Fractional Chief Information Officer

Rare; United States; Remote; USD 207,000 - 413,000; Part time

Job summary

Rare, a global conservation leader, seeks a fractional CIO to lead technology modernization and scale. The role focuses on FY27 priorities: building and rolling out Salesforce for grants management, selecting and implementing a global HRIS, and guiding a Microsoft 365 rollout.

Reporting to the Senior VP of Strategy and Organizational Development, the CIO will establish governance, define architecture, and develop automation and AI opportunities with cross‑functional teams.

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading enterprise technology programs and modernization efforts.
• Experience with Salesforce-based platforms and HRIS selection and implementation.
• Knowledge of governance, security, and data privacy.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage vendors.
• Practical understanding of responsible AI and automation.

Responsibilities

• Lead Salesforce grants management design, implementation, and rollout.
• Guide HRIS requirements, vendor selection, contracting, implementation planning, and initial rollout in partnership with Talent.
• Hire and oversee implementation consultants for Salesforce and HRIS, ensuring delivery quality and value for money.
• Develop and maintain technology governance practices and define platform ownership, product ownership, and decision rights.
• Establish lightweight governance for architecture, integrations, data, security, privacy, access, vendors, and technology investments.
• Identify practical opportunities for automation and AI to improve staff effectiveness and program delivery.

Skills

Technology leadership

Salesforce

HRIS

Microsoft 365

Governance

Automation AI

Tools

Salesforce

HRIS

Microsoft 365

Job description

Rare, a global conservation leader, seeks a fractional CIO to lead technology modernization and scale. The role focuses on implementing FY27 priorities: building and rolling out Salesforce for grants management, selecting and implementing a global HRIS, providing strategic guidance for Microsoft 365 rollout, and guiding automation and AI strategy. This is a delivery role reporting to the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Organizational Development, supported by cross-functional teams. The CIO will establish governance, define technology architecture, recommend an operating model, and develop automation and AI opportunities.

What you’ll do:

• Lead Salesforce grants management design, implementation, and phased rollout, including selecting and managing the implementation partner
• Guide HRIS requirements, vendor selection, contracting, implementation planning, and initial rollout in partnership with Talent
• Hire and oversee implementation consultants for Salesforce and HRIS, ensuring delivery quality and value for money
• Develop and maintain technology governance practices and define platform ownership, product ownership, and decision rights
• Establish lightweight governance for architecture, integrations, data, security, privacy, access, vendors, and technology investments
• Identify practical opportunities for automation and AI to improve staff effectiveness and program delivery

What they’re looking for:

• Over 10 years of senior technology leadership experience as a CIO, CTO, technology transformation leader, or equivalent
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise systems modernization from strategy through implementation and adoption
• Experience with Salesforce-based business platforms and HRIS selection and implementation
• Working knowledge of Microsoft 365, SharePoint, system integration, enterprise data governance, cybersecurity, and vendor management
• Experience coordinating internal teams, business owners, consultants, and vendors across multiple initiatives
• Practical understanding of responsible AI and automation, including assessment of value, risks, and organizational readiness