaboration, facilitation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build consensus and influence outcomes across organizational boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in information technology, computer science, business, public administration, higher education, or a related field.
• Executive technology leadership experience in higher education, community colleges, government, public-sector organizations, or another large federated environment.
• Experience with ERP, SIS, CRM, LMS, or other major enterprise-platform modernization.
• Experience developing enterprise data and analytics capabilities.
• Significant cybersecurity leadership experience.
• Experience with cloud transformation and enterprise integration.
• Experience implementing responsible AI and automation capabilities.
• Experience developing shared technology services across multiple institutions or business units.
• Experience leading technology-enabled organizational transformation.
• Relevant professional or technology leadership certifications.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES

• The successful candidate will demonstrate strategic and systems thinking, enterprise leadership, technology vision, business acumen, cybersecurity awareness, data fluency, innovation, collaborative leadership, executive communication, financial stewardship, talent development, change leadership, and disciplined execution.
• The CIO must be equally comfortable discussing enterprise architecture with technology professionals, investment priorities with executive leadership, strategic outcomes with the State Board, and digital experiences with college leaders.
• The successful candidate will help ensure that technology is not viewed simply as infrastructure or a collection of systems, but as a strategic capability that enables colleges to better serve students and communities across North Carolina.
• The CIO must be able to operate successfully in a complex, federated environment and influence outcomes across organizational boundaries