Deputy Chief Information Officer

Step Up For Students

United States

On-site

USD 120,000 - 160,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401K Match

Tuition Reimbursement

Generous Time Off

Job summary

A nonprofit educational organization is seeking a Deputy Chief Information Officer to lead technology strategy and operations. The role requires a visionary leader who can drive IT initiatives, optimize technology investments, and oversee software development. Ideal candidates will possess a strong technical background with proven leadership abilities, ensuring alignment of technology with organizational goals. This position offers an opportunity to shape the future of educational services while fostering a mission-driven culture.

Qualifications

Proven track record supporting executive leadership in IT decision-making.
Experience building and managing software development lifecycles (SDLC).
Strong understanding of IT operations, including infrastructure and service management.

Responsibilities

Assist CIO in executive-level decisions and strategic planning.
Drive implementation of IT strategic plans and own the IT Technology Roadmap.
Oversee technology budgets and project delivery, ensuring timely execution.

Skills

Leadership

Technical expertise

Collaboration

Conflict resolution

Data management

Strategic planning

Education

Degree in a technology-related field

Job description

Do you have a passion for children and education? Would you like to positively impact families in need of help? We want to speak with you!

Step Up For Students empowers families to pursue and engage in the most appropriate learning options for their children.

Benefits Package

Medical - HSA/FSA - Dental - Vision

Company Paid Disability - Life Insurance

401K Match - Tuition Reimbursement

Generous Time off Policy - Professional Development

Job Summary

Step Up For Students is seeking a visionary Deputy Chief Information Officer to serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the CIO. This executive leader will play a central role in shaping and executing our technology strategy, ensuring that innovative, scalable, and secure solutions power the organization’s mission and long‑term goals.

The Deputy CIO will provide leadership across software development, IT operations, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, data strategy, and governance. This role is responsible for driving high‑impact initiatives, overseeing project and portfolio delivery, optimizing technology investments, and developing a strong, future‑ready technical talent pipeline.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise, exceptional communication skills, and a steady, collaborative presence. We are looking for a leader who excels at aligning technology with business priorities, inspires high performance, and thrives in a dynamic, mission‑driven environment.

Key Responsibilities

Serve as one of the primary backups for the CIO, assisting with executive-level decisions and strategic planning. Can also step in for department heads when necessary.

Drive the implementation of IT strategic plans, aligning technology initiatives with organizational goals. Own the IT Technology Roadmap.

Oversee/model/forecast technology budgets and infrastructure spend as they relate to strategic projects.

Provide partnership and interface for project and portfolio teams, ensuring timely delivery of IT projects, to spec and on deadline. Enable conflict resolution and mediation for complex dependencies in complex resource configurations.

Experience building an SDLC and ensuring alignment with business needs, multiple vendors and teams, and delivery of high-quality, tested, performant and secure applications on time and on budget.

Required & Education & Experience

Demonstrated success and a proven track record of professional/life experience in specific job functions, projects, industries or military service can substitute for professional experience and/or formal education requirements.

Proven track record supporting executive leadership and acting as a strategic partner in IT decision‑making.

Successful oversight of complex IT project and portfolio delivery, including conflict resolution and mediation across teams.

Direct experience building and managing software development lifecycles (SDLC), ensuring alignment with business needs and delivery of secure, high‑quality applications.

Experience formulating and enforcing IT policies, standards, and governance frameworks.

Preferred

Degree in a technology related field.

Industry certifications.

Strong understanding of IT operations, including infrastructure, applications, and service management, ensuring smooth business continuity. Experience working in an ITIL environment with heavy ITSM.

Experience with enterprise architecture models and strategies for scalable, modernized infrastructure and applications.

Ability to champion security initiatives, participate in risk management activities, and implement policy across the organization.

Understanding of the technology product lifecycle and concepts such as design thinking, ensuring products meet user needs, align with business objectives, and deliver measurable value.

Knowledge of data management strategies, including data governance, analytics, and leveraging data for insights, along with modern data architectures and migration approaches.

Understanding of the role of business analysts and how it differs from project managers, product owners, and developers.

Knowledge of core IT infrastructure—including networks, servers, cloud environments, and storage systems—to ensure reliability, security, and scalability.

Experience leading and developing cross‑functional teams across engineering, operations, data, and security.

Ability to drive technology strategy, develop multi‑year roadmaps, and align technology initiatives with organizational goals.

Experience managing technology vendors, contracts, and partner relationships, including negotiating solutions and overseeing SLAs.

Ability to drive organizational change and communicate complex technical concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.

Familiarity with compliance and governance requirements relevant to enterprise IT environments.

Experience managing budgets, forecasting, and cost optimization across technology portfolios.

Understanding of cloud strategy, hybrid environments, and cloud adoption best practices.

Key Competencies

Demonstrates critical Transformation and Leadership skills and abilities: True Collaboration; Focusing on Outcomes: Owning and effectively solving problems for today and the future; Empathetic Leadership; Adaptability and Resilience; Emotional Intelligence/CEM skills and Continuous Development/Continuous Improvement Mindsets.

Talent Development and Technical Leadership – Develop IT staff hard skills, fostering professional technical growth and ensuring the organization has the right mix of expertise. Always build strong relationships with internal and external partners.

Act as a role model of excellence and intellectual curiosity; amplify a calm and thoughtful demeanor, promoting calm and trust in IT as a cornerstone of the organization’s success.

Core Values

Step Up For Students Believes Strongly In Two Key Core Values To Carry Out Their Mission Of “We Empower Families To Pursue And Engage In The Most Appropriate Learning Options For Their Children.”